Perpetual care is a cemetery's commitment to maintain its grounds indefinitely, funded by money set aside from each plot, crypt or niche sale. In most states the money goes into a trust or endowment fund, and only the income it earns is spent on upkeep. It covers general grounds maintenance such as mowing, roads and fences, but it usually does not cover repairing or cleaning an individual headstone.
How perpetual care works
When a family buys a plot, part of the purchase price (or a separate fee) is deposited into a dedicated fund. Depending on the state and the cemetery, this may be called a perpetual care fund, an endowment care fund, a care fund or a permanent maintenance fund.
The key idea is that the principal is meant to stay invested. The cemetery spends the interest, dividends or other income on maintenance, so that the fund can keep paying for care long after the last plot is sold. This matters because a cemetery eventually stops earning money from new sales, yet the grounds still need to be looked after for generations.
Many states regulate these funds. Rules commonly cover:
- The minimum amount or percentage of each sale that must be deposited
- Who may act as trustee and how the money may be invested
- Whether the cemetery must file annual reports with a state agency
- Whether the cemetery may advertise itself as a "perpetual care" or "endowed care" cemetery
The requirements differ considerably from state to state, and some types of cemeteries (for example, certain religious, municipal or family cemeteries) may be exempt.
What perpetual care usually covers
| Typically covered | Typically not covered |
|---|---|
| Mowing, trimming and general lawn care | Cleaning or repairing an individual headstone |
| Maintaining roads, paths and drainage | Resetting a marker the family installed, unless the contract says so |
| Fences, gates and entrance features | Replacing plantings the family added |
| Removing fallen trees and storm debris | Flowers, wreaths or seasonal decorations |
| Upkeep of common buildings and grounds | Damage from vandalism to private memorials (varies) |
| Record keeping for the cemetery | Upkeep of private family mausoleums (often a separate fund) |
The exact scope depends on the cemetery's rules and your contract. Some cemeteries also offer "special care" or "enhanced care" for an extra fee, which might include planting and tending flowers on a specific grave.
Perpetual care in different types of cemeteries
Memorial parks and private cemeteries
Most privately owned memorial parks include perpetual care in the plot price or charge it as a line item. Because they are commercial operations, they are generally the cemeteries most closely regulated on this point. You can browse memorial parks in our directory.
Municipal cemeteries
Town and city cemeteries are often maintained through the local government budget, sometimes supplemented by a care fund. Care levels can rise and fall with public budgets. See municipal cemeteries to explore options near you.
Church and religious cemeteries
Parish and denominational cemeteries may have their own care funds, or rely on the congregation or diocese. Practices vary, so it is worth asking directly. Browse church cemeteries and Catholic cemeteries.
National and veterans cemeteries
VA national cemeteries are maintained by the federal government as national shrines, and perpetual care is included for eligible veterans and family members at no cost. See national cemeteries.
Older and family cemeteries
Many small historic burial grounds predate care-fund laws and have no endowment at all. They may depend on volunteers, descendants, a local historical society or the township. If you are researching family graves in an older cemetery, do not assume someone is responsible for upkeep.
Why perpetual care is not a guarantee
Perpetual care is a sound idea, but it is not a promise that nothing will ever change. A fund's income depends on how much was deposited and how it has been invested. In cemeteries that sold plots decades ago, when deposits were small, the income may not keep up with today's costs. A cemetery may reduce services, rely more on volunteers, or in some cases be taken over by a municipality if the operator can no longer maintain it.
This is also relevant when a cemetery runs out of space. We explain what happens next in What Happens When a Cemetery Is Full?.
Questions to ask a cemetery before you buy
- Is perpetual care included in the plot price, or charged separately? How much?
- Is the care fund held in a trust? Who is the trustee?
- Does the state require the fund to be audited or reported? Can I see a summary?
- What exactly does the care cover, and what does it not cover?
- Who is responsible if my family's headstone becomes tilted or damaged?
- Are there rules on plantings, decorations or grave ornaments that the maintenance crew will remove?
- Is there a separate care fee for a mausoleum crypt, niche or private family mausoleum?
A reputable cemetery should answer these questions clearly and in writing. If a cemetery is vague about its care fund, that is worth weighing before you buy.
How perpetual care fits into total cost
Perpetual care is one of several charges that can appear on a cemetery bill, alongside the plot, opening and closing, vault and marker. For a full picture, see How Much Does a Cemetery Plot Cost?. If you are comparing cemeteries, our search tool lets you look up specific cemeteries by name and location.