Requirements for burial in a columbarium
For an urn to be buried in a columbarium, certain legal and organizational conditions must be met. These vary depending on the federal state and cemetery statutes.
Who can have an urn buried in a columbarium?
- The burial can be carried out by the next of kin or an authorized person.
- One Funeral provision makes it possible to reserve a columbarium niche while still alive.
Statutory regulations in Germany
- Cemetery pressure: In Germany, an urn must be kept in a cemetery, in a church of the Holy Sepulchre or an approved columbarium.
- Mandatory rest period: The duration varies depending on the federal state and columbarium (often 15—30 years).
Organizational aspects
- Selecting the columbarium and the desired niche
- Clarification of fees and rest time with the cemetery administration
- Planning a possible funeral service
How long does an urn stay in a columbarium?
The rest period of an urn in a columbarium is regulated by law and may vary depending on the federal state and cemetery statutes.
Rest periods and duration of use
- In Germany, the prescribed rest period for urns in columbaries is between 15 and 30 years, depending on the location.
- After the rest period is over, the Use can often be extended, provided that the relatives so wish and pay a fee.
What happens after the rest period is over?
- The urn can be reburied in another resting place.
- Alternatively, there is a anonymous or joint burial in a graveyard.
- In some columbariums, ash remains are buried or scattered after a certain period of time.
Where can you find columbaria in Germany?
Columbaria can be found in various places in Germany, including Cemeteries, churches and special memorials. Its spread is steadily increasing as more and more people choose this space-saving and dignified form of burial.
Public columbariums in cemeteries
- Many municipal and church cemeteries offer Columbaries in the form of urn walls or halls on.
- Administration and maintenance are carried out by cemetery operators.
Ecclesiastical columbaries and sepulchre churches
- Some churches have former chapels or crypts converted into columbaries.
- These places offer a particularly spiritual and peaceful atmosphere.
Special columbariums in Germany
- St. Bartholomäus Columbarium in Cologne — a modern urn columbarium in a church.
- Columbarium at the Ostfriedhof in Munich — one of the oldest in Germany.
Would you like to know where a columbarium is located near you? Memovida helps you choose and organize a suitable resting place.
