Which statement correctly describes the consequence of abandonment?

• A. Ownership remains unchanged, but maintenance increases.
• B. The adjacent property owner gains ownership.
• C. Ownership and responsibilities transfer to the municipality or Crown.
• D. The cemetery reopens for private sale.

Answer: (C)

Abandonment triggers public intervention to protect interments by transferring control to a public entity. When a cemetery operator stops maintaining or administering the site, the law assigns ownership and responsibilities to the municipality or the Crown to ensure the cemetery is properly managed, maintained, and records are kept. This arrangement guarantees ongoing care and compliance with burial regulations, rather than leaving the site neglected or uncontrolled. The other outcomes—ownership staying with the original owner with only more maintenance, the adjacent property owner gaining ownership, or the cemetery reopening for private sale—do not reflect how abandonment is handled under the rules.