As you prepare for the burial of a loved one, it's important to ensure compliance with all applicable rules and laws. A common question that arises is whether it's mandatory to use a vault or outer burial container.
As you prepare for the burial of a loved one, it’s important to ensure compliance with all applicable rules and laws. A common question that arises is whether it’s mandatory to use a vault or outer burial container.
In terms of the law, vaults generally are not required; state, county, and local laws seldom specify the need for a casket to be placed within an outer burial container.
With that said, it is a requirement of many cemeteries. There’s a simple reason for this: The use of a vault or outer burial container actually helps with cemetery maintenance. Specifically, it prevents against dramatic shifts in the earth above and around the burial site, ensuring nice, flat, green areas throughout the cemetery.
Of course, that’s not the only way in which vaults and outer burial containers can be valuable. They also prevent against the degradation of the casket itself, safeguarding it from both water and the weight of the earth.
All of that’s to say that the use of a vault is advisable, and certainly something that’s worth discussing with your funeral home director. There are a number of options available, including some personalized burial containers and vaults made from diverse materials. Your funeral home director can point you toward the options that work best for your needs.
As for whether vaults are required, that’s something you’ll want to address with the cemetery. Again, the best approach may be to ask your funeral home director, who can coordinate this conversation for you.
