When you buy a cemetery plot you have the exclusive right to be buried in that plot of land—also known as a right of sepulture (burial or interment).

Laws and definitions of terms vary from state to state but your rights are generally governed by the contract or agreement you sign when you buy the plot; by state laws (statutes) regarding cemeteries and plots; by corporate bylaws for the cemetery corporation that owns and manages the cemetery; by any restrictions in the real property deed (quitclaim deed) used to convey the plot to you; and if you are married when you purchase the plot, by state laws governing marital or community property rights.

Because the right of sepulture is effectively a sale of the land where the plot is located a quitclaim deed or other real property deed may be used to convey or transfer ownership of a plot from the cemetery corporation or a plot owner to a new plot owner.

These laws and agreements may also limit your right to transfer by will ownership of any part of your plot and the right to be buried in the plot (if it is a double plot, for example).

In Colorado, when you purchase a cemetery plot, you are granted the exclusive right of sepulture, meaning you have the right to be buried in that specific plot of land. This right is typically outlined in the contract or agreement you sign with the cemetery corporation at the time of purchase. Colorado state statutes, along with the cemetery's corporate bylaws, govern the terms of your rights to the plot. Additionally, if a real property deed, such as a quitclaim deed, is used to convey the plot, it may include certain restrictions. For married individuals, Colorado's marital or community property laws may also influence rights regarding the plot. It's important to note that while you have rights to the plot, there may be limitations on your ability to transfer ownership or designate who may be buried there, especially in cases of multiple burial plots. These restrictions are often found within the same set of laws, agreements, and corporate bylaws that establish your right of sepulture.