Casket with flowers on top

Beyond the Grave: Honoring Unique Burial Wishes

Legend has it there are 999 assorted ghosts, spirits and haunts living in Disney’s Haunted Mansion. A story and number so enticing that Disney routinely has to shut down the popular ride in order to clean up the scattered ashes of people hoping to spend eternity at the “Happiest place on Earth.” 

But it turns out Disney is not the only organization dealing with surreptitiously deposited remains. As cremation becomes more popular, and the cost of being buried in a traditional cemetery grows, alternative burial locations are growing in popularity. 

  • A number of Mississippi municipalities are struggling to figure out how to record the location of private cemeteries or single graves located on private property. 
  • Civil War battlefields in Mississippi and elsewhere often require families get a permit before scattering any ashes there. 
  • The Environmental Protection Agency has detailed instructions for the family of anyone who wants to be buried at sea
  • Various companies are offering Mississippi residents the opportunity to be turned into a tree or diamond. And liquified cremation is on its way. 

Whether these options sound appealing, or like something from a horror story, the growing number of creative burial choices is no trick—it’s leading to real legal treats… and troubles. 

Palmer & Slay PLLC is working with families in the Brandon, Mississippi area and beyond who want to plan a unique burial and minimize the risk that their last requests will be ignored or cause problems. 

Put Your Wishes In Writing

Back in the day, when burial options were limited, families usually knew exactly where their loved ones wanted to be laid to rest. Today, with so many alternatives, and with families themselves scattered like spirits across the country, disputes about where and how to lay loved ones to rest are becoming more common.

The solution to this haunting problem is simple: make your wishes known. We get it—death isn’t exactly a topic people love to discuss. It feels a bit like summoning the Grim Reaper to your doorstep. But when you’re putting together your estate plan, it’s a conversation worth having.

Often, when the Palmer & Slay team is helping our clients craft their wills and other estate planning documents, burial preferences naturally come up. We encourage our clients to make their wishes clear by writing them down, but we do not like including that information in a will. 

But Not In Your Will

While it’s a great idea to write down your burial wishes, we always tell our clients that including that information in a will could be a mistake. Why? Because when someone dies, their loved ones aren’t usually rushing to dig through estate planning documents. By the time they do, the funeral may have already come and gone, and your final wishes could remain buried deep within those papers—never to see the light of day.

To avoid this issue, we encourage you to talk about your burial plans with your family. Tell them your plans and show them any written documents memorializing them — especially if you have pre-paid for a grave, item, or or service you expect to be used. That way, you can rest in peace—literally—knowing your final wishes are known, and your loved ones won’t be scrambling to figure out how to comply with any unconventional requests. 

Preserving your wealth. Protecting your loved ones. 

As you get things in order, the Palmer & Slay team is here to guide you through the process, ensuring that your estate plan is as personalized and unique as the resting place you choose. Let’s make sure that when the time comes, your legacy is one that brings peace, not surprise or puzzlement. Please contact our experienced team of attorneys to schedule an appointment.