Friedhofsbestattung

Friedhofsbestattung is a burial conducted in a cemetery (Friedhof) and refers to interment of the deceased on cemetery grounds. It encompasses both Erdbestattung (burial of a coffin in the earth) and Urnenbeisetzung (burial of an urn). In many German-speaking countries, Friedhofsbestattung is the standard form of interment, in contrast to options such as Feuerbestattung (cremation) followed by ash placement in a columbarium or memorial outside the cemetery.

Administration and regulation: Cemeteries are usually operated by municipal authorities or church or community bodies and are governed by national or regional funeral laws and the cemetery’s own regulations (Bestattungsordnung). The right to use a grave is typically leased for a defined period (Bestattungsdauer) and may require ongoing fees for grave maintenance (Grabpflege). The process and permissible practices are shaped by local customs, religious considerations, and space management needs.

Procedure: After death, a funeral director arranges the service and burial. The body is transported to the cemetery, where the grave is prepared and the interment takes place. For Urnenbestattung, the urn is placed in the grave or in a designated niche; for Erdbestattung, the coffin is lowered into the earth.

Grave types and usage: Common options include Reihengrab (row grave), where the location is predetermined, and Wahlgrab (designated grave), which allows selecting a specific site and often offers longer usage rights. Doppel- oder Familiengräber allow multiple burials within a single family burial space. Memorials and inscriptions are subject to cemetery rules.

Overall, Friedhofsbestattung represents the conventional form of disposition within a cemetery, with arrangements varying by jurisdiction and local practice.