Most families don’t set out expecting to think about moving a grave. It usually starts with a quieter truth: someone can’t travel anymore, the family has scattered across states, a spouse wants to be buried together, or the cemetery itself is changing in ways that don’t feel safe. Sometimes it’s prompted by environmental and structural concerns—erosion, flooding, unstable ground, or long-term maintenance issues. Sometimes it’s about belonging and closeness. Either way, the moment you realize you might need disinterment and reburial, it can feel like grief has gained a new, unfamiliar layer.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably trying to do something gentle and respectful while navigating paperwork, family dynamics, and decisions that are emotionally loaded. This guide explains what’s typically involved in disinterment and reburial, how families handle permissions and permits, what drives the cost to move a grave, and how to plan a second burial or memorial moment in the new place in a way that feels like care—not disruption.
Why families choose to relocate a loved one’s remains
The reasons families move graves are often grounded in love and practicality at the same time. A parent may have been buried near where they passed away, but the surviving spouse later moves to live with adult children, and the grave becomes too far to visit. Sometimes the family wants a single shared place—one cemetery where multiple relatives can rest, and where future generations can come without choosing between different towns or states. Some families move graves because a new family plot becomes available, or because a spouse dies years later and the family wants them placed side by side.
Other times, the decision is driven by circumstances rather than preference. Cemeteries can change ownership, change policies, or undergo relocations. Ground conditions can shift. In rare cases, a burial location was recorded incorrectly, and relocation becomes part of restoring accuracy and dignity. And sometimes the question is simpler than it sounds: the family buried an urn years ago and now wants to move it. Disinterring cremation urns is often less complex than moving a full-body burial, but it still typically requires formal authorization and cemetery coordination.
What “disinterment and reburial” really involves
People often use “exhumation” as a catch-all term. In practice, disinterment and reburial usually means a controlled, supervised process in which remains are removed from their current resting place and transferred—either to a new grave, a mausoleum crypt, a niche, or (in some cases) to cremation, followed by a new form of memorialization.
Because this process affects legal records and involves public health considerations, it is rarely as simple as “asking the cemetery and scheduling a date.” Cemeteries have their own policies. States and counties have their own rules. And the more complicated the situation—older graves, long-distance moves, or disagreements among next of kin—the more likely it is that a licensed funeral director will become the bridge that makes the whole process workable.
If the burial is in a VA national cemetery, the rules are especially strict. Federal regulation explains the conditions for disinterment in national cemeteries. You can read the rule here: 38 CFR § 38.621 (Disinterments).
Who has legal authority and why “burial laws in different states” matter
Families searching how to exhume a body legally are usually hoping for one universal checklist. The reality is closer to the keyword you provided: burial laws in different states. Requirements vary by location and by cemetery type, and that’s why the “right first step” is often learning whose authorization is legally required.
In many states, the person with the right to control disposition is the legal next of kin, unless there is written documentation naming someone else. That may be a spouse, then adult children, then parents, then siblings, depending on local law. Cemeteries and agencies often require proof of that authority before they will allow a disinterment to proceed.
If multiple relatives share equal standing and disagree, the cemetery may pause the process until the family resolves it—sometimes with mediation, sometimes with legal counsel, and sometimes with a court order. It can feel painfully formal, but the goal is to prevent a decision that later becomes contested and causes even more disruption.
Permits and approvals: what families usually have to coordinate
Families often assume the cemetery is the only authority involved. In reality, cemetery and health department permits (or permits issued through vital records or a local registrar) may be part of the process, depending on where you live and whether the move crosses state lines.
Most families end up coordinating three types of “yes” before anything happens: the cemetery’s written authorization, the legal authorization of the person who has the right to decide, and any required permits for removal and transport. If your loved one will be moved to another state, transportation requirements can add another layer, because the receiving state may have its own rules about documentation, embalming or refrigeration standards, and timing.
If you want a calmer explanation of the paperwork that often shows up when moving remains across distance, Funeral.com’s guide on How to Transport Human Remains explains common documents (like a burial-transit permit) in plain language and helps families understand what funeral homes typically handle on their behalf.
Paperwork for disinterment: what you’ll likely be asked to provide
The phrase paperwork for disinterment can sound overwhelming, but it typically boils down to proving identity, authority, and the plan for the new resting place. Families are commonly asked for a certified death certificate, documentation showing who has the right to authorize the move, and cemetery paperwork confirming the interment rights for the current grave and the destination grave. When multiple relatives need to consent, signatures may need to be notarized. If there is conflict, the “paperwork” may ultimately be a court order directing the disinterment.
One way to reduce stress is to treat this like a project with a simple timeline. Funeral.com’s How to Plan a Funeral in 7 Steps can be surprisingly helpful here—not because you’re planning a first funeral again, but because it walks families through how to sequence calls, documents, and decisions when emotions are high.
Hiring a funeral home for exhumation: what they do that families can’t easily do alone
Many families choose hiring a funeral home for exhumation even when the cemetery performs the physical disinterment. The reason is coordination and continuity of care. A funeral home can help confirm legal authority, obtain or file permits, schedule the cemetery, arrange transport, and ensure the remains are handled respectfully and legally from one location to another.
