Burial types
Anonymous burial
Interment in a communal field without a name and without an individual plot. The cheapest option — with a consequence the family should know about beforehand.
At a glance
Anonymous burial in brief
What anonymous actually means and how it differs from a lawn grave.
No plot, no name, no stone — usually a lawn field
The cemetery takes care of it; nothing is required of the family
The interment often takes place unattended, sometimes on an undisclosed date
Anonymous burial is the only type that cannot be corrected afterwards: without a known plot there is later nothing to mark and nowhere to go.
An observation from our own consultations — which is why we raise it with every family.
Process
How it works
The process is simpler than with other types — which is precisely why it is worth deciding calmly.
Collection and care
We collect the deceased and handle the formalities at the registry office.
Cremation or coffin
Anonymous interments are usually urn burials; some cemeteries also offer anonymous earth graves.
Allocation of the field
The cemetery administration allocates the spot in the communal field. As a rule the family is not told where it is.
Interment
Often unattended. Some cemeteries allow relatives to be present — we clarify that beforehand.
The lawn grave as a middle way
Anyone considering an anonymous burial mainly because of the upkeep should know about the lawn grave: a fixed spot with a name plaque, but without any obligation to tend it. For many families that is the solution they do not regret later.
- A small plaque set flush in the lawn, with a name
- The cemetery administration takes care of the upkeep
- A place the family can visit
- The price difference to an anonymous burial is usually small
Good to know
What you should know
Relatives cannot visit a specific spot later
A spot with a plaque, but no obligation to tend it
The cheapest form: no plot, no stone, no upkeep
Once the interment has taken place the decision cannot be changed
Not provided for in Islam or Judaism; Orthodox families rarely choose it
In our experience families regret an anonymous burial more often than any other form — usually months later, when the wish for a place arises. If the reason is mainly the upkeep, ask us about the lawn grave.
Alternatives
Three routes without grave care
If upkeep is the reason, there are solutions that keep a place.
The price difference between an anonymous burial and a lawn grave is usually smaller than families expect — we will work it out for you.
Setting it straight
Four misconceptions about anonymous burial
The most common assumptions — and what they mean in practice.
“We will find out where the spot is later.”
As a rule, no. That is exactly what makes the interment anonymous. Some cemeteries keep internal records, but no right of visit follows from that.
“Anonymous and lawn grave are the same thing.”
No. A lawn grave has a plaque with a name and therefore a place. Both are free of upkeep.
“Relatives are not allowed to attend.”
It depends on the cemetery. Many inter without anyone present, some allow attendance. We clarify it beforehand.
“It is the cheapest route — by a wide margin.”
The margin is smaller than assumed. Compared with an urn interment with a name plaque it is often only a few hundred euros.
Comparison
The four burial types compared
Choose a type — the table shows what it means for the family.
Our focus
When the family lives abroad
Many families choose an anonymous burial because nobody is nearby who could tend the grave. That is understandable — but there is a middle way: repatriation to the home country, where the family lives and the grave can be visited. The difference in cost is often smaller than expected.
Frequently asked questions
What families ask us
What exactly does anonymous mean?
The interment takes place in a communal field without a name and without a visible plot. As a rule the family is not told the exact spot.
May relatives attend?
That depends on the cemetery. Many inter without anyone present, some allow attendance. We clarify it before you instruct us.
What is the difference to a lawn grave?
A lawn grave with a plaque has a fixed spot and a name, but no obligation to tend it — the cemetery does that. For many families it is the better compromise.
Is an anonymous burial the cheapest option?
As a rule yes, because the plot, the stone and the upkeep fall away. The difference to an urn interment with a name plaque is often smaller than assumed.
Could we bury them in the home country instead?
Yes. Particularly where the family lives abroad, repatriation is often the solution everyone can live with better. We tell you openly what both routes cost.
One call is enough
The first conversation is free and non-binding. We are available around the clock — in English, German, Russian and Ukrainian.