Forms of burial
The choice of grave commits the family for twenty years. It is worth understanding.
The type of grave determines three things: how long the resting place will exist, what it will cost, and who has to look after it.
Not all types are available everywhere: the municipality decides what it offers.
This is how long the grave remains in place. It is set by the municipality and usually runs between twenty and twenty-five years.
At the end the grave is reclaimed, unless a family grave is extended. The municipality informs relatives at the address it has on file — worth keeping up to date if you move.
For a row or family grave it falls to the relatives: planting, watering, tidying. For a communal grave or a natural burial there is none. For a scattered family that point often weighs more than the price.
The fees are municipal and differ widely. A row grave is often part of the municipality's basic services; a family grave has to be paid for.
The headstone is always the family's expense and commonly falls between CHF 3,000 and CHF 8,000. Communal and row graves do not always require one.
Questions & answers
For a family grave, yes, within the plots available. For a row grave, no: it is allocated in order.
The grave is reclaimed and the plot reallocated. The municipality notifies relatives in advance; family graves can often be extended.
In many municipalities, yes. It is a common way to reunite spouses. The municipality will say what it permits.
Not always. Many municipalities provide simple markings for row graves, and communal graves have none.