Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve gathered answers to the most common questions about Life Forest, including burial options, land stewardship, and how the process works. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, our team is always available to help.
General
Is Life Forest a legally recognized cemetery?
Life Forest is a legal cemetery in the State of New Hampshire. Life Forest Whistle Ridge is a legal cemetery in the State of Maine.
How long has Life Forest been around?
Our Co-Founder, Mel, wanted to bury her mother in a place that she dreamed could exist but did not. With that, Life Forest was established in 2019 and gained many of our necessary approvals that same year.
Do you perform full-body natural burials at Life Forest?
Life Forest buries cremated and composted remains only. While we are not a green burial site, we are finding ways to offset the carbon footprint created by cremation. Planting a tree is obviously our main effort. We also try to align with funeral homes that are making an effort to lower their emissions.
Trees
How old is the tree when you plant it over cremated or composted remains? Does it start from a seed or sapling?
We only plant mature trees, young saplings, and seeds have a much lower chance of survival. Consider it a ‘teenage’ aged tree.
Do you offer fruit trees? If not, why not?
We are happy to accommodate any tree that you feel suits you best. Fruit trees, however, need to be planted close to one another in order to actually produce edible fruit. So this may be a nice option if you wanted to create a ‘family alcove’. Otherwise, a fruit tree is ornamental, which is ok too! The other thing to consider is that we have deer, moose, and the occasional brown bear that enjoy the forest. They may choose to nibble on your fruit… and there is not much we can do about that if they do.
How about maintenance, watering, pruning, and upkeep of the tree?
We have on-site staff who water the trees. Pruning and direct tree maintenance are performed only by our “Tree Doctor,” Theresa.
What happens if the tree dies?
If your tree dies within the first 5 years of planting, we will replace it. Of course, we see signs of planting stress much sooner than that, so if your tree is not thriving, we work with you to decide if you would like the tree replaced sooner. As you are aware, someday, all trees will die. When that stage of life happens for your tree, then your beneficiary has the right to replace it with the same type of tree.
What type of biodegradable urns do you offer?
We searched for a biodegradable urn option that would nourish the memorial tree as it biodegraded. The answer came in the form of wool. Wool, in fact, upon biodegrading, becomes a natural, rich compost for the burial tree, releasing sulfur, nitrogen, and magnesium.
We offer a beautiful wool burial shroud. We create a beautiful wool cremation burial shroud made of 100 percent wool. In essence, wrapping your loved one in warm comfort.
How do you protect memorial trees from the alkalinity of cremated remains?
We bury cremated remains wrapped in one of our wool cremation burial shrouds 18 inches below the root ball of the freshly planted tree and add 4 cu feet of rich compost material as a growth buffer..
Fees & Pricing
How much does it cost to purchase a burial plot before I die?
You can purchase a pre-need burial spot at the same exact rates that we sell the immediate-need burial plots. Pre-need burial plots are a wonderful way to make sure that your family knows exactly where you would like to be. When someone purchases a pre-need burial plot, they receive a legal document that they can place with their trust lawyer. The document is called a Certificate of Interment Rights. It is the same exact approach traditional cemeteries use. We wanted to ensure that people were legally protected, and the best way to make sure that they were was to follow cemetery law.
Your pre-need plot is also deed-recorded with your name as owner of that plot, and that plot is defined and recorded in real-world latitude and longitude coordinates so there will never be a mistake regarding where that exact spot is. We did not want to rely on antiquated hand-drawn cemetery maps. Also, we will place a post and marker in the pre-need spot that you purchase. It states that you own that spot, what the exact coordinates are (just in case ANYONE ever moves that post, we know exactly where it should be), and a QR Code that links to a cause that you are passionate about. We also make sure that your beneficiary is listed on the deed record, so whomever you wish to join you can.
Do I have to pay the full price upfront?
Yes. However, if cost is an issue, we do work with people to divide up the payments. The deeded plot record will not be chosen or assigned until full payment is made.
Is there a yearly land tax or government tax?
Life Forest is responsible for the yearly property tax, which is built into our pricing. No one wants any extra cost surprises; that is unfair.
Land & Legal
Who owns the land once I buy a burial plot?
Life Forest owns the land; your plot is recorded on our deed as having access and burial rights to you.
How many years do I own my burial plot?
