157.07(1)(1) A cemetery authority shall cause to be surveyed and platted by a professional land surveyor those portions of the lands that are from time to time required for burial, into cemetery lots, drives, and walks, and record a plat or map of the land in the office of the register of deeds.
157.07(2)
(2) The location of the lands shall be indicated on the plat or map by bearing and distance from a boundary line of a government lot, quarter section, recorded private claim, or federal reservation in which the subdivision is located. The monumentation at the ends of the boundary line shall be described and the bearing and distance between them shown, and the plat or map shall show a small scale drawing of the section or government subdivision of the section in which the cemetery plat is situated, with the cemetery plat indicated. The plat or map shall include the certificate of the professional land surveyor containing the name of the cemetery authority, the date of the survey, the professional land surveyor's stamp or seal and signature, and the professional land surveyor's statement that the survey is true and correct to the professional land surveyor's best knowledge and belief.
157.07(3)
(3) The plat or map shall be made on a durable white media that is 22 inches wide by 30 inches long, or on any other media that is acceptable to the register of deeds, with a permanent nonfading black image. Seals or signatures that are reproduced on images that comply with this subsection have the force and effect of original seals and signatures. When more than one sheet is used for any one plat or map, they shall be numbered consecutively and each sheet shall contain a notation showing the whole number of sheets in the plat, and its relation to the other sheets. The sheets may be provided by the county through the register of deeds on terms determined by the county board. The professional land surveyor shall leave a binding margin of one inch on all sides.
157.07(4)
(4) The cemetery authority shall cause the plat or map to be recorded. For failure to do so, the plat shall be void, and no sale of a cemetery lot or mausoleum space may be made before the plat is recorded.
157.07(5)
(5) The cemetery authority may vacate or replat any portion of its cemetery upon the filing of a petition with the circuit court describing the portion and setting forth the facts and reasons therefor. The court shall fix a time for hearing and direct publication of a class 3 notice, under
ch. 985, and the court shall order a copy of the notice to be mailed to at least one interested person, as to each separate parcel involved, whose post-office address is known or can be ascertained with reasonable diligence, at least 20 days before such hearing. If the court finds that the proposed vacating or replatting is for the best interest of the cemetery authority and that the rights of none to whom cemetery lots have been conveyed will be injured, it shall enter an order reciting the jurisdictional facts and its findings and authorizing the vacating or replatting of the lands of the cemetery. The order shall be effective when recorded by the register of deeds.
157.07(6)
(6) This section does not apply to a religious association or a cemetery authority of a cemetery that is affiliated with a religious association.
157.08(1)(1) After the plat or map is recorded under
s. 157.07, the cemetery authority may sell and convey cemetery lots. Conveyances shall be signed by the chief officer of the cemetery authority, and by the secretary or clerk of the cemetery authority, if any. Before delivering the conveyance to the grantee, the cemetery authority shall enter on records kept for that purpose, the date and consideration and the name and residence of the grantee. The conveyances may be recorded with the register of deeds.
157.08(2)(a)(a) If a cemetery lot or mausoleum space is sold by a cemetery authority and used or intended to be used for the burial of the human remains of the purchaser or the purchaser's family members, the purchaser's interests in the ownership of, title to or right to use the cemetery lot or mausoleum space are not affected or limited by any claims or liens of other persons against the cemetery authority.
157.08(2)(b)
(b) Before a cemetery authority sells or encumbers any cemetery land, except for a sale described in
par. (a), the cemetery authority shall notify the cemetery board in writing of the proposed sale or encumbrance. If within 90 days after the cemetery board is notified of the proposed sale or encumbrance the cemetery board notifies the cemetery authority in writing that the cemetery board objects to the sale or encumbrance the cemetery authority may not sell or encumber the cemetery land unless the cemetery board subsequently notifies the cemetery authority in writing that the objection is withdrawn. The cemetery board may object to a sale or encumbrance only if it determines that the cemetery authority will not be financially solvent or that the rights and interests of owners of cemetery lots and mausoleum spaces will not be adequately protected if the sale or encumbrance occurs. The cemetery board may, before the expiration of the 90-day period, notify the cemetery authority in writing that the cemetery board approves of the sale or encumbrance. Upon receipt of the cemetery board's written approval, the cemetery authority may sell or encumber the cemetery land and is released of any liability under this paragraph. The cemetery board shall make every effort to make determinations under this paragraph in an expeditious manner.
