What is a transfer fee?

What the fee covers

A cemetery keeps a record of who owns each plot. When a plot changes hands, the office prepares new paperwork, updates that record, and issues confirmation to the new owner. The transfer fee pays for that work.

Who pays it

Whatever the buyer and seller agree. Sellers often pay it to keep the listing simple. Buyers sometimes pay it in exchange for a lower price. Some split it. A good listing states which arrangement applies - on Cemlist it is a required field.

What it is not

The transfer fee is not a commission, not a tax, and not part of the plot price. If someone asks you to pay a transfer fee to anyone other than the cemetery office, stop and call the cemetery directly.

State-by-state differences

Texas

Common and disclosed up front by most cemeteries. Some cemeteries also hold a right of first refusal.

California

The cemetery must record the transfer for it to be valid, and it may charge a transfer fee for that recording.

Illinois

Cemeteries set their own transfer rules and fees, so amounts vary widely between cemeteries in the same city.

Common questions

Is the transfer fee negotiable?

The fee itself is set by the cemetery and is usually not negotiable. What is negotiable between buyer and seller is who pays it.

When is the transfer fee paid?

When the cemetery prepares the transfer paperwork, at the end of the sale. Ask the cemetery office for the amount before you agree a price, so it is never a surprise.

Is the transfer fee the same as the plot price?

No. The plot price goes to the seller. The transfer fee goes to the cemetery for updating its records. A listing price does not include the fee unless the seller says so.