Jack, I had this problem about three weeks ago. Here is the e-mail reply I got from Jeannie if it will help. Q is my questions and A is her answers: Subject: RE: New burial in a Pioneer cemetery? From: "Regan-Dinius, Jeannie" <JRDinius@dnr.IN.gov> To: "Ernie & Connie Lasley" <elasley@sigecom.net> Ernie: Q: So the big question is, can a person be buried in an old Pioneer Cemetery? A: Burials are the jurisdiction of the Board of Health. Check with your local Board of Health to see about this issue. Q: Since his family has owned the land for 125 years, can he rename the cemetery and declare it as his final resting place? A: There is no official law on naming a cemetery. Unfortunately, people rename them to suit their needs. Q: There are existing laws that a cemetery must be platted and must have a perpetual care fund before a person can be buried there? A: You are correct, but again, this falls under the Board of Health. Q: What about "disposal of a body" laws? A: Department of Health Q: Is the funeral home responsible for determining if the selected burial place is legal and proper? A: I am not sure of the answer to this question. Q: Will digging a grave there violate the DNR and DHPA rule on needing a permit to disturb the earth within 100 feet of a cemetery? A: No, if the digging falls under the General Cemetery Act. Q: Whose responsibility is it to enforce those laws? A: Mostly for what you describe, Department of Health. Let me know if I helped or only made matters worse. Jeannie Jeannie Regan-Dinius Special Projects Coordinator DNR-DHPA 402 W. Washington Street, W274 Indianapolis, IN 46204-2739 317/232-1646 317/232-0693 That was the reply I got to answer my questions, as you can see most answers refer me to the Board of Health. Ernie Lasley, Coordinator Gibson County PCRP INPCRP Page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~inpcrp/ Cemeteries Page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ingibson/gibcem.html RAOGK Volunteer (Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness) At 02:01 AM 04/24/2006, you wrote: >Jeannie > We have a switch, a couple bought a 99 acre farm on the edge of > New Albany, >in New Albany Twp. They want to know if they can, they would like to be >buried there. I told them there are a few things to take into >consideration. Can >you give me and those on the list who might run into this, some >advice. I told >them they may have to use GPR to make sure they have a clear place >and not dig >into remains. There has never been but a few buried in the 1/2 acre >plot. With >the price of cemetery lots and already owning a nice spot this might become >the norm. What is your advice. >Jack E. Briles Sr. >jackbriles@aol.com >New Albany, In. > > >==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== >This list is for discussion of topics related to the Indiana Pioneer >Cemeteries Restoration Project only. >Please do not send genealogical queries through this list. The >surname and geographic Mailing Lists on Rootsweb at >http://lists.rootsweb.com are a better venue. >Thank you.