They can also help you avoid a common pitfall: learning too late that the receiving cemetery has requirements the family didn’t anticipate. For example, the new cemetery may require a particular outer burial container or vault, may have limitations on certain caskets, or may require advance documentation before a date can be scheduled. A funeral director can coordinate those “two sides of the move” so you don’t end up with delays and additional fees.
If your relocation involves a long-distance move—especially if the death occurred far away from the intended resting place—Funeral.com’s guide When a Loved One Dies Far Away: Repatriation, Paperwork, and Remote Mourning can help you understand how sending and receiving funeral homes work together.
The cost to move a grave: what drives the total
Families searching cost to move a grave deserve honesty: costs can vary widely, because the total is built from multiple parts. Even if you don’t know the exact number yet, it helps to know what you’re really paying for.
In most cases, there are “move-out” costs and “move-in” costs. Move-out costs may include cemetery disinterment fees, required staffing or equipment, permits, and professional supervision. Move-in costs may include purchasing a new plot/crypt/niche, opening and closing at the new cemetery, and any marker or monument work that needs to happen again. Transportation can be a significant factor, especially across state lines.
The condition and age of the burial can also affect cost. Older graves may require more careful handling. If a cemetery requires weekday scheduling, specific contractors, or additional protective measures, those details can add up. And if the family is not in agreement, legal costs can become part of the financial reality—not because the cemetery work is harder, but because authorization becomes harder.
If you want a practical way to think about funeral-related pricing and compare itemized charges without feeling blindsided, Funeral.com’s Funeral Costs Broken Down and How Much Does a Funeral Cost? Complete Funeral Price Breakdown are designed to help families read estimates with more confidence.
When cremation becomes part of the relocation plan
Some families begin by planning to relocate a casketed burial and then ask a difficult follow-up: would it be simpler to cremate after disinterment, and then choose a different kind of memorial? In some cases, cremation can add flexibility—especially for families who expect future moves or want to share memorialization across multiple households.
This question also connects to broader trends. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025, reflecting how often families choose options that allow for flexible memorial timing and location. That doesn’t mean cremation is right for every relocation, but it helps explain why many families consider it when travel and access are part of their story.
If cremation is involved—either because your loved one was already cremated or because it becomes part of the plan—families often want to understand memorial options that feel both practical and meaningful. Some choose a primary cremation urns for ashes placement in a cemetery niche or in a family plot. Others choose small cremation urns or keepsake urns so multiple relatives can have a tangible place for grief. Some choose cremation jewelry—including cremation necklaces—as a private way to stay connected day to day.
Those options are available through Funeral.com collections that you can explore gently, without pressure: cremation urns for ashes, small cremation urns, keepsake urns, cremation jewelry, and cremation necklaces.
Planning a second burial service without reopening old wounds
Even when relocation is practical, the emotional side can be intense. The emotional impact of relocating a grave is often underestimated, because families expect the process to feel administrative and then discover it feels like loss all over again.
This is where planning a second burial service—even a simple one—can help. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. It can be a short graveside moment with a reading, a prayer, a few shared words, or a single song. Some families prefer a quiet moment with only immediate relatives. Others want a small gathering that acknowledges the change and gives everyone a chance to place their love in the new location.
If you’d like guidance on what a cemetery gathering typically looks like, Funeral.com’s Graveside Service Guide can help you plan something that feels respectful and manageable. And if you’re choosing between different kinds of ceremonies—graveside, memorial, celebration of life—Funeral.com’s guide Graveside Service, Cremation Service, or Celebration of Life? can help you match the format to what your family actually needs.
Family disagreements about moving graves
Few things create tension like family disagreements about moving graves, because the disagreement is rarely only about geography. One person may be protecting tradition and permanence. Another may be protecting access—wanting an elderly parent to be able to visit. Another may be worried about fairness, finances, or the fear that moving a grave feels like “undoing” something sacred.
When you can, it helps to slow down and talk about values rather than positions. What is each person trying to protect? Access, togetherness, spiritual beliefs, cost, promises made in the past, or the desire for a single family place. When families can name the underlying values, compromise sometimes becomes possible—such as choosing a new family gathering ritual even if the grave stays, or choosing a shared memorial marker near where the family lives.
And when compromise isn’t possible, it may help to read a neutral guide together about conflict and decision-making in grief. While it’s not specific to graves, Funeral.com’s When Family Disagrees About What to Do with Ashes offers a compassionate framework for navigating disagreement, written for families who love each other but are hurting.
A gentle way to start, when you’re overwhelmed
If you’re not sure where to begin, start with two calls. First, call the current cemetery and ask for their written disinterment policy, their authorization requirements, their fees, and their scheduling timeline. Second, call a funeral home and ask what they will coordinate—permits, transport, communication with the receiving cemetery, and the practical custody steps in between.
From there, the fog usually clears. You’ll know whether this is primarily a paperwork process, a logistics process, a family-consensus process, or (often) a blend of all three.
Closing thoughts
Choosing moving a grave is not a sign you loved them less the first time you said goodbye. Often, it’s a sign you’re still caring—trying to create a resting place that is safe, reachable, and meaningful for the people who will carry the memory forward. With clear authorization, the right cemetery and health department permits (or local approvals), and thoughtful support, disinterment and reburial can be handled with dignity and tenderness.
