Burial Vault Essay
Funerals and final expenses are a major issue for unprepared families. With the average funeral cost estimated in the range of $8,000 - $10,000 dollars, unexpected costs and fees can create significant stress for grieving family members. That's why the burial vault is such a common point of frustration for folks in this situation. They add somewhere between $900 - $7,000 dollars to the total funeral bill.
Understanding the role that a burial vault plays is vital to understanding why this additional expense is required. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about vaults, their purpose, and the assumed legal mandate to have one. To clear these things up, it's a good idea to start with the basics.
What Is a Burial Vault?
A burial …show more content…
This makes maintenance of the site much easier, and it also prevents a cave-in from destroying the casket of the deceased. For these reasons, many cemeteries have regulations that require a vault or liner.
What Myths About Burial Vaults Exist?
One of the most common reasons for burial vaults that is passed around deals with the idea of infectious disease. It's claimed that, since decaying bodies represent a threat to the public, liners and vaults are required by law. In reality, this isn't the case. In fact, there are no laws that require you to purchase one. That said, a cemetery will likely have a policy that requires one for other purposes.
The reality of the situation is that a decaying body presents no threat to public health. That's because most pathogens tend to die when the host body does. There are a lot of possible reasons why this myth is perpetuated, but there is no truth to it.
The other common misconception about burial vaults is that they'll protect the physical remains of the deceased. Over time, the body will decay no matter what preventative measures are put into place. A vault does, however, protect the body and casket from physical
Understanding the role that a burial vault plays is vital to understanding why this additional expense is required. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about vaults, their purpose, and the assumed legal mandate to have one. To clear these things up, it's a good idea to start with the basics.
What Is a Burial Vault?
A burial …show more content…
This makes maintenance of the site much easier, and it also prevents a cave-in from destroying the casket of the deceased. For these reasons, many cemeteries have regulations that require a vault or liner.
What Myths About Burial Vaults Exist?
One of the most common reasons for burial vaults that is passed around deals with the idea of infectious disease. It's claimed that, since decaying bodies represent a threat to the public, liners and vaults are required by law. In reality, this isn't the case. In fact, there are no laws that require you to purchase one. That said, a cemetery will likely have a policy that requires one for other purposes.
The reality of the situation is that a decaying body presents no threat to public health. That's because most pathogens tend to die when the host body does. There are a lot of possible reasons why this myth is perpetuated, but there is no truth to it.
The other common misconception about burial vaults is that they'll protect the physical remains of the deceased. Over time, the body will decay no matter what preventative measures are put into place. A vault does, however, protect the body and casket from physical