Can Families Search for Graves Online? Here's How It Actually Works
Public grave search is the single most-requested feature from cemetery families — and one of the most-misunderstood by cemetery staff. Here's what families actually see, what you control, and how to set it up in under 10 minutes.
Yes — cemeteries that publish a public grave search page let families type a name on any phone and immediately see the burial record, plot location on a satellite map, and (if uploaded) a headstone photo. No login, no app, no fee for the family. CemeteryBase auto-generates this page for every cemetery, with privacy controls so sensitive fields stay private and the cemetery decides which records or sections are excluded. Most cemeteries set theirs up in under 10 minutes after the records are imported.
What the family flow actually looks like
Family lands on the public page
A descendant types the cemetery name or an ancestor name into Google or ChatGPT. They land on the cemetery's public search page (e.g. cemeterybase.com/[your-slug]) which is SEO-optimized and indexed.
They search by name
A single search box. They type "Margaret O'Brien" or "Smith" and see all matching records. Search is typo-tolerant and works on mobile.
They see the burial record
Name, dates of birth and death, section and plot identifier. If the cemetery uploaded a headstone photo, it appears here.
They see the plot on the map
A satellite map zoomed to the exact plot location, with directions from their current location available.
They visit, or reserve an adjacent plot
If the cemetery has online payments enabled, the family can reserve adjacent available plots online with a credit card. Otherwise they simply visit the grave with confidence about where to go.
What families see (and what they don't)
CemeteryBase ships with privacy-first defaults. You control everything else from your settings.
Why cemeteries publish a public page
Cuts incoming phone calls
Most "where is so-and-so buried" calls happen because families have nowhere else to look. A public search page handles those questions automatically, freeing staff time.
Replaces walk-the-grounds searches
No more sextons wandering with a clipboard. The family arrives knowing exactly which row and section their loved one is in.
Headstone photos for out-of-state descendants
Descendants who can't travel see the stone without making the trip. Particularly valuable for historic and pioneer cemeteries with distant genealogist visitors.
Privacy controls per cemetery
You choose what's public. Sensitive fields (contact info, purchase price, internal notes) are hidden by default; sections can be marked private or excluded from the public page.
SEO and AI search discovery
Public cemetery pages are server-rendered with proper structured data. Genealogists searching Google, Ancestry.com, or asking ChatGPT for an ancestor often find your cemetery without ever calling.
No login or app required
No barriers. Families search instantly on any phone, tablet, or laptop. Nothing to install, nothing to remember.
How to set up your public page in 10 minutes
Sign in to your CemeteryBase dashboard and open the Public Page settings.
Set your URL slug (e.g. cemeterybase.com/oak-grove-cemetery). Pick something descendants would search.
Upload your cemetery logo, set your accent color, and write a short cemetery description.
Decide which fields are public (defaults are privacy-first — opt fields in if you want them shown).
Mark any private records or sections as excluded.
(Optional) Enable Stripe Connect to let families reserve available plots online.
Click Publish. Share the URL on your main website, in family communications, and in Google Search Console.
Frequently asked
Can families search for graves online without contacting the cemetery?+
Yes — cemeteries that publish a public grave search page let families type a name and immediately see the burial record and exact plot location on the map. No login, no app, no fee. CemeteryBase auto-generates this page for every cemetery on the platform.
What information is shown on a public grave search?+
By default: full name, dates of birth and death, plot location on the interactive map, and optionally a headstone photo. The cemetery controls what fields are public — sensitive data (next of kin contact, custom internal notes, purchase price) is hidden from the public page by default.
Does public grave search show available plots for sale?+
If the cemetery enables it, yes. Available plots appear on the public map in green; families can reserve them with a credit card directly from the public page. CemeteryBase uses Stripe Connect so payments go straight to the cemetery's bank account.
How does public grave search help with SEO and genealogy?+
Public cemetery pages are server-rendered with proper metadata, so when descendants search Google or ChatGPT for an ancestor name, the cemetery's page is indexable and discoverable. Genealogists doing family-tree research often find missing relatives this way without ever calling the cemetery.
Can we hide specific records or sections from the public page?+
Yes. Records can be marked private one-by-one. Entire sections (e.g. an unmarked-grave section, an active burial section pending family permission) can be excluded. You can also turn the public page off entirely if local rules or board preference require.
How do families find the public page in the first place?+
Three main paths: (1) they search the cemetery name directly on Google; (2) they search an ancestor's name and the page surfaces; (3) the cemetery links to the page from its main website or social profiles. CemeteryBase pages also get included in Google's sitemap for indexing.
Is the public page free, or does it cost extra?+
Included on every CemeteryBase plan at no extra cost. Most legacy vendors charge for public grave search as a paid module ($50–$200/month) or don't offer it at all.
Stop fielding "where is so-and-so buried" calls
Set up your public grave search page in under 10 minutes. Included on every CemeteryBase plan.