Chapter 157

157.19(1) (1) In this section, “financial institution” has the meaning given in s. 705.01 (3), but, except with respect to the deposit of preneed trust funds, also includes a broker-dealer registered under s. 551.401 (1) or exempt from registration under s. 551.401 (2).

157.19(2) (2) 

157.19(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (5) and the rules promulgated under sub. (4), the cemetery authority may deposit care funds under s. 157.11 (9g), and shall deposit care funds under s. 157.12 (3) and preneed trust funds under s. 440.92, with a financial institution located in this state. The financial institution shall be the trustee of the care funds and preneed trust funds. A bank need not comply with s. 221.0316 (1) or (2) or ch. 223 to accept or disburse deposits under this section. The trustee shall invest the care funds and preneed trust funds as provided under s. 881.01, except as provided in sub. (5) and the rules promulgated under sub. (4).

157.19(2)(b) (b) The cemetery authority may not change the trustee of a care fund under s. 157.11 (9g) that is deposited under this section or of a care fund under s. 157.12 (3), and the financial institution may not release any portion of the principal amount of the care fund, without the cemetery board’s written approval.

157.19(2)(c) (c) Upon request of the financial institution, the preneed seller, as defined in s. 440.90 (8), shall furnish the financial institution with a copy of the preneed sales contract. Except as provided in s. 440.92 (2) (c), (f) and (j) and (5), preneed trust funds, and any interest or dividends that have accumulated on the preneed trust funds, may not be withdrawn until all obligations under the preneed sales contract have been fulfilled. The financial institution is not responsible for the fulfillment of any part of the preneed sales contract, except that the financial institution shall release the preneed trust funds, and any interest or dividends that have accumulated on the preneed trust funds, as provided by the terms of the preneed sales contract. The trustee of a preneed trust fund may not be changed without the cemetery board’s written approval. If the trustee or account number of a preneed trust fund is changed, the cemetery authority shall notify the cemetery board in writing within 30 days after the change.

157.19(2)(d) (d) The cemetery board shall promulgate rules establishing reasonable requirements and standards for the approval of changes under pars. (b) and (c). For approval of changes under par. (b), the rules shall require the cemetery authority to submit evidence that the rights and interests of the beneficiary of the care fund will be adequately protected if the change is approved. For approval of changes under par. (c), the rules shall require the trustee to submit evidence that the rights and interests of the purchaser under the preneed sales contract will be adequately protected if the change is approved.

157.19(4) (4) The cemetery board may promulgate rules allowing funds invested under this section to be deposited with a financial institution located outside this state.

157.19(5) (5) 

157.19(5)(a) (a) This section does not apply to care funds of a cemetery for which a certification under s. 157.63 is effective, to preneed trust funds of a cemetery for which a certification under s. 440.92 (9) is effective, or to care funds or preneed trust funds of a cemetery authority that is not required to be licensed under s. 440.91 (1) or registered under s. 440.91 (1m).

157.19(5)(b) (b) If the cemetery board determines that care funds under s. 157.11 (9g) are not being properly segregated from other moneys held by the cemetery authority or that those care funds are not being properly invested as required in s. 157.11 (9g) (a), the cemetery board may require the cemetery authority to deposit those care funds with a financial institution for investment under this section.

157.19(6) (6) Nothing in this section prevents a cemetery authority from combining its care funds and preneed trust funds for investment under this section if the cemetery authority maintains separate accountings for each fund.

157.19(7) (7) Except as provided in sub. (5) (a), this section applies to every care fund and every preneed trust fund of a cemetery authority, regardless of when the care fund or preneed trust fund was established.

157.19 History History: 1989 a. 307; 1991 a. 74, 269; 1995 a. 336; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 174; 2015 a. 110, 237.

157.19 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. CB 4, Wis. adm. code.

157.50 157.50 Municipal cemeteries.

157.50(1) (1) Municipalities may acquire by gift, purchase or condemnation land for cemeteries within or without their boundaries. In the case of towns acquisition and price must be authorized by the town meeting.

