Sec. 711.034. DEDICATION. (a) A cemetery organization that acquires property for interment purposes shall:

(1) in the case of land, survey and subdivide the property into gardens or sections, with descriptive names or numbers, and make a map or plat of the property showing the plots contained within the perimeter boundary and showing a specific unique number for each plot; or

(2) in the case of a mausoleum or a crematory and columbarium, make a map or plat of the property delineating sections or other divisions with descriptive names and numbers and showing a specific unique number for each crypt, lawn crypt, or niche.

(b) The cemetery organization shall file the map or plat with the county clerk of each county in which the property or any part of the property is located.

(c) The cemetery organization shall file with the map or plat a written certificate or declaration of dedication of the property delineated by the map or plat, dedicating the property exclusively to cemetery purposes. The certificate or declaration must be:

(1) in a form prescribed by the directors or officers of the cemetery organization;

(2) signed by the president or vice-president and the secretary of the cemetery organization, or by another person authorized by the directors; and

(3) acknowledged.

(d) Filing a map or plat and a certificate or declaration under this section dedicates the property for cemetery purposes and is constructive notice of that dedication.

(e) The certificate or declaration may contain a provision permitting the directors by order to resurvey and change the shape and size of the property for which the associated map or plat is filed if that change does not disturb any interred remains. Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), if a change is made, the cemetery organization shall:

(1) file an amended map or plat not later than the last day of the next calendar quarter; and

(2) indicate any change in a specific unique number assigned to a plot, crypt, lawn crypt, or columbarium niche.

(e-1) A cemetery organization that holds a certificate of authority to operate a perpetual care cemetery under Chapter 712 is not required to file an amended map or plat if:

(1) the only change to the property is:

(A) the placement of a cremains receptacle that contains not more than four niches on a plot; or

(B) the alteration of an existing cremains receptacle on a plot; and

(2) the cemetery organization maintains records, as required by rules adopted by the Finance Commission of Texas, that specify the location of the cremains receptacle.

(f) The county clerk shall number and file the map or plat and record the certificate or declaration in the county deed records.

(g) A cemetery association is civilly liable to the state in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each map or plat that fails to comply with Subsection (a), (b), (c), or (e).

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 502, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 123 (S.B. 661), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.