What happens to the property of a church when it closes?

A church typically dissolves when it can no longer pay its bills, or can foresee a time when it can no longer remain solvent. Upon being dissolved, whatever assets remain are likely sold to pay portions of unpaid obligations and salaries.

Are cemeteries public property?

A cemetery, though privately owned, is properly classified as a “public cemetery” where it consists of a great number of burial plots or sites sold and for sale to the public.

Who owns the assets of a church?

Generally, a church is incorporated as a charity. So, it is a legal entity. Some denominations are independent, and the entire legal organization is connected to that one church. In some churches, it is the national organization which is so incorporated and owns all property.

Is a church public or private property?

A: Churches are private property owners, so they can restrict access to their property. Case law supports the notion that churches are not required to allow anyone to enter or remain on their property simply because their ministries are open to the public.

Who does church property belong to?

Local churches are most often listed as the owner in the deed to the local church property, but the denominations nevertheless sometimes claim a right to determine occupancy, use and control on the basis of a “trust clause” added to the denominational constitution.

Do cemeteries cremate human remains?

Once the lease is up, the usual practice is to cremate any remains once the occupant has been evicted from their grave. Other cemeteries, such as those managed by The Church of England, use a “dig and deepen” strategy, creating multi-storied graveyards.

What happens to a cemetery when it is abandoned?

Care of loved ones’ graves also falls to them during that time. From here, what happens next varies widely on a case by case basis. In the case of a cemetery foreclosure or complete abandonment, sometimes the local municipality will simply take over control and management of the land.

How can we extend the life of a cemetery?

For starters, one option for extending the life of the cemetery is to use every square inch possible, even many former walkways. For instance, the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Australia operates a renewal program that creates new burial plots in the narrow spaces between existing graves.

Why do cemeteries reuse burial plots?

Without the program, cemetery management claims they would have had to stop accepting any new burials in 2004. Another practice used by cemeteries to increase the business’s lifespan is reusing burial plots.