The draft of a new act on cemeteries and burials has been submitted to the Sejm for further legislative work, with the aim of updating the regulations in force since 1959. The new act will replace the previous regulations, introducing modern standards for managing cemeteries and burial processes.

How can cemetery managers and parishes benefit from the new law?

The new act on cemeteries and burials brings a number of changes that may benefit cemetery managers and parishes, both in financial and organizational terms. Among the most important changes is the extension of the obligation to pay fees for graves . Previously, brick graves were exempt from such a fee after 20 years, which the new act changes, imposing the obligation to pay fees for all types of graves , including brick ones. For cemetery managers, this means a constant inflow of funds related to the use of burial sites, which may increase their income in the long run.

Another benefit is the possibility of regular income from the extension of burial plots. The principle of extending the right to a grave every 20 years now also includes brick graves, which guarantees cemeteries a stable and constant income. Families who want to keep the burial plot of their loved ones will be required to pay fees, which gives managers financial certainty for the future .

The new law also opens the door to the establishment of private cemeteries , which gives cemetery managers and parishes the opportunity to expand their activities . The possibility of creating private cemeteries can relieve the burden on existing municipal and parish cemeteries , and at the same time become a source of new investments and income.

An additional improvement is the planned introduction of a central register of graves , which will significantly facilitate the management of cemetery resources . Administrators will have a more complete picture of the situation in their cemeteries, which will help them monitor payment dates, availability of spaces and better manage potential decisions regarding the reuse of abandoned graves . Such a tool will allow for more effective planning of activities and optimization of profits .

This type of program is eCmentarz , which we offer. We provide comprehensive cemetery mapping , updating of records, transfer of all data to the computer system ( which will be required in light of the new regulations ), preparation of a cemetery plan, with marked grave sites and free spaces, and numerous other services that will help adapt the cemetery to the requirements of the new act .

The changes also include more detailed regulations regarding cremation and the management of places to store urns , such as columbaria . The increasing popularity of cremation creates new opportunities for cemetery managers to develop the offer and generate income from renting urn niches. Cremation requires less space , which allows for more efficient use of available cemetery areas , which in turn can contribute to greater income.

The unification of regulations on fees and cemetery management, along with the introduction of sanctions for non-compliance, gives cemetery managers better tools to more effectively enforce their rights. It will be easier for them to claim fees for the use of graves and solve problems related to unregulated extensions , which in turn will translate into more efficient financial management of the cemetery .

Our electronic payment module allows you to easily view the details of the person responsible for the grave and makes it easier to contact them to pay the fee. The grave owner can pay the fee at the office or online in the system. This way, even relatives living in remote parts of the country or abroad will be able to pay the burial fee and extend the lease of the grave without having to travel many kilometers.

Key changes in the bill:

1. Modern cemetery management. The bill introduces new rules for cemetery management, including a digital grave register. This is to facilitate the management of burial sites, supervision of the right to graves and elimination of problems related to the lack of information about previous burials.
2. Allowing private cemeteries. The new law allows for the establishment of private cemeteries, which is a significant change compared to previous regulations. This is intended to increase investment opportunities and relieve municipal and parish cemeteries.
3. Regulations on cremation. The act regulates the process of cremation of corpses and the management of urns. The changes introduced are intended to adapt the regulations to the growing number of cremations in Poland and the development of infrastructure, such as columbaria, which store urns with ashes.
4. Protection of graves and extension of the right to a grave. As in the previous regulations, an earth grave will be made available for 20 years. However, the new act clarifies the issues of extending this period and introduces more detailed rules regarding the protection of graves to prevent their reuse without the knowledge of the families of the deceased.
5. Ecological forms of burial. In response to the growing interest in ecological forms of burial, the new law is to enable more environmentally friendly burials. It is planned to allow new methods that reduce the impact on the natural environment, such as biodegradable urns or ecological graves.
6. Penalties for violations of regulations. The new law provides for penalties for violations of burial and cemetery management rules, including improper treatment of corpses, improper storage of urns, or other violations that may violate the dignity of the deceased and the legal order.
7. Facilitation of burial of persons deceased abroad. The bill introduces simplifications regarding the repatriation of bodies or ashes of persons deceased abroad. This is intended to make it easier for families of emigrants and persons living outside Poland to organize a funeral in the country, reducing formalities and waiting times.

Need for amendment

Social changes, urbanization, the growing number of cremations and modern forms of burial required updating outdated regulations. The old act from 1959, although amended, did not keep up with contemporary needs and social expectations. The new bill, submitted to the Sejm, is an attempt to introduce more flexible and modern regulations that better respond to the challenges of today.