157.50(2) (2) The governing body of every municipality acquiring a cemetery shall by ordinance determine the system of management and operation. Any municipality may proceed under s. 157.07, 157.08 or 157.11 (7), or otherwise as provided by ordinance.

157.50(3) (3) Upon organization of a cemetery association to take over a municipal cemetery, the municipality may convey real property and all funds and other personal property to the association. In towns the conveyance must be authorized by the town meeting.

157.50(4) (4) When a town cemetery becomes embraced within a city or village, it shall be managed as though acquired thereby.

157.50(5) (5) The town meeting may authorize the town board to appropriate up to $500 in any year for the improvement of the town cemetery, under supervision of the town board.

157.50(6) (6) Any municipality that creates a care fund shall invest the money received for care as provided by ch. 881. The municipality may terminate the care fund, transferring the money to its general fund, if the municipality owns the cemetery and provides all maintenance expenses in perpetuity for those graves in the cemetery at the time of termination.

157.50 History History: 1971 c. 41 s. 12; 1979 c. 254; 1983 a. 532; 1989 a. 307.

157.60 157.60 Public easement in cemetery. Any person who opens or makes any highway, town way, or private way or constructs any railroad, turnpike, or canal or anything in the nature of a public easement over, through, in, or upon such part of any enclosure, being the property of any municipality, religious association, or private proprietor, as may be used for burial, unless an authority for that purpose is specially granted by law or unless the consent of such municipality, religious association, or private proprietor is first obtained by the person, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not more than one year and by fine not exceeding $3,000.

157.60 History History: 2015 a. 237.

157.62 157.62 Reporting; record keeping; audits.

157.62(1) (1) Cemetery associations.

157.62(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and s. 157.625, every cemetery association shall file an annual report with the cemetery board. The report shall be made on a calendar-year basis unless the cemetery board, by rule, provides for other reporting periods. The report is due on the 60th day after the last day of the reporting period. The annual report shall include all of the following:

157.62(1)(a)1. 1. The name of the cemetery association and the address of its principal office.

157.62(1)(a)2. 2. The name, residence address and business address of each officer, director and trustee of the cemetery association.

157.62(1)(a)3. 3. The name, residence address and business address of each shareholder who beneficially owns, holds or has the power to vote 5 percent or more of any class of securities issued by the cemetery association.

157.62(1)(a)4. 4. The dates and places of all meetings and elections.

157.62(1)(a)5. 5. A statement of whether the cemetery association engaged in the operation of a cemetery during the previous calendar year.

157.62(1)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any person required to file a report under s. 180.1622 or 181.0214.

157.62(1)(c) (c) The cemetery board may prescribe and furnish forms for reports required under this subsection. If the cemetery board prescribes forms under this paragraph, the cemetery board shall mail the forms to cemetery associations required to file under par. (a) no later than 60 days before the reports are due.

157.62(2) (2) Cemetery authorities.

157.62(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in ss. 157.625 and 157.63 (1), every cemetery authority shall file an annual report with the cemetery board. The report shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the cemetery board. The report shall be made on a calendar-year basis unless the cemetery board, by rule, provides for other reporting periods. The report is due on the 60th day after the last day of the reporting period.

157.62(2)(b) (b) The cemetery authority shall include all of the following in the annual report required under par. (a):

157.62(2)(b)1. 1. A copy of any report required under sub. (1) (a) or s. 180.1622 or 181.0214.

157.62(2)(b)2. 2. If the cemetery authority is required to file a report under s. 180.1622 or 181.0214, the information specified in sub. (1) (a) 3.

157.62(2)(b)3. 3. An accounting of amounts deposited in, amounts withdrawn from, income accruing to and the balance at the close of the reporting period of any preneed trust funds of the cemetery.

157.62(2)(b)4. 4. An accounting of amounts deposited in, amounts withdrawn from, other income accruing to and the balance at the end of the reporting period of care funds of the cemetery, including the funds in ss. 157.11 (9g) (a), 157.12 (3) and 157.125.

