Cemetery Regulation in Prince George's County, Maryland

For-profit cemeteries that operate in the County are regulated by Prince George's County and the State of Maryland.

If you have questions or problems relating to one of these cemeteries, contact the Department of Environmental Resources at (301) 883-5804 or call the Maryland State Office of Cemetery Oversight at (410) 230-6229 or (888) 218-5925 toll-free.

Your Rights When Purchasing Burial Sites and Goods or Services from Cemeteries in Prince George's County

(Prince George's County Code, Section 2-146 (c)(1)-(16), 2003 Edition)

1. Disclosure of Price Information
   • When consumers contact cemeteries by phone for price information, cemeteries are required to provide complete and accurate information about the prices of burial sites (in ground, mausoleum, cremation niches) and cemetery goods and services to anyone who inquires by phone.
   • Cemeteries must provide a written disclosure statement to all prospective purchasers who come to the cemetery to inquire about or make arrangements for the purchase of burial sites and/or cemetery goods and services.
     
   • The disclosure statement must include a general price list.
   • Where there is a range of prices for certain items, the price list shall show the range from the least expensive price to the most expensive price.
   • The price list shall indicate which goods and/or services you must purchase and whether such a purchase is mandated by law or by cemetery policy.
   • The price list shall show any other fees that you may be assessed.
   • The cemetery must disclose any cemetery rules or regulations that will affect the types of goods and services that you are considering purchasing and provide you with a copy, that you may keep, of the rules and regulations governing the use of the cemetery.
   • The cemetery must disclose whether there are any restrictions on the burial site that you are interested in purchasing. (i.e., no monuments, markers only, outer containers required, etc.)
   • These disclosures must be made before your purchase is completed.
   • The disclosure statement is yours to keep whether or not you make a purchase. Both the consumer and a cemetery representative must sign the disclosure statement.
2. Contracts
   • Before the sale is finalized, the cemetery must provide, for your approval and acceptance, a written contract that itemizes all goods or services you are considering purchasing.
     
   • The contract must include the section, lot and site numbers of the interment site for which goods or services are being purchased, any other fees that will be assessed, and the total cost of those goods, services, and fees.
     
   • The contract must include, if applicable, model, manufacturer, and other relevant specifications.
     
   • The contract must indicate which goods and services are required by cemetery regulation and which are required by law.
     
   • If goods and services are required by law, the contract must identify the pertinent law.
     
   • If you wish to finalize the purchases as detailed on the contract, the seller is required to provide you with a copy of that contract.
     
   • The itemized contract must be signed by you and by a representative of the seller.
3. Memorials
   
   • Cemetery personnel must disclose that you have the right to purchase a memorial from the cemetery or from an independent memorial contractor.
   • Memorials must be marked with section, lot and site numbers of the burial site for which it is purchased.
   • The cemetery must provide you with information about the various types of memorials available from the cemetery and the fee structure for each.
     
   • The cemetery must disclose any additional fees that you will be assessed by the cemetery in relation to the purchase of a memorial from the cemetery. (memorial care, installation, early care, administrative, etc.)
     
   • The cemetery must also disclose any additional fees that you will be assessed by the cemetery in relation to the purchase of a memorial from an independent memorial contractor. (memorial care, foundation, installation, early care, administrative, etc.)
4. Vaults and Grave Liners
   
   • The cemetery must disclose you have the right to purchase a grave liner or vault from an independent contractor or funeral director.
     
   • The cemetery must disclose the price of the vault or grave liner and any additional, related fees that you will be assessed if you purchase the vault or liner from the cemetery.
     
   • The cemetery must disclose any additional fees that you will be assessed by the cemetery if you purchase the vault or liner from an independent contractor or funeral director.
     
5. Perpetual Care
   
   • Cemeteries that represent that they are perpetual care cemeteries must provide that service and set up a state-monitored trust fund for perpetual care funds.
6. Cemetery Maps
   
   • A cemetery must provide, for your examination, a master map that shows the layout of the cemetery, identifies the various burial sections therein, the burial sites that have been sold, and the particular burial site in which you are interested.
     
7. Religious or Cultural Customs
   
   • If the cemetery represents that it caters to the burial needs of a specific religious or cultural group, then it must honor the religious or cultural customs of such purchasers.
     
