What may operators do if interment rights are declared abandoned?

• A. Abandoned rights are cancelled with no further action.
• B. Abandoned rights may be resold immediately by the operator.
• C. Abandoned rights are automatically transferred to the government.
• D. Operators may seek a declaration that rights are abandoned.

Answer: (D)

Abandonment isn’t just a lapse in use; it requires a formal status that the cemetery operator must establish through a legal declaration. When interment rights are declared abandoned, the operator may apply to obtain a declaration that the rights are abandoned. This official determination confirms the rights are no longer held by the previous grantee and can then be reallocated or resold under the cemetery’s rules. It is not automatic cancellation, nor does it transfer to the government or allow immediate resale without the declaration. The declaration provides a clear, enforceable basis for reusing or selling the rights.