The costs of a burial can vary greatly and depend on various factors. It is important to find out in advance about the expected costs to avoid unpleasant surprises. In this article, we give you a comprehensive overview of the costs of a burial and tell you what you should pay attention to.
Cost breakdown of a burial according to Stiftung Warentest
Stiftung Warentest has a detailed cost statement for a burial created. This took into account the different services and fees charged at a funeral. Key costs include:
- Undertaker services
- Cemetery fees
- funeral service
- Gardening work
- tombstone
In the following, we will go into more detail about these costs and explain to you which factors influence the overall costs of a funeral.
The importance of undertaker services and certificates
The services provided by the undertaker play a major role in the costs of a funeral. These include:
- Organization of the funeral
- Transfer of the deceased
- Care for the deceased
- Preparation of the previously selected coffin (including dressing and embedding)
- Carrying out the funeral service including decoration and subsequent burial
- Applying for the required documents
- Completion/cancellation of other formalities
- Applying for an advance payment from the postal pension service
The costs for these services may vary depending on the undertaker. It is recommended to obtain various offers and compare prices. You should also find out about the required documents in advance to avoid additional costs. At Memovida, we work with a transparent fixed price for all services, including a coffin. In doing so, we want to save you complicated price lists and give you more time to grieve.
What factors determine the price of a coffin?
The price of a coffin is determined by various factors:
- Material of the coffin: Coffins made of fine wood are usually more expensive than simpler wooden coffins.
- Execution and design: Elaborately decorated coffins (for example through carvings), or coffins in special shapes can result in higher costs.
- Additional features: For example, if you want special fittings (handles) or an elaborate interior (pillow, blanket, upholstery), these extras can increase the price.
Individual advice from the undertaker can help you find the right coffin that meets both your wishes and your budget.
In our fixed price A selection of coffins is already included and you can choose according to your wishes - at no additional cost.
What are the cemetery fees made up of?
Cemetery fees consist of various items:
- grave use law: This is the fee for using the grave over a specific period of time (defined in the respective cemetery statutes).
- Tomb: Depending on the type of burial site, there may be different costs. In the case of a row grave, which is assigned by the cemetery administration and cannot be legally extended after the rest period has expired, the costs are lower than for an electoral grave, which can be freely elected and legally extended after the rest period has expired.
- Grave care: If you want to let a gardener take care of the grave, this will incur additional costs.
- administrative costs: These include, for example, the costs of processing the application and issuing the grave certificate.
You can find out the exact amount of cemetery fees from the local cemetery administration. We are happy to help you make the right choice and help you make the right choice.
Funeral service, gardener and stonemason: costs at a glance
In addition to the costs mentioned above, there are other expenses that may be incurred during a burial:
- Funeral service: The use of the chapel in the burial cemetery (partly including basic decoration)
- Musical accompaniment
- Excavation and filling of the grave site
- Pallbearers for burial
- Gardening: If you want to let a gardener take care of the grave, you should include this in your calculation.
- Steinmetz: Costs for designing and erecting a tombstone may also be incurred. This includes material costs and the costs of processing the stone.
Long-term financial aspects of a burial
In addition to the acute costs of a burial, you should also consider the long-term costs. These include, for example:
- Grave maintenance: Maintaining a grave regularly can result in additional costs. If you don't want to take care of the grave yourself, you should include this in your budget planning.
- Period of use: Depending on the cemetery and type of burial site, there is a fee for use over a certain period of time. These costs should be considered in the long term.
It is advisable to address these long-term aspects in advance in order to be able to make a comprehensive calculation of the costs of a burial.
What financial aspects need to be considered after a funeral?
After a funeral, you may also have other financial aspects:
- Inheritance tax: Note that heirs may have to pay inheritance tax. Consult a tax advisor in good time.
- Deregistration from insurance: If the deceased had insurance, you should cancel it promptly to avoid unnecessary costs. Please also ask the commissioned undertaker about this, who will be happy to take on some of this task for you.
- Bank accounts: If the deceased had bank accounts, you should also process them to avoid further costs (an original death certificate must be presented to the respective bank).
Dealing with these financial aspects at an early stage can help you save costs and avoid lengthy bureaucratic processes.
In conclusion, the costs of a burial depend on various factors and can vary from person to person. It is advisable to find out about the expected costs in good time and to obtain offers from various undertakers. Through careful planning, you can avoid additional costs and arrange the funeral within an appropriate framework.
