Neglected Graves: Riga's Annual Inspection Runs Until 1 November

The short answer: grave plots are inspected once a year, and this season ends on 1 November. If a plot is found neglected, the family learns of it from a warning notice at the grave and from a report sent to the holder. The rights to the plot do not disappear at once: they can be ended only if the plot is left untended for three years. Even so, this is not a formality to overlook — the recording of neglected plots at Riga's cemeteries continues this year.

If you are far from Riga, or your health does not allow you to tidy the grave yourself, Riga City Funeral Service can do it for you and send a photograph. Call at any hour: +371 2208 4540

How a plot is recorded as neglected

A plot recorded as neglected can be granted to another family that has no free plot at that cemetery. So this is not only about order at the cemetery: it is about whether the plot stays with the family. How much space there is in Riga at all we covered in our news on new grave plots.

What keeps the plot with the family

In practice three things are enough. First, tidy the grave once a year: clear branches and leaves, level the mound, restore the edging. Second, make sure the cemetery has the holder's current contact details: reports and warnings go to whoever is on record, and often that person died long ago. Third, do not postpone the transfer: when the holder of a plot has died, a relative has to take over the rights and duties, and under Riga's order there are three years to do so.

If the grave is badly overgrown, the first tidy takes more work than upkeep — we wrote about this in our news on grave care. Grave care is part of the additional services, which can be ordered separately from a funeral.

How we help

Riga City Funeral Service works at all the large Riga cemeteries and takes on what cannot be done from a distance:

• we tidy the grave and send a photograph so you can see the result;
• we help work out which cemetery and sector the plot is in — see the cemeteries section;
• we settle questions about the cemetery plot with the cemetery if a burial is planned;
• we name the price after inspecting or hearing a description of the grave and fix it before the work begins — see the pricing page.

Call +371 2208 4540 — we will tell you what can be done in the coming days, while the season is still open.

Order grave care

Frequently asked questions