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Grave & Headstone Care

Sunken or Tilted Headstone: Why It Happens and Who Fixes It

Why headstones sink and lean, who is responsible for fixing them, and what to ask the cemetery or a monument company before anything is moved.

By Fern2 min read

A headstone that has started to lean or sink is a common sight in older cemeteries, and a worrying one when it is a family member's grave. The good news is that it is usually fixable, and in many cases it is not the family's job alone.

Why headstones sink and tilt

  • Settling. The ground over a grave keeps compacting for months or years, especially if the headstone was set soon after burial.
  • Freeze and thaw. In cold climates, water in the soil expands and contracts every winter, slowly pushing stones out of line.
  • A weak foundation. Older stones were often set on a small base or directly on soil.
  • Water and trees. Poor drainage and roots shift the ground beneath the stone.

Who is responsible

It depends on the cemetery and on who owns what:

  • The cemetery usually maintains the grounds. Many cemeteries also level or reset markers, especially flat markers, as part of their care, and some include foundation repairs.
  • The family usually owns the headstone itself. Repairs to the stone, and sometimes resetting it, can fall to the family, often through a monument company.
  • Perpetual care or endowment care, if the grave has it, typically covers grounds upkeep; what it covers for headstones varies by cemetery. Ask for it in writing.
  • Veterans' government headstones in national cemeteries are maintained by the cemetery, which raises and realigns them as part of its upkeep.

What to do

  1. Take a photo and note the section and plot.
  2. Call or email the cemetery office and ask whether resetting is part of their maintenance and whether there is a cost.
  3. If the family is responsible, ask the cemetery which monument companies are approved to work there.
  4. Do not try to straighten a heavy stone yourself. Headstones can weigh hundreds of pounds and can fall or break.

Can't get there to check on the grave? A BloomBridge Runner places flowers and sends a photo of the arrangement at the headstone, which also shows you how the grave looks. See the arrangements.

After it is reset

Resetting usually disturbs the area around the stone, and decorations may be cleared during the work. Plan new flowers for the week after. Our guide to cleaning a headstone covers caring for the stone itself.

Topics Grave & Headstone Care Headstone care Cemetery rules Monuments Perpetual care

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Frequently asked questions

Often the cemetery resets markers as part of its maintenance, but the family usually owns the headstone and may be responsible for repairs. Ask the cemetery office what their care covers.

Settling ground, freeze and thaw cycles, weak foundations, poor drainage and tree roots all shift the soil beneath a headstone over time.

It is not safe or usually allowed. Headstones can weigh hundreds of pounds. The cemetery or an approved monument company should do the work.