Glossary
What is 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 — the inurnment in the first sense — and may then be set in a columbarium niche, buried in an in-ground urn plot, or placed in a cremation space within a family grave. The word also describes that final placement, so context determines which step is meant.
When an urn is placed in a niche or buried, cemeteries may charge an inurnment fee to open, place, and seal the space, similar to the opening-and-closing charge for a casket burial. Engraving the niche front or marker is usually a separate cost.
Many families instead keep the urn at home, divide the remains among relatives, or scatter a portion, which is permitted in many places subject to state and local rules. If you want a fixed, visitable resting place, ask the cemetery for an itemized price covering the niche or plot, the inurnment fee, and any engraving.
Related terms
Urn
An urn is a container that holds cremated remains. Urns come in many materials, sizes, and styles — from simple boxes to decorative vessels and biodegradable options — and may be kept at home, buried, or placed in a columbarium niche.
Columbarium
A columbarium is a structure or wall containing niches that hold urns of cremated remains. It is often located in a cemetery, mausoleum, or place of worship, and provides a permanent, visitable place for ashes.
Niche
A niche is a compartment in a columbarium or niche wall that holds an urn of cremated remains. Families buy the right to place an urn in a specific niche, which provides a permanent, visitable resting place without an in-ground grave.
Cremains
Cremains is a common term for cremated remains — the bone fragments left after cremation, processed into a coarse, sandy material. They are returned to the family and can be kept in an urn, buried, scattered, or placed in a niche.
See also
Common questions about Inurnment
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This definition is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws and prices vary by state and provider. See our editorial standards.