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Headstones: Something You May Not Know Is Covered By Your Home Insurance

20 May 2015 by Angela Gomez

Not all policyholders realize it, but your homeowner's insurance policy may include coverage for a family headstone that is vandalized or stolen. Usually, the coverage doesn't increase the cost of your premium. Check your policy to find out if it provides coverage for headstones and know where you stand by learning the details of the policy in case you experience this type of insurance loss.

Personal Property Coverage

If your home insurance covers headstones, you normally find it under the Personal Property (Coverage C) section of your policy. This is the part that describes coverage for personal property, which includes the contents of your home and personal belongings that you and family members who live with you own. A headstone is considered personal property even if the cemetery is located miles from your home. In most cases, coverage extends to losses related to vandalism, malicious mischief, or theft of a headstone, grave marker, monument, or urn located at a burial site.

If your insurance company provides coverage for grave markers and headstones under you homeowner's policy, you'll get it automatically. Your policy will have a limitation on up to how much the insurance company will reimburse you for this type of loss.

Covered Perils

A home insurance policy set up to cover losses from perils such as windstorms, hail, or lightening should cover a headstone too. Loss due to a flood is another issue since flood damage isn't covered under a standard homeowner's policy. Additionally, damage to a headstone related to normal weathering over time is not covered. However, in cases of excessive fading or cracking, contact the manufacture or supplier if the headstone is guaranteed against premature deterioration.

If lawn or other cemetery equipment used by a groundskeeper or cemetery worker caused either unintentional or negligent damage, the cemetery is responsible for paying the cost out of its perpetual care fund. Otherwise, maintenance of a headstone or grave marker is your responsibility.

Headstones Covered

Policies generally cover the headstone or grave marker of a spouse or child. Some policies may cover the headstone of other family members, such as parents. A general rule of thumb is as long as you own the headstone, it should be covered.

You must report the loss to your insurance company for your policy to cover repairs or replacement of a headstone. If a family grave marker is stolen, report the theft to the police and then file an insurance claim. Keeping the receipt of purchase helps prove ownership. For more information, contact a company like Livings Insurance Agency.

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