Grave and Memorial Insurance
(Here's what you need to know)
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Paul Martin is the Director of Education and Development for Myron Steves, one of the largest, most respected insurance wholesalers in the southern U.S.
When listing personal property to be covered by your homeowners insurance policy, things like headstones and urns might not initially cross your mind. The fact is, grave markers and other funerary items need to be looked after, and obviously the deceased can’t maintain upkeep of their own headstone.
Though caring for the memorial of a loved one’s death can be emotionally difficult, the good news is that homeowners insurance can provide coverage for grave markers, urns, and other funerary items.
Our independent insurance agents are here to help you get set up with the right homeowners insurance for your specific needs. But first, let’s take a closer look at why you’d need coverage for funerary items.
What Is Headstone and Funerary Items Coverage?
Out of respect for the deceased (and the still-living who paid the original tab), headstones and other funerary items deserve to be well-maintained. Headstone and funerary item coverage can help pay for this maintenance, including repair or replacement costs for damaged or stolen items.
The following funerary items may be covered under your homeowners insurance policy:
- Headstones
- Memorials
- Urns
- Mausoleums
- Creative urn alternatives
More and more people are eschewing traditional cremation methods and opting to be reincarnated as diamonds, trees, coral reefs, fireworks, vinyl records, balloons, pieces of jewelry, or superhero statues—and honestly, who could blame them? Having your ashes converted into shiny bling or a sample of your favorite ‘80s pop hits could be way more exciting than stuffing them into a glorified vase for all eternity.
From headstones to commemorative benches and Iron Man figures, homeowners insurance can help cover costs for the upkeep of your loved ones’ memorials—whatever their style.
Save on Home Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Who Is Responsible for Headstone and Other Grave Marker Upkeep?
Headstones and other grave markers are an interesting kind of property, because it’s not immediately clear who owns them. Ownership of funerary items is typically passed to living spouses or other next-of-kin, and will keep being handed down through the generations as time passes.
If you’re next in line to inherit any kind of memorial, you’ll want to thumb through your homeowners insurance policy.
Why Would I Need Headstone and Funerary Item Coverage?
For peace of mind and the certainty of financial coverage for the maintenance of your loved ones’ final resting places. Anyone would hate to lose a family member (unless they were a real creep), but they’d especially hate to spend a bundle of cash on a nice service and memorial only to have it later damaged or destroyed.
The average funeral costs about $10,000, and the average headstone costs between $1,500 and $2,000. New urns can cost anywhere from $50 to $250+, and mausoleums can range from $28,000 to a whopping $585,000+.
Since funerary items are expensive to start with, thinking about needing to repair/replace them can be upsetting, to say the least.
Funerary item coverage can help protect against the following:
- Theft: Unfortunately, there are some really shady characters out there who steal headstones and other grave markers. These criminals show no respect for the dead, or the efforts you went through to hook them up with a final resting place. Thieves sometimes sell their stolen memorials on the black market. Fortunately, funerary item coverage can help pay for replacements.
- Vandalism: Perhaps equally irritating and disrespectful are the jerks who choose to vandalize headstones, memorials, and mausoleums. Sadly, vandalism is one of the biggest threats to grave markers. Luckily, funerary item coverage can pay for the restoration of memorials after an upsetting incident.
- Storm damage: The other big foe of grave markers is storm damage—mainly from lightning strikes. Lightning and other harsh storm elements can cause severe damage or destruction to grave markers. Fortunately. even Mother Nature’s vandalism can be a covered peril under the right insurance policy.
You put a lot of thought and care into your loved one’s memorial, and understandably you want to keep it looking sharp. Coverage can help keep these memorials in pristine condition.
Though tragedies like theft, vandalism, and storm damage can be heartbreaking or infuriating, it’s good to know that homeowners insurance can provide coverage should disaster strike.
Does My Homeowners Insurance Policy Cover Headstone and Funerary Items?
Most likely, yes. Most homeowners policies provide coverage for headstones and funerary items—at least up to a certain amount. Coverage limits typically fall in the $1,000 to $5,000 range, but you can always add more coverage to your policy.
You’ll need to review your specific policy to be sure funerary item coverage is included, and what exactly falls into that category. Make sure to specifically list any headstones or other related items you want your policy to cover, and get clear about your plan’s exact limits and coverage stipulations.
How to Find the Best Homeowners Insurance
In order to get the protection you need (and deserve), you’ll want to work with a trusted expert. Independent insurance agents will not only know where to find the best coverage and price, but also help to make sense of the fine print.
Consider your unique needs, then connect with an agent to help you take it from there. Have a list of your specific concerns and desires handy before you reach out, to help make the process even smoother.
Save on Home Insurance
Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.
Compare Homeowners Insurance Quotes with an Independent Insurance Agent
We all know how valuable your time is, so why spend it doing all the hard work yourself? From homeowners insurance policies to special add-ons, our expert independent insurance agents will help you determine what type of coverage makes the most sense for you.
Our independent insurance agents stay on top of the insurance industry and all the latest discounts so you don’t have to. That means they’ll help find the right coverage at the right price for you.
They’re not just there at the beginning, either. If disaster strikes, your agent will be there to help walk you through the claims process and make sure you are getting the benefits you’re entitled to. Now that’s thinking ahead.