Cemetery Insurance
Owners of cemeteries and crematoriums face numerous potential hazards ranging from theft and vandalism to possible lawsuits, but the right insurance can provide critical reimbursement.
Written by
Christine Lacagnina has written thousands of insurance-based articles for TrustedChoice.com by authoring consumable, understandable content.
Reviewed by
Cara Carlone is a licensed P&C agent with 20 years of experience. She has her P&C license in RI and TX and holds CPCU, API, and AINS designations.
If you run a cemetery or crematorium, you face challenges and risks unlike any other profession. But there are also several common hazards cemeteries are familiar with, like many other businesses, including possible lawsuits, commercial property damage, fires, and more. Fortunately, having the right kind of cemetery insurance coverage can help prevent financial losses related to these exposures and beyond.
A local independent insurance agent can help you find the right cemetery insurance program. They'll equip your business with all the necessary coverage. But first, here's more about insurance for cemeteries, what it covers, and why it's necessary.
What Is Cemetery Insurance?
Cemetery insurance is just a specialized form of business insurance designed to meet the needs of a cemetery or crematorium. This type of policy considers a broad range of risks ranging from theft and vandalism to lawsuits related to customer injuries on the premises. With cemetery insurance in place, your business can get the reimbursement it really needs after an unexpected incident.
Why Do You Need Cemetery Insurance?
The reality of any business is that, sometimes, all it takes is one on-site injury to destroy all the hard work you've put into it. As a cemetery or crematory, you’re just as susceptible to fires, hail damage, theft, and vandalism as any other business.
When it comes to protecting your company, you need coverage specific to the risks unique to cemeteries and crematoriums. Here are just a few common risks faced by owners of cemeteries and crematoriums that require coverage:
- Third-party injuries or property damage on the premises
- Financial harm as a result of negligence, errors, or omissions in your services
- Employee injuries
- Losses during temporary business closures
- Damage to or loss of cemetery property or equipment due to fires, hail, theft, or vandalism
You need a comprehensive cemetery insurance program that addresses these exposures and others. Your business insurance policy must protect your livelihood, your customers, and your employees from the financial devastation that can accompany these kinds of unforeseen events.
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What Does Cemetery Insurance Cover?
Cemeteries have a lot of valuable business property, including headstones and monuments, that must be protected by enough commercial property insurance against disasters like vandalism, theft, lightning strikes, and more. But aside from insurance for cemetery monuments, you'll likely want to choose from some or all of the following types of coverage for your cemetery or crematorium:
- Commercial general liability insurance: This protects your cemetery or crematorium against expenses related to lawsuits from third-party claims of personal property damage or bodily injury caused by your cemetery.
- Premises liability insurance: Often a part of general liability insurance, this coverage protects your cemetery or crematorium against expenses related to lawsuits after a third party claims to have been injured on your premises, such as after tripping over a headstone.
- Professional liability insurance: This covers expenses related to third-party claims of improper services administered by your cemetery or crematorium that caused some type of harm.
- Business interruption insurance: This covers temporary business closures due to listed perils such as fire and provides a continuation of revenue and other expenses like employee salaries.
- Commercial vehicle insurance: This covers incidents related to company vehicles, such as hearses, in the case of lawsuits, accidents, theft, vandalism, etc.
- Workers' compensation insurance: This covers expenses related to employee injuries or illnesses caused by the work environment or job duties.
- Employee dishonesty and crime insurance: This covers expenses related to employee theft or other dishonest acts against your business or other acts of crime committed by any third party.
An independent insurance agent can help you assemble a comprehensive policy for your cemetery or crematorium that includes each type of protection you need.
How Much Does Cemetery or Crematorium Insurance Cost?
The cost of your cemetery insurance or crematorium insurance can vary based on a few different factors. These can include things like your business's exact location, size, and annual revenue.
Costs can also vary depending on the total amount of commercial property and company vehicles you need to insure. If your business has any prior claims history, this may also impact your insurance costs. An independent insurance agent can help you find the most affordable cemetery or crematorium insurance around.
The Benefits of Working with an Independent Insurance Agent
Cemeteries and crematories are entrusted with the remains of loved ones. These are specialized businesses with a wide variety of exposures. Just as you may be a trusted adviser to families in their time of need, you also need a trusted partner who can help you find ways to mitigate your financial risks. An independent insurance agent can get to know your business and help you find the cemetery insurance or crematory insurance that will protect your company in the worst of times.