Urnengrab

Urnengrab is a grave designated for the interment of cremated remains in a cemetery. Unlike a traditional coffin burial, the ashes are placed in an urn that is laid in the grave. After interment, the site is typically marked with a headstone or plaque and remains part of the cemetery’s grounds and regulations.

Common forms include Einzelurnengrab for a single urn, Doppelurnengrab for two urns, and Familienurnengrab intended for multiple family members. Some cemeteries also offer Gemeinschaftsurnengräber, where several urns share a single grave plot under specific rules. The exact configuration and the use period are determined by local cemetery regulations and laws, which may also specify whether the grave is an earth grave or involves a substructure. Urns can be interred directly in the ground or deposited in designated urn niches within columbaria in some locations.

Process and memorialization: after cremation, the urn is delivered to the cemetery and placed in the grave bed or niche, and the site is sealed or covered as required. A memorial, such as a headstone or plaque, is installed according to cemetery guidelines.

Legal and regulatory framework: grave rights are governed by cemetery rules and regional burial law. These rules cover the duration of use, conditions for marking, maintenance obligations, and the possibility of extending or reusing the grave after the lease or rights period ends. Costs typically include interment, grave maintenance, and renewal or extension fees.

See also: cremation, columbarium, burial law.