Missouri Cemetery Laws Overview

Missouri cemetery laws are primarily found inChapter 214 (Cemeteries) andChapter 194 (Death—Disposition of Dead Bodies) of the Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo). The Missouri Division of Professional Registration (DPR) regulates funeral homes and endowed-care cemeteries.

• Section 214.010: Local government may acquire and dispose of cemeteries within boundaries — ... (8/28/1990)
• Section 214.020: City may establish perpetual care cemetery fund — receive gifts — ... (8/28/1988)
• Section 214.030: Cemetery lots, conveyed by deed. (8/28/2001)
• Section 214.035: Conveyance of cemetery property to political subdivision, when — notice of ... (8/28/2001)
• Section 214.040: Plots and records of cemeteries to be maintained, where — requirements. (8/28/1990)
• Section 214.041: Construction of roads prohibited in cemetery — exceptions. (8/28/1990)
• Section 214.050: Power to vacate streets vested in county commissions. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.060: Petition to be presented to county commission — remonstrance may be filed. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.070: Terms defined. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.080: Proceedings to enlarge. (8/28/1939)

• Section 214.090: Family burying grounds, how secured. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.120: Costs, who liable for. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.130: County commission and incorporated cemetery company to receive grants and ... (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.131: Tombstones, fences, destroying or mutilating in abandoned family or private ... (8/28/1987)
• Section 214.132: Visiting abandoned family or private burying ground surrounded by private ... (8/28/1997)

• Community improvement districts may repair, restore, or maintain abandoned cemeteries, 67.1461
• Section 214.140: Property placed in trust for benefit of cemeteries. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.150: County commissions shall become trustees and custodians. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.160: Investment or lending of trust funds — investment manager, duties — ... (8/28/2022)
• Section 214.170: May designate responsible organization or individual to administer the income. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.180: Shall keep record of receipts and disbursements. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.190: Cemetery not subject to execution, dower or partition — exception. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.200: Title, how obtained to lands used for burial purposes. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.205: Violation of nuisance ordinance — abandonment — action authorized — costs — ... (8/28/1990)
• Section 214.208: Disinterment authorized, when — consent required, when — cemetery owner not ... (10/16/2015)
• Section 214.209: Abandonment of burial site, rights revert to cemetery. (8/28/2001)

• Section 214.210: Certain cities may accept or acquire cemetery lands. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.220: Lands or shares subject to all vested rights. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.230: City may acquire money or funds, how. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.240: City may provide and enforce rules and regulations. (8/28/1939)
• Section 214.250: Proceedings to establish cemetery in first class counties — petition by ... (8/28/1983)
• Section 214.260: Penalty for violation. (8/28/1939)

• Section 214.270: Definitions. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.275: License, cemeteries — division's powers and duties — limitations. (8/28/2007)
• Section 214.276: Refusal to issue license, grounds — complaint, procedure. (8/28/2020)
• Section 214.277: Injunctions, restraining orders, other court remedies available — venue. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.280: Election to operate as endowed care cemetery filing with division of ... (8/28/2009)
• Section 214.282: Voidability of contracts, exceptions. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.283: Notification of burial lands — registry of cemeteries to be kept by ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.300: Nonendowed cemetery may qualify as endowed, when — minimum care and ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.310: Endowed care and maintenance fund, minimum amount — bond — posting of sign, ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.320: Deposits in fund required, amount — annual report, form furnished by ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.325: Required deposits — deficiency — effect — penalty. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.330: Endowed care fund held in trust or segregated account — requirements — ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.335: Contributions to endowed care fund for memorial or monument — deficiency, ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.340: Report required — content — oath — filing required. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.345: Sale of cemetery plot — written statement to be given to purchaser — copy ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.360: Private use of trust funds prohibited. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.363: Bankruptcy, assignment for benefit of creditors, endowed care fund exempt. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.365: Cemetery failing to provide maintenance — abandonment or ceasing to ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.367: Sale of assets, notice required — prospective purchaser of endowed care ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.370: Nonendowed cemetery to post signs and give notice of its character. (8/28/1961)
• Section 214.380: Nonendowed section of endowed care cemetery — signs and notice. (8/28/1961)
• Section 214.385: Moving of grave marker, replacement — delivery of item of burial merchandise. (8/28/2009)
• Section 214.387: Burial merchandise or services, deferral of delivery, when — escrow ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.389: Suspension of distribution, when, procedure. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.390: Existing cemeteries to operate under law — local law applicable. (8/28/1990)
• Section 214.392: Division of professional registration, duties and powers in regulation of ... (8/28/2021)
• Section 214.400: Citation of law. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.410: Violation of law, penalty. (1/1/2017)

• Section 214.450: Indian cemeteries, how established — trust fund authorized. (8/28/1990)
• Section 214.455: Destruction or defacing any cemetery property, penalty. (8/28/1990)

• Section 214.500: Cemeteries acquired by a city at tax sales or as nuisances may be sold. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.504: No liability for new cemetery operators, when — rights of holders of ... (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.508: Previous cemetery owner liable, when. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.512: New cemetery owner not liable for deficiencies, exception. (8/28/2010)
• Section 214.516: Registration as an endowed care cemetery, when — compliance with endowed ... (8/28/2010)

• Section 214.550: Scatter gardens, operation by churches maintaining religious cemeteries — ... (8/28/2010)