8. Consumer Contacts
   
   • The cemetery must provide you with the address and phone number of the agencies that regulate sellers of burial goods and services in the State of Maryland and Prince George's County.

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Suggestions for Cemetery Customers

1. Before purchasing a grave or mausoleum site, physically inspect the location before signing the contract. If the site is acceptable to you, make note of any surrounding memorials (names) or landmarks adjacent or near the site. If necessary, take pictures of the immediate area where the site is located.
2. A memorial does not have to be purchased at the time burial arrangements are made. You have the right to choose whether or not you will purchase a memorial and the time frame for doing so.
3. If you so desire, you may remain at the burial site until the interment is completed or you may designate a family member or friend to stay at the gravesite until the casket is lowered into the burial site.
4. If bad weather (ice, heavy snow) at the time of services prevents interment into the actual grave site until weather and ground conditions permit, insist that the cemetery notify you of the actual date that the interment will take place so that you or your representative can be there at that time.
5. Ask the cemetery to describe the arrangements that have been made for perpetual care of the cemetery and what that care entails. You may also request that the cemetery provide you with the name, address and phone number of the trustee who manages the perpetual care and maintenance funds for the cemetery.

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A Word About Prepaying for Cemetery Goods and Services

There is no question that preplanning the arrangements for the final disposition of your body is a wise consumer action and a kindness for your family. However, there are mixed views about the wisdom of prepaying for these services.

The main advantage of prepaying is that your family will not have to assume those expenses at the time of your death. The price you pay may also be less expensive at the time you prepay than at the time of need.

However, there are some caveats about buying pre-need. What happens if you retire and/or move out of the area? Sometimes consumers change their minds about the kind of arrangements desired. And the worst case scenario sometimes happens: the provider may no longer be in business at the time of need.

Before making a preneed purchase, contact the State Office of Cemetery Oversight (410) 230-6229 for information about current law governing the cancellation of cemetery or funeral goods or services in Maryland. Do not make a final decision until you have this information. It could be a costly mistake.

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Cemeteries Regulated by Prince George’s County (Department of Environmental Resources)

1. Stonemore
   t/a Cedar Hill Cemetery
   Attn: Tina Hodge, Director of Administration
   4111 Pennsylvania Avenue
   Suitland, Maryland 20746
   (301) 568-5400
   thodg@stonemore.com
2. Stonemore
   t/a Lincoln Memorial Cemetery
   Attn: Linda Pyles, Administrator
   4001 Suitland Road
   Suitland, Maryland, 20746
   (301) 568-8410
   lpyle@stonemore.com
3. Stewart Enterprises, Inc.
   t/a Fort Lincoln Cemetery
   Attn: Roger Volland, Director of Operations
   3401 Bladensburg Road
   Brentwood, Maryland 20722
   (301) 864-5090
   rvolland@stei.com
4. Stewart Enterprises, Inc.
   t/a Harmony National Memorial Park
   Attn: Mac Day, Director of Operations
   PO Box 6059
   Largo, Maryland 20792-6059
   (301) 772-0900
   (301) 538-3969
   maday@stei.com

7101 Sheriff Road (physical address)
Landover, Maryland, 20785

5. Service Corporation International
   t/a George Washington Cemetery
   Attn: Laura Foos, General Manager
   9500 Riggs Road
   Adelphi, Maryland 20783
   (301) 434-4640
   Laura.foos@sci-us.com
6. Service Corporation International
   t/a Maryland National Memorial Park
   Attn: Charlene Elliott, General Manager
   13300 Baltimore Avenue
   Laurel, Maryland 20707
   (301) 210-6464
   Charlene.elliott@sci-us.com
7. Stonemore
   t/a Washington National Cemetery
   Attn: Lois Burgess Sellner, Administrator
   4101 Suitland Road
   Suitland, Maryland 20746
   (301) 568-5250
   lsell@stonemore.com
8. Alex Williams
   t/a Forest Hills Memorial Gardens Cemetery
   10901 Brandywine Road
   Clinton, Maryland 20735
   (not performing burials at this time)

Note: The Prince George’s Code authorizes the County to regulate for-profit cemeteries only. We have no jurisdiction over religious, church-affiliated or private family cemeteries. Although not regulated by the State, religious and church affiliated cemeteries must register with the State Office of Cemetery Oversight in Baltimore at (410) 230-6228.