Insuring your memorial

A fact of life is that accidents can and do happen. It is not unknown for memorials to topple over in a storm or be damaged by a falling tree. We have even heard of memorials being damaged by agricultural equipment used for cemetery maintenance.

Also, a sad reflection on today’s society is that many memorials suffer wanton vandalism. From graffiti to stolen tokens and worse, these attacks are not restricted to grand or elaborate memorials; often the simplest family stones are the target of these malicious attacks.

Whilst it is impossible to prevent these distressing possibilities from happening, we at Gary Green Memorials can offer a comprehensive insurance policy to give our customers that extra peace of mind.

The policy will ensure that any damage is put right in the shortest possible time, even if the memorial needs to be completely replaced. The premium is extremely reasonable when you take into account the possible cost of repairs.

Some frequently asked questions

Question: When should I take out insurance?
Answer: Cover should ideally be taken out prior to erecting the memorial.

Question: How much will I have to pay?
Answer: Premiums start from as little as 5% of the cost of the memorial (plus 5% IPT insurance premium tax) for a five year policy. For example a memorial costing £2,000 will cost only £21 (including IPT) a year to insure.

Question: Do I have to pay a contribution to the cost of repairs?
Answer: No, the total cost of repairing or replacing the memorial is covered by the policy, as is third party liability of up to £2,000,000.

Question: Who do I contact when I need to make a claim?
Answer: Contact us at Gary Green Monumental Masons and we will arrange for an estimate of the repairs to be forwarded to the insurer for authorisation. Repairs are normally authorised within three days of the damage details being received.

Question: What happens when the policy expires after the five year term?
Answer: The policy is renewable and can then be renewed every five years indefinitely, subject to the policy’s standard terms and conditions. The memorial value will be indexed linked at 5% per annum.

Question: Can I insure an existing memorial?
Answer: Yes, established headstones and memorials can also be insured provided that cover is based on today’s replacement cost.

Question: What’s not included?
Answer: The insurance does not cover depreciation or wear and tear, including the action of light and atmospheric conditions on the memorial. Any process of cleaning, repair, restoration or re-siting of the memorial which results in damage is also excluded. The policy contains the usual exclusions relating to war, sonic bangs, etc. Full details can be found in the policy document.

Question: Who underwrites the policy?
Answer: The scheme described here is arranged exclusively by Bridge Insurance Brokers and is solely underwritten by Royal & SunAlliance PLC.