157.08(2)(c)
(c) A preneed sales contract is enforceable against the successor in interest of the cemetery authority that made the sale.
157.08(3)
(3) A cemetery authority may sell its personal property at its discretion.
157.08(5)
(5) Subsections (1) and
(2) (b) do not apply to a religious association or a cemetery authority of a cemetery that is affiliated with a religious association, and
sub. (2) (b) does not apply to a cemetery authority that is not required to be licensed under
s. 440.91 (1) or registered under
s. 440.91 (1m).
157.10
157.10
Alienation, disposition, and use of cemetery lots and mausoleum spaces. 157.10(1)
(1) In this section, “owner" means a person named in the records of the cemetery authority who has an ownership interest in a cemetery lot or mausoleum space and a right to bury human remains in the cemetery lot or mausoleum space.
157.10(2)(a)(a) While any person is buried in a cemetery lot or mausoleum space, the cemetery lot or mausoleum space shall be inalienable, without the consent of the cemetery authority, and on the death of the last owner, full ownership of the cemetery lot or mausoleum space shall descend as follows:
157.10(2)(a)2.
2. If there is no living member of the class designated in
subd. 1., to that owner's children, including by adoption.
157.10(2)(a)3.
3. If there is no living member of the class designated in
subd. 1. or
2., to the owner's grandchildren, including by adoption.
157.10(2)(a)4.
4. If there is no living member of the class designated in
subd. 1.,
2., or
3., to the cemetery authority for the cemetery in which the cemetery lot or mausoleum space is located.
157.10(2)(b)
(b) A cemetery lot or mausoleum space is not part of a decedent's net estate for purposes of
s. 852.01.
157.10(3)
(3) If ownership of a cemetery lot or mausoleum space descends to the cemetery authority under
sub. (2) (a), the cemetery authority shall comply with
s. 157.115 (2) (c) to
(h) for any grave in the cemetery lot or mausoleum space in which human remains are not buried.
157.10(4)
(4) Any one or more persons under
sub. (2) (a) 1. to
3. may, only with the consent of the cemetery authority, convey to any other person under
sub. (2) (a) 1. to
3. his or her interest in the cemetery lot or mausoleum space.
157.10(5)
(5) No human remains may be buried in a cemetery lot or mausoleum space except the human remains of an owner of the cemetery lot or mausoleum space, or a relative, or the spouse of an owner, or his or her relative, except by the consent of a majority of the owners of the cemetery lot or mausoleum space.
157.10(6)
(6) The cemetery authority shall be held harmless for any decision made by a majority of the owners of a cemetery lot or mausoleum space.
157.10(7)
(7) A cemetery authority that is a religious association or that is the cemetery authority of a cemetery affiliated with a religious association may adopt a written policy for the disposition of cemetery lots and mausoleum spaces in a cemetery organized and operated by, or affiliated with, the religious association that is different from
sub. (2) (a).
157.10 History
History: 1989 a. 307;
2015 a. 237.
157.11
157.11
Improvement and care of cemetery lots and grounds. 157.11(1)(1)
Fence; funeral building. A cemetery authority may enclose the grounds of its cemetery with a suitable fence, and may erect thereon a building for funeral services.
157.11(2)
(2) Regulations. The cemetery authority may make regulations for management and care of the cemetery. No person may plant, in the cemetery, trees or shrubs, nor erect wooden fences or structures or offensive or dangerous structures or monuments, nor maintain them if planted or erected in violation of the regulations. The cemetery authority may require any person owning or controlling a cemetery lot to do anything necessary to comply with the regulations by giving reasonable personal notice in writing if the person is a resident of the state, otherwise by publishing a class 1 notice, under
ch. 985, in the county. If the person fails to comply within 20 days thereafter, the cemetery authority may cause it to be done and recover from the person the expense. The cemetery authority may also impose a forfeiture not exceeding $100 for violation of the regulations posted in 3 conspicuous places in the cemetery, recoverable under
ch. 778. Each employee and agent of the cemetery authority shall have constable powers in enforcing the regulations.
157.11(3)
(3) Contracts. The cemetery authority may contract with persons who own or are interested in a cemetery lot for its care. The contract shall be in writing, may provide that the cemetery lot shall be forever exempt from taxes, assessments or charges for its care and the care and preservation of the grounds, shall express the duty of the cemetery authority, be recorded in a book kept for that purpose, and be effective when the consideration is paid or secured.
