Burial Vault or Grave Liner
Burial vaults or grave liners, also known as burial containers,
are commonly used in traditional, full-service funerals. The vault
or liner is often placed in the ground before burial, and the
casket is lowered into it. The purpose is to prevent damage to the
casket if the ground shifts over time.
A grave liner is made of reinforced concrete
and will satisfy any cemetery requirement.
A burial vault is more substantial and
expensive than a grave liner. It surrounds the casket in concrete
or another material and may be sold with a warranty of protective
strength.
State laws do not require a vault or liner, and funeral
providers may not tell you otherwise. However, keep in mind that
many cemeteries require some type of outer burial container to
prevent the grave from sinking. Neither grave liners nor burial
vaults are designed to prevent the eventual decomposition of human
remains. It is illegal for funeral providers to claim that a vault
will keep water, dirt or other debris from penetrating into the
casket if that's not true.
Before showing you any outer burial containers, a funeral
provider is required to give you a list of prices and descriptions.
It may be less expensive to buy an outer burial container from a
third-party dealer than from a funeral home or cemetery. Compare
prices from several sources before you select a model.
