Progress or danger? New burial law in Rhineland-Palatinate in focus!

Progress or danger? New burial law in Rhineland-Palatinate in focus!

The burial culture in Rhineland-Palatinate is facing a fundamental change. On the occasion of the planned introduction of river burials, which are now to be officially anchored in the new burial law, the public discussion is being heated up again. Report today, June 24, 2025 the Rhine Palatinate that the Evangelical Churches in Rhineland-Palatinate welcome progress, but at the same time express considerable concerns about maintaining the peace of the dead.

The Rhineland-Palatinate cabinet recently agreed on an amendment to the law on burial law, which is intended to respond to current social and cultural developments. Health Minister Clemens Hoch (SPD) emphasizes that this new regulation is intended to better take the individual wishes of the deceased into account. The most important changes include the abolition of the previous coffin requirement and the introduction of cloth burials for everyone , as SWR reports.

Innovations in funeral law

A central point of the new regulations is the permission for river burials in waters such as the Rhine, Moselle, Lahn and Saar. This represents a significant step towards modern funeral practices. Many undertakers see this as an increasing demand, particularly for personal mementos - such as gemstones made from the ashes , which are also in demand.The possibility of burying urns outside of cemeteries or storing ashes at home is also causing lively discussions among believers and experts.

However, the Evangelical Church has concerns as to whether the new regulations will preserve the social consensus on the peace of the dead. According to their assessment, private storage or distribution of ashes could jeopardize respect for the deceased. The Association of Municipalities and Cities of Rhineland-Palatinate also expects the new regulations to reduce the use of cemeteries , which further fuels the discussion.

Trend towards more flexible forms of burial

In general, a noticeable change in funeral culture can be observed. In Germany, traditional church burials are declining, while alternative forms such as cremation or natural burials are enjoying increasing interest. Urn burials are particularly popular, which are intended to make saying goodbye to loved ones easier and more personal. According to one Opinion poll Many people advocate using the ashes to create personal keepsakes.

Despite the high costs of an average of 13,000 euros for a classic funeral, simple and maintenance-free burials are particularly popular. Frustration over the high cost of funerals is widespread; Many relatives are willing to spend between 2,000 and 4,000 euros on a funeral. The pressure is growing to offer suitable, individual and, above all, less expensive forms of burial and to make them legally possible.

Next week, the state parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate will deal with the new regulations. Health Minister Hoch hopes that the new burial law can be decided before the summer break in July, so that people in Rhineland-Palatinate will soon have the opportunity to make their final wishes even more individual.