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Funerals/Burial on private property in GA

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Expert: Lisa Carlson - 6/29/2008


Question
Do the laws in GA (Carroll County) permit burial on private property? I have 22 acres, zoned agricultural. Me and my husband and even our adult children would like to be buried on our land.
Thank you,
Sherry

Answer
The laws in GA don't address this. So . . . draw a map of the land showing where the family burial ground will be and pay to have it recorded with the deed. A good practice is 150 ft. from a water supply and 25 ft. from a power line or neighbor's boundary. It's very unlikely that in that rural an area that there will be any zoning issues. That map should "establish" your family cemetery, and there isn't likely to be any problem after that.

If you want to avoid the funeral industry entirely, get my book at the library, "Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love." It's now out of print while I work on a new edition, but the library can get it on inter-library loan. Amazon may have some used copies. There is a GA chapter that will walk you through the legal requirements there.

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Lisa Carlson

Expertise

Funeral Law. Having written a 512-page book on funeral law for consumers with state-by-state information, I am very conversant with consumer rights in this regard: What are the laws on disposition of cremated remains? Is embalming required? Do I have to use a funeral home? Can I have a home wake? Is it a state law to buy a vault? I prepaid for a funeral but changed my mind. They won`t give me all my money back. What can I do? . . . If you have an immediate need for information because a death has just occurred or is about to occur, you may call me at 802-482-6021.

Experience

I have monitored the funeral industry on behalf of consumers for over 20 years. I have been a guest speaker to funeral trade organizations, consumer workshops, and social service professionals. I am regularly consulted by lawyers and legislators as well as journalists.

Organizations
Funeral Ethics Organization (www.funeralethics.org) Funeral Consumers Alliance (www.funerals.org)

Publications
Caring for Your Own Dead (1987) Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love (1998) I Died Laughing: Funeral Education with a Light Touch (2001) Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death (2011) with co-author Joshua Slocum

Education/Credentials
Masters degree in Administration and Special Education

Past/Present Clients
Available as an expert witness for funeral-related court cases.

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