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Pennsylvania has what are commonly referred to as “patchwork” cemetery laws, meaning there is no single governing body or central point of contact responsible for holding private, for-profit cemeteries accountable. As a result, responsibility is divided among multiple agencies. Please see tabs and below for guidance on where to file specific types of complaints and how to do so. If citizens do not make their concerns known through official channels, the issues at Lakeside are likely to persist indefinitely.
Department of State: Real Estate Commission
Department of State: Real Estate Commission
Pennsylvania places minimal restrictions on for-profit cemetery ownership. These cemeteries are legally treated as private real estate, which means they can be bought or sold like any commercial property—even when the land contains historic graves or thousands of family members across generations.
Oversight falls under the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission (Department of State), which oversees the business operations of many private, nonreligious cemeteries in Pennsylvania and ensures compliance with state cemetery laws.
Lakeside is required by Pennsylvania law to maintain a perpetual care fund — money that must be set aside and used only for upkeep of the grounds. Right now, the grounds are neglected, and the cemetery has not accounted for how those funds are being used. This raises serious concerns about whether the perpetual care funds are being properly managed.
You can contact the Pennsylvania Department of State’s Real Estate Commission (Cemetery Companies Division) if you believe a cemetery is failing to meet its legal, financial, or administrative responsibilities.
Families may reach out to the Department of State for issues involving record-keeping, contracts, financial management, or cemetery business operations, such as:
Concerns about fraud or mismanagement of perpetual care or endowment care funds
(Such as missing deposits, irregular fund balances, or failure to maintain required trust accounts).Poor or missing record-keeping, including lost burial records, incorrect plot maps, or confusion about who is buried where
Questions or disputes about plot ownership or contracts
Such as unclear paperwork, conflicting documents, or a cemetery refusing to provide required records.Issues with cemetery sales practices
Including unexpected fees, unclear contract terms, or difficulty obtaining documentation related to plot purchases.Reports of possible overcharging or irregular pricing related to cemetery contracts
Such as charges that differ from the signed agreement or unexplained additions to the bill.Failure to follow Pennsylvania cemetery regulations
Including missing financial reports, improper trust fund management, or noncompliance with state filing requirements.Concerns about unclear or improper cemetery management or ownership
Such as sudden changes in control, lack of transparency, or difficulty determining who is responsible for operations.Unresolved administrative issues
Including repeated failures to communicate, ignored requests for information, or refusal to provide documents that cemeteries are legally required to maintain.
Complaint Link 👇
https://www.pals.pa.gov/#!/page/filecomplaint
☎️ Complaint Phone Number: 1-800-822-2113
(*Use Business License Number CE003807)
Examples of Real Estate Investigations
Examples of Real Estate Investigations
Examples of Real Estate Investigations
Examples of Real Estate Investigations
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