157.11(4)
(4) Associations of relatives. Persons owning a cemetery lot or having relatives buried in a cemetery may incorporate an association to hold and occupy a previously constituted cemetery, and to preserve and care for the same.
Section 157.062 shall apply to the association. Nothing in this subsection shall give rights of burial. A municipality may lease a municipal cemetery to a cemetery association for preservation and may contract to permit the association to use cemetery funds therefor. Such leases and contracts may be revoked at will by the municipal board.
157.11(5)
(5) Sum required. The cemetery authority shall annually fix the sum necessary for the care of cemetery lots and care and improvement of the cemetery, or to produce a sufficient income for those purposes.
157.11(7)(a)(a) The cemetery authority may annually assess upon the cemetery lots amounts not to exceed the amounts reasonably required for actual and necessary costs for cleaning and care of cemetery lots and care and improvement of the cemetery. Notice of the assessment, along with a copy of this section, shall be mailed to each owner or person having charge of a cemetery lot, at the owner's or person's last-known post-office address, directing payment to the cemetery authority within 30 days and specifying that such assessments are a personal liability of the owner or person.
157.11(7)(b)
(b) The cemetery authority may fix and determine the sum reasonably necessary for the care of the grave or cemetery lot in reasonable and uniform amounts, which amounts shall be subject to the approval of the court, and may collect those amounts as part of the funeral expenses.
157.11(7)(c)
(c) Before ordering distribution of the estate of a deceased person, the court shall order paid any assessment under this section, or the sum so fixed for the care of the cemetery lot or grave of the deceased.
157.11(7)(d)
(d) When uniform care of a cemetery lot has been given for 2 consecutive years or more, for which assessments are unpaid, after notice as provided in
sub. (2), right to burial is forfeited until delinquent assessments are paid. When uniform care has been given for 5 consecutive years or more and the assessments are unpaid, upon like notice, title to all unoccupied parts of the cemetery lot shall pass to the cemetery authority and may be sold, the payment of principal to be deposited into the care fund. Before depositing the payment of principal into the care fund, the cemetery authority may retain an amount necessary to cover the cemetery authority's administrative and other expenses related to the sale, but the amount retained may not exceed 50 percent of the proceeds.
157.11(8)
(8) Gifts. The cemetery authority shall take, hold and use any gifts, or the income and proceeds of any gifts, as may be made in trust or otherwise, for the improvement, maintenance, repair, preservation or ornamentation of any cemetery lot or structure in the cemetery, according to the terms of the gift and regulations by the cemetery authority.
157.11(9)
(9) Handling of property received as gift. 157.11(9)(a)(a) Before a cemetery authority receives a gift, the surety bonds of the cemetery authority shall be increased to cover such amount if it does not then do so. If the bonds are not filed, or the cemetery authority fails to do anything required by this subsection, the judge may appoint a trustee, and all property and money so given and evidences of title and securities shall be delivered to the trustee.
157.11(9g)(a)1.c.
c. If not invested as provided in
subd. 1. a., otherwise deposited by the cemetery authority in an investment approved by the cemetery board if the care funds are segregated and invested separately from all other moneys held by the cemetery authority.
157.11(9g)(a)2.
2. The manner in which the care funds are invested may not permit the cemetery authority to withdraw the care fund's principal amount. The income from the investment of a care fund for the care of cemetery lots may be used only to maintain the cemetery lots and grounds, except that if the amount of income exceeds the amount necessary to maintain the cemetery lots or grounds properly, the excess amount may be used to maintain any other portion of the cemetery, including mausoleums.
157.11(9g)(b)
(b) Anyone having in custody or control any cemetery care trust fund received other than by testament shall, upon demand, deliver it to the cemetery authority to be handled as provided in this subsection.
157.11(9g)(c)
(c) Except as provided in
sub. (11), any cemetery authority that sells a cemetery lot on or after November 1, 1991, shall deposit 15 percent of each payment of principal into a care fund under
par. (a) within 30 business days after the last day of the month in which the payment is received, except as provided in
sub. (7) (d) and
s. 157.115 (2) (f). The total amount deposited must equal 15 percent of the total amount of all payments of principal that have been received, but not less than $25.
157.11(9m)
(9m) Action by district attorney. If any money or property is not turned over when required by this section, or default occurs under a bond, the district attorney, upon the request of the cemetery board, shall bring action to recover.
157.11(9r)
(9r) Tax and other exemptions. Gifts and trusts under this section shall be exempt from taxation and the law against perpetuities, accumulations and mortmain.
