§ 525.14 — Descent of Cemetery Lot
Plain-Language Summary
When someone dies, their cemetery lot passes to family members in a set order: first to the surviving spouse for life, then to the oldest surviving child, then to the youngest surviving sibling. Cemetery lots pass free of any debts. Grave markers and monuments go with the lot.
525.14 DESCENT OF CEMETERY LOT.
Subject to the right of interment of the decedent therein, a cemetery lot or burial plot, unless disposed of as provided in section 306.29, shall descend free of all debts as follows:
(1) to the decedent’s surviving spouse, a life estate with right of interment of the spouse therein, and remainder over to the person who would be entitled to the fee if there were no spouse, provided, however, if no person entitled to the remainder of the fee survives, then the entire fee to the surviving spouse with right of interment therein;
(2) if there is no surviving spouse, then to the decedent’s eldest surviving child;
(3) if there is no surviving child, then to the decedent’s youngest surviving sibling;
(4) if there is no surviving spouse, child or sibling of the decedent, then, if not sold during administration of decedent’s estate, to the cemetery association or private cemetery in trust as a burial lot for the decedent and such of the decedent’s relatives as the governing body thereof shall deem proper.
The cemetery association or private cemetery, or, with its consent, any person to whom the lot shall descend may grant and convey the lot to any of the decedent’s parents, siblings or descendants.
A crypt or group of crypts or burial vaults owned by one person in a public or community mausoleum shall be deemed a cemetery lot.
Grave markers, monuments, memorials and all structures lawfully installed or erected on any cemetery lot or burial plot shall be deemed to be a part of and shall descend with the lot or plot.
History:
(8992-26) 1935 c 72 s 26; 1969 c 852 s 1; 1981 c 25 s 1
History: History: (8992-26) 1935 c 72 s 26; 1969 c 852 s 1; 1981 c 25 s 1