157.62(2)(b)5. 5. An accounting of all gifts received, income from gifts deposited in accounts not accounted for under subd. 4., amounts expended from those accounts and the balance of those accounts at the end of the reporting period.

157.62(2)(b)6. 6. The name and address of each trustee for the funds under subds. 3. to 5. and of the financial institution holding those accounts at the close of the reporting period.

157.62(2)(b)6m. 6m. The names of the officers of the cemetery authority.

157.62(2)(b)7. 7. The information specified in sub. (1) (a), to the extent applicable, if the cemetery is not required to file a report under sub. (1) (a) or s. 180.1622 or 181.0214.

157.62(2)(c) (c) All records relating to accountings of trust funds described under par. (b) 3. to 7. and maintained by the department and by the cemetery board are confidential and are not available for inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1).

157.62(2)(d) (d) The board shall review each report filed under par. (a) to determine whether the cemetery authority is complying with this subchapter.

157.62(3) (3) Records; inspection.

157.62(3)(a) (a) Every cemetery authority shall keep a copy of the report required under sub. (2) (a) at its principal place of business and, except for those records relating to accountings of trust funds described under sub. (2) (b) 3. to 7., shall make the report available for inspection, upon reasonable notice, by any person with an interest in a cemetery lot or a mausoleum space in a cemetery owned or operated by the cemetery authority.

157.62(3)(b) (b) Every cemetery authority shall maintain all of the following:

157.62(3)(b)1. 1. The records needed to prepare the reports required under sub. (2) (a).

157.62(3)(b)2g. 2g. All records supporting the accounting under sub. (2) (b) 3., including records that show, for each deposit, the name of the purchaser or beneficiary of the contract relating to the deposit and the item purchased.

157.62(3)(b)2r. 2r. All records supporting the accounting under sub. (2) (b) 4., including records that show, for each deposit, the name of the purchaser or beneficiary of the contract relating to the deposit and the item purchased.

157.62(3)(b)3. 3. A copy of each contract for the sale of a cemetery lot, mausoleum space or cemetery merchandise.

157.62(4) (4) Records maintenance. The records under sub. (3) (b) 1. shall be permanently maintained by the cemetery authority or licensee. Each record under sub. (3) (b) 2g. shall be maintained for not less than 15 years after the date of the deposit. Each record under sub. (3) (b) 2r. shall be permanently maintained by the cemetery authority or licensee. Each copy of a contract under sub. (3) (b) 3. shall be maintained for not less than 3 years after all of the obligations of the contract have been fulfilled. The cemetery board may promulgate rules to establish longer time periods for maintaining records under sub. (3) (b) 2g. and 3.

157.62(5) (5) Rules; records. The cemetery board shall promulgate rules requiring cemetery authorities and licensees to maintain other records and establishing minimum time periods for the maintenance of those records. The records shall include detailed information for each deceased person buried in a cemetery, including all of the following:

157.62(5)(a) (a) The name of the deceased.

157.62(5)(b) (b) The last-known address of the deceased.

157.62(5)(c) (c) The date of birth of the deceased.

157.62(5)(d) (d) The date of death.

157.62(5)(e) (e) The date of burial.

157.62(5)(f) (f) The exact location in the cemetery where the deceased is buried.

157.62(5)(g) (g) The name of the person authorizing the burial and his or her relationship to the deceased.

157.62(5)(h) (h) The name of the funeral establishment, as defined in s. 445.01 (6).

157.62(5)(i) (i) The type of burial vault used, if any.

157.62(5)(j) (j) The type and style of the grave marker, monument, or other memorial used.

157.62(6) (6) Audit. Except as provided in ss. 157.625, 157.63 (5), and 440.92 (9) (e), the cemetery board may audit, at reasonable times and frequency, the records, trust funds, and accounts of any cemetery authority, including records, trust funds, and accounts pertaining to services provided by a cemetery authority that are not otherwise subject to the requirements under this chapter. The cemetery board may conduct audits under this subsection on a random basis, and shall conduct all audits under this subsection without providing prior notice to the cemetery authority.