157.11(10)
(10) Exemption for religious associations. Subsections (1) to
(9),
(9g) (a) and
(b),
(9m) and
(9r) do not apply, but
sub. (9g) (c) does apply, to a religious association or a cemetery authority of a cemetery that is affiliated with a religious association, for that cemetery.
157.11(11)
(11) Exemption for certain nonprofit cemeteries. Subsection (9g) does not apply to a cemetery authority that is not required to be licensed under
s. 440.91 (1) and that is not organized or conducted for pecuniary profit.
157.11 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
863.09 (2) for court order concerning care of graves.
157.11 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also chs.
CB 4 and
5, Wis. adm. code.
157.11 Annotation
Sub. (9) (e) [now sub. (9g) (b)] neither requires nor authorizes payment to entities other than ch. 157 cemetery associations. Krawczyk v. Bank of Sun Prairie,
161 Wis. 2d 792,
468 N.W.2d 773 (Ct. App. 1991).
157.111
157.111
Opening and closing of burial places. If a grave, mausoleum space or other place used or intended to be used for the burial of human remains is located in a cemetery owned or operated by a cemetery authority, only the cemetery authority or a person designated by the cemetery authority may open or close the grave, mausoleum space or other place used or intended to be used for the burial of human remains.
157.111 History
History: 1993 a. 386.
157.112
157.112
Reburial of human remains by a cemetery authority. 157.112(1)(1) In this section, “rebury" means to disentomb, disinurn or disinter human remains that are buried in a cemetery and reentomb, reinurn or reinter the human remains in another grave, mausoleum space or other place used or intended to be used for the burial of human remains that is located in the same cemetery.
157.112(2)
(2) A cemetery authority may rebury human remains that are buried in a cemetery owned or operated by the cemetery authority for the purpose of correcting an error made by the cemetery authority in the burial of those human remains.
157.112(3)
(3) A cemetery authority may rebury human remains under
sub. (2) without first obtaining an authorization under
s. 69.18 (4), but the cemetery authority shall do all of the following:
157.112(3)(a)
(a) No later than 30 days after reburying human remains under
sub. (2), provide written notice of the reburial to the coroner or medical examiner of the county in which the reburial occurs.
157.112(3)(b)
(b) Notify one of the following by registered mail of the reburial:
157.112(3)(b)2.
2. If the person specified in
subd. 1. is not available, an adult son or daughter of the decedent.
157.112(3)(b)3.
3. If the persons specified in
subds. 1. and
2. are not available, either parent of the decedent.
157.112(3)(b)4.
4. If the persons specified in
subds. 1.,
2. and
3. are not available, an adult brother or sister of the decedent.
157.112(3m)
(3m) If none of the persons specified in
sub. (3) (b) 1. to
4. are available for notification under
sub. (3) (b), the cemetery authority shall maintain a record of its attempt to provide notification under
sub. (3) (b) as a part of the cemetery authority's permanent records.
157.112(4)(a)(a) A cemetery authority is immune from civil liability for an error that is corrected by a reburial of human remains under
sub. (2).
157.112(4)(b)
(b) The immunity under
par. (a) does not apply if the error was the result of reckless, wanton or intentional misconduct.
157.112 History
History: 1995 a. 357;
2015 a. 237.
157.113
157.113
Permission to place cremated human remains in a cemetery. No person may deposit any cremated human remains in a cemetery, including in the casket of another person, without the permission of the cemetery authority.
157.113 History
History: 2015 a. 237 s.
125; 2015 157.113 Stats.
157.114
157.114
Duty to provide for burials. 157.114(1)
(1) In this section, “cemetery authority" does not include a municipality that takes control of a cemetery under
s. 157.115 (1) (b).
157.114(2)
(2) A cemetery authority shall, insofar as practicable, provide for burials during each season, including winter. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit a cemetery authority from charging a reasonable fee to recover the costs related to providing for a burial during difficult weather conditions.
157.114 History
History: 2001 a. 16.
157.115
157.115
Abandonment of cemeteries and cemetery lots. 157.115(1)(a)(a) If any cemetery located on property not subject to condemnation under
ch. 32 is abandoned, the circuit court for the county in which the cemetery is located may authorize the removal of bodies from the cemetery to another cemetery upon the petition of 6 or more residents of the municipality in which the cemetery is located. Prior to authorizing the removal, the court shall publish a notice to all interested parties as provided in
s. 879.05 (4). The court may not authorize the removal unless suitable arrangements have been made to reinter the bodies.
