Burial in a VA national cemetery: who qualifies and how to plan ahead

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Last reviewed Nov 1, 2026.

Quick answerVeterans who weren’t dishonorably discharged, service members, and many National Guard and Reserve members can be buried in a VA national cemetery. So can a veteran’s spouse or surviving spouse (even after remarriage), minor children and, in some cases, unmarried adult children with disabilities, even if they die before the veteran. A divorced spouse who isn’t a veteran doesn’t qualify. Burial includes the gravesite, opening and closing, a liner, a headstone or marker and perpetual care at no cost to the family. You can apply for a pre-need eligibility decision in advance with VA Form 40-10007, one application per person.

Who qualifiesFederal law

Veterans who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge. A VA regional office decides cases with other-than-honorable, bad conduct or mixed discharges.
Service members, and National Guard and Reserve members who meet one of VA’s conditions (for example, called to active duty and served the full term, or entitled to retirement pay).
Spouses and surviving spouses, including a surviving spouse who remarried after the veteran’s death.
Minor children, and in some cases unmarried adult dependent children who became permanently disabled before age 21 (or 23 if in school full time).
Not eligible: a non-veteran former spouse whose marriage ended by divorce or annulment, and veterans convicted of certain capital crimes or Tier III sex offenses.

Veterans without a dishonorable discharge, spouses and surviving spouses (even if remarried), minor children and some unmarried adult dependent children; former spouses, capital crimes and Tier III sex offenses excluded; VA regional office decides other discharge types. Source: VA – Eligibility for burial in a VA national cemetery, checked Nov 1, 2026.
Spouse, minor children and some dependent unmarried adult children are eligible even if they predecease the veteran. Source: VA National Cemetery Administration – Pre-need fact sheet, checked Nov 1, 2026.
Unmarried adult child: permanently disabled before 21, or 23 if a full-time student; divorced non-veteran spouse not eligible. Source: VA Form 40-10007 instructions, checked Nov 1, 2026.
Statutory list of persons eligible for interment in national cemeteries. Source: 38 U.S.C. § 2402, checked Nov 1, 2026.

What the family gets at no costFederal law

A gravesite in any VA national cemetery with available space
Opening and closing of the grave
A government burial liner
A government headstone or marker (see VA headstones and markers)
Perpetual care of the gravesite
For veterans: a burial flag, a Presidential Memorial Certificate, military funeral honors, and possibly a burial allowance

Gravesite, opening and closing, liner, headstone or marker, perpetual care at no cost; flag, Presidential Memorial Certificate, military funeral honors and burial allowance for veterans. Source: VA – What does burial in a VA national cemetery include?, checked Nov 1, 2026.

Planning ahead: pre-need eligibility

Gather the veteran’s DD214 or other discharge papers (VA will try to find records if you don’t have them) and Social Security numbers. Lost papers? See getting a DD-214.
Apply online, or by mail or fax using VA Form 40-10007. Each person needs a separate application, so a veteran and spouse file two.
Name a preferred cemetery. VA can’t guarantee it or reserve a specific gravesite; space is assigned at the time of need.
Keep the decision letter with your will and funeral wishes so your family can find it.

Pre-need doesn’t apply to Arlington National Cemetery or the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery (contact Arlington directly), or to state, territory or tribal veterans cemeteries (ask the cemetery about its own program). Being found eligible doesn’t obligate anyone to be buried in a national cemetery.

Apply online, by mail or by fax; separate application for each family member; preferred cemetery not guaranteed; Arlington and state/tribal cemeteries use different processes; can’t apply after death. Source: VA – Pre-need eligibility for burial in a VA cemetery, checked Nov 1, 2026.
A pre-need determination does not guarantee a specific cemetery or gravesite and doesn’t obligate the applicant to be buried there. Source: VA National Cemetery Administration – Pre-need fact sheet, checked Nov 1, 2026.

When the death has already happened

You can’t apply for pre-need after a death. Instead, you or the funeral director call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET, with the DD214 or other discharge papers and the person’s details. Documents such as a death certificate or divorce decree may be needed to show a family relationship. If there’s a pre-need decision letter, mention it; VA may recheck eligibility.

Scheduling Office 800-535-1117, hours, documents needed, recheck of pre-need decisions. Source: VA – Schedule a burial for a Veteran or family member, checked Nov 1, 2026.

State, territory and tribal veterans cemeteries

VA’s pre-need decision covers VA national cemeteries only. VA grant-funded state, territory and tribal veterans cemeteries run their own pre-need programs, so contact the cemetery directly. State estate and funeral rules are on NH · CA · TX · FL · OH.

Not yet verified: which state veterans cemeteries operate in NH, CA, TX, FL and OH and their eligibility rules.

After a death: your state

New Hampshire · California · Texas · Florida · Ohio

Probate courts: NH · CA · TX · FL · OH

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