Glossary
Inurnment
Inurnment is the placing of cremated remains into an urn, or the placing of an urn into its final resting place such as a columbarium niche or a grave. It is the cremation counterpart to the burial term interment.
After cremation, remains are commonly transferred into an urn (inurnment) and may then be set in a niche, buried in an urn plot, or kept by the family.
Cemeteries may charge a fee to place and seal an urn in a niche, similar to the opening-and-closing charge for a casket burial.
Related terms
See also
Common questions
- What is the difference between inurnment and interment?
- Inurnment is the cremation counterpart to interment: it refers to placing cremated remains into an urn, or setting that urn in its final resting place such as a niche or grave. Interment more often describes burying a casket.
- Is there a fee to place an urn in a niche?
- Cemeteries may charge an inurnment fee to place and seal an urn in a columbarium niche, similar to the opening-and-closing charge for a casket burial. Ask the cemetery for itemized pricing.
- Where can an urn be inurned?
- Common options include a columbarium niche, an in-ground urn plot, or a cremation space within a family grave. Some families instead keep the urn at home, which is permitted in many places subject to local rules.
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