Once you purchase the plot, we record the exact burial coordinates, who is buried within those coordinates, and who owns the spot. That plot belongs to you, and after you pass, it is passed on to your named beneficiary. Your named beneficiary is also deed recorded. That spot is yours forever.
Can families reserve entire burial plots together?
Absolutely! That is the idea! You can purchase a large tree to allow several family members to be together, or we can help you create an ‘alcove’ of trees where families can be buried beside one another. The choice is personal, and there is no wrong answer.
What can I do on my burial plot? Can I build a wall? Can I erect a fence? Can I place a bench? Can I hang a swing from my tree?
We provide you with all rules and regulations, they are simple, but important. Life Forest strives to be and grow into a natural living forest. For the enjoyment of all, we do not allow items such as garden gnomes, etc. Building a wall or a fence would not fit well in a natural forest. We strive to be reasonable. However, we also ensure that we adhere to the mission of creating a natural sacred space that all can enjoy.
Is the deeded lot a government deed or a privately issued deed?
The plots are recorded as an addendum to the land deed, showing ownership. They are not separate deeds created.
Is there a yearly maintenance fee?
No
How do I know the land won’t be purchased or repurposed for another business?
Because Life Forest is a legally recognized cemetery, your burial plot is protected under New Hampshire cemetery law. This means the land cannot be developed, repurposed, or built upon — and any change to its use requires a formal legal process through the state. The law below governs the protection of cemetery monuments, which at Life Forest includes your memorial tree.
289:17 Removal of Monuments. – The monuments, gravestones, and other appurtenances attached to the graves shall be carefully removed and properly set up at the place of reinterment with as little injury as the nature of the case will admit. In case of injury to any monument, gravestone, or appurtenance, the damages shall be assessed by the governing body in the same manner and with the same right of appeal as in the case of alteration of the grade of highways. Source. 1994, 318:2, eff. Aug. 7, 1994.
Additional FAQs
What are conservation easements, and why are they important in a cemetery environment?
A conservation easement is held by a local conservation commission or other land conservation organization. It allows for the use and monitoring of the property while the ownership of the land remains in the hands of the conservation burial ground. Conservation easements are comprised of many elements, and every conservation easement is different as it is a private agreement between the landowner and the conservation organization.
Some elements include purpose, definition of the easement areas, use limitations, reserved rights, and requirements for notification of land transfer, taxes, and maintenance. Conservation easements provide third-party oversight and help protect the land from development. Life Forest adds this layer in addition to cemetery law protections.
What are burial rights?
Burial contracts are binding agreements that ensure burial rights. Once purchased, the owner receives a Certificate of Interment Rights, guaranteeing those rights.
What is a land deed?
Life Forest uses latitude and longitude coordinates recorded on an affidavit attached to the land deed to identify burial plots. This ensures access rights, beneficiary rights, and permanent identification of burial locations.
What is the importance of commemoration?
Acts of remembrance create a connection between the living and the dead. Visiting and tending a burial site supports emotional and psychological processing during grief.
Why is cemetery law important?
Cemetery law differs from state to state. Almost all cemetery law protection for the buried includes legal actions against defamation of cemetery monuments, documentation of burials, and, in some states, a designation of a certain amount of funds for perpetual care accounts. There are also strict guidelines around the disinterment of burials and building code guidelines protecting burial plots.
It was extremely important that Life Forest become a legally recognized cemetery in the state. As a legal cemetery, it must work with all levels of the government, starting with the municipality, the Department of Environmental Services, and the Attorney General’s office. As a legal cemetery, it must follow cemetery law. Cemetery law protects the rights of the people who are buried there, as well as ensuring that the usage of the property adheres to the intention of it remaining a cemetery. Therefore, there are strict protocols around any change of land use. For example, in New Hampshire, there is an extremely strict process around the decommissioning of cemetery property. Life Forest has legal cemetery status in both New Hampshire and Maine.
Life Forest is a member of the New Hampshire Cemetery Commission. Life Forest’s legal team has ensured that burial trees are recognized as the memorial marker. In doing so, the burial trees at Life Forest are legally protected under cemetery law. All of the laws and RSA’s can be found at the link here: New Hampshire Cemetery Laws.
What are state vital records?
Vital records include births, deaths, marriages, and other life events. Cemeteries report burial information to maintain accurate public records.
When you choose a Life Forest burial, please inform your funeral director to choose Life Forest as your final place of burial with the New Hampshire Secretary of State Vital Records Department when filing the Death Certificate of your loved one.
