A mayor's office can take over concessions in a cemetery under certain conditions and according to a specific procedure.
Taking over concessions in practice
The resumption of concessions by a town hall is possible when concessions over 30 years old are in a state of abandonment (dilapidation).
The concessions are then legally repossessed. The mayor's office draws up a report on the state of abandonment of the concessions (posted for the public and families at the mayor's office and at the cemetery). The owners of the plots are notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt within 8 days. If the plot has not been re-established after 3 years, the mayor's office refers the matter to the Conseil d'État, which decides on the resumption of the plot.
As a result, the concessions are returned to the commune and the concession holders lose their rights to the graves.
There are several legislative deadlines for taking over concessions:
- The resumption of a thirty-year or fifty-year concession: This takes place after a period of 2 years following the expiry of the concession (the last burial must be more than 5 years ago), in the event of non-payment of the concession renewal;
- Resumption of a perpetual plot: This is possible after 30 years, if the burial is at least 10 years old. Maintenance must not be the responsibility of the commune as a result of a donation or testamentary disposition;
- Reclaiming the plot of a deceased "Mort pour la France" (D.F.F.): This is possible within 50 years.
The material resumption of concessions involves the compulsoryexhumation of the remains of the deceased and the removal of monuments belonging to the former owners.
During exhumation, a vault is opened and closed to remove a body, remains or urn for burial (in another vault or an ossuary in the local cemetery) or cremation.
This exhumation is decided by the mayor.
Exhumed remains are preserved in a reliquary or bone box.
The impact of taking over concessions on the management of cinerary space
Taking back concessions helps prevent dilapidation and overcrowding of a community's cemetery space. This avoids the problem of extending or creating new cemeteries.
Granimond has the skills to help you take over concessions and manage your cinerary space.
Our services :
Granimond assists you with the takeover of concessions in 3 stages:
- Pre-takeover of concessions: With experience in the funeral industry since 1989, we can help you with the legal, administrative and material aspects of the concession takeover procedure.
We have a thorough knowledge of the regulations. We inform you about the administrative steps to be taken before exhumations.
Our strict methodology enables us to comply with legislation and ensure the serenity of your cemetery. Our technical brief is available to support you in the management of your cemetery.
- During the recovery of concessions: We carry out the recovery of concessions in compliance with health and safety standards. We take every precaution to comply with regulations and protect the safety of our agents carrying out exhumations, and of visitors to your cemetery.
Our agents receive exhumation training to ensure respect for the deceased and hygiene standards. We have also drawn up a risk prevention plan for our work sites, including the essential principles of safety and signage.
- After the plot has been repossessed: We clean up and restore your ossuary and vault to its original state. Like our partners, we follow a waste management scheme and integrate sustainable development into our work. In doing so, we comply with European directives.
The Granimond team