157.62(7) (7) Rules; filing fee. The cemetery board may promulgate rules establishing a filing fee to accompany the report required under sub. (2) (a). The filing fee shall be based on the approximate cost of regulating cemetery authorities.

157.62 History History: 1989 a. 307; 1991 a. 16, 32, 269; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 79; 2007 a. 174; 2015 a. 237; 2021 a. 258.

157.62 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. CB 2, Wis. adm. code.

157.625 157.625 Reporting exemption for certain cemeteries.

157.625(1) (1) A cemetery authority that is not required under this chapter or under s. 440.92 to maintain any care funds or preneed trust funds is not required to file an annual report under s. 157.62 (2).

157.625(3) (3) Section 157.62 does not apply to a cemetery authority that is not required to be licensed under s. 440.91 (1) or registered under s. 440.91 (1m).

157.625 History History: 1991 a. 269; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 174; 2015 a. 237.

157.63 157.63 Reporting and auditing exemptions; certification of compliance of cemetery organized and operated by, or affiliated with, a religious association.

157.63(1) (1) In lieu of filing an annual report under s. 157.62 (2), a religious association or a cemetery authority of a cemetery that is affiliated with a religious association, or that religious association, may file an annual certification with the cemetery board as provided in this section.

157.63(2) (2) A certification under this section shall be made on a form prescribed and furnished by the cemetery board and include all of the following:

157.63(2)(a) (a) The name and address of each cemetery to which the certification applies.

157.63(2)(b) (b) A statement of a person who is legally authorized to act on behalf of the religious association under this section that, during the reporting period under s. 157.62, each cemetery and the cemetery authority of each cemetery specified under par. (a) have either fully complied or have substantially complied with ss. 157.11 (9g) (c) and 157.12 (3).

157.63(3) (3) If the statement under sub. (2) (b) includes a statement of substantial compliance, the statement under sub. (2) (b) must also specify those instances when the cemetery or cemetery authority did not fully comply with s. 157.11 (9g) or 157.12 (3).

157.63(4) (4) A certification under this section is effective for the 12-month period immediately following the reporting period under s. 157.62 (2) for which the cemetery authority is certified under this section to have fully or substantially complied with ss. 157.11 (9g) and 157.12 (3).

157.63(5) (5) During the effective period specified under sub. (4), the cemetery board may not audit the care funds or any records or accounts relating to the care funds of a cemetery to which a certification under this section applies.

157.63(6) (6) The religious society that is affiliated with a cemetery to which a certification under this section applies is liable for the damages of any person that result from the failure of the cemetery or cemetery authority to fully comply with s. 157.11 (9g) or 157.12 (3) during the reporting period under s. 157.62 (2) for which such compliance has been certified under this section.

157.63 History History: 1989 a. 307; 1991 a. 269; 2015 a. 237; 2017 a. 329.

157.63 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. CB 2, Wis. adm. code.

157.635 157.635 Regulations of cemetery organized and operated by, or affiliated with, a religious association. Nothing in this subchapter prohibits a religious association or a cemetery authority of a cemetery that is affiliated with a religious association from prohibiting the burial of the human remains of an individual in the cemetery if the individual was in a class of individuals who are prohibited under regulations adopted by the cemetery authority or religious association from being buried in the cemetery.

157.635 History History: 1989 a. 307; 2015 a. 237.

157.637 157.637 Veteran burials. A cemetery authority of a cemetery, other than a cemetery that is organized and operated by, or affiliated with, a religious association, may not prohibit the burial of the human remains of a person specified in s. 45.61 (2) at the cemetery if the cemetery authority is paid in its usual and customary manner for the burial.

157.637 History History: 2003 a. 70; 2005 a. 22; 2015 a. 237.