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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>
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    <TD colspan="5" valign="top" align="center">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October&nbsp;8, 2009.</TD>
</TR>


<TR style="font-size:6pt" >
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
</tr>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;&#95;</B></TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size:6pt" >
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
</tr>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>






<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933<BR>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>DELAWARE</B><BR>
(State or other jurisdiction <BR>
of incorporation or organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>76-0423828</B><BR>
(I.R.S. Employer<BR>
Identification No.)</TD>
</TR><TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite&nbsp;300, <BR>
Houston, Texas</B><BR>
(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom"><B>77056</B><BR>
(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>2007 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN</B><BR>
(Full title of the plan)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Terry E. Sanford<BR>
Chief Financial Officer<BR>
3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite&nbsp;300<BR>
Houston, Texas 77056</B><BR>
(Name and address of agent for service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>(713)&nbsp;332-8400</B><BR>
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)<BR>
<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large
accelerated filer&#148;, &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Large accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#254;</FONT></FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Non-Accelerated filer <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">Smaller reporting company <FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>

<TD align="center" valign="top"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">(Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)</FONT></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Proposed Maximum</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Proposed Maximum</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center">Title of Securities to</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Amount to be</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Offering Price Per</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Aggregate Offering</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Amount of</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"> be Registered</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Registered(1)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Share(2)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Price(2)</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3">Registration Fee</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per
share</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">1,000,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">3.81</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">3,810,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$</TD>
    <TD align="right" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">212.60</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="23" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(1)&nbsp;Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.<BR>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(2)&nbsp;Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The registration fee
has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)&nbsp;under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
based upon the average of the high and low prices for the common stock of Carriage Services, Inc.
on October&nbsp;2, 2009, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>







<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<!-- TOC -->
<A name="toc"><DIV align="CENTER" style="page-break-before:always"><U><B>TABLE OF CONTENTS</B></U></DIV></A>

<P><CENTER>
<TABLE border="0" width="90%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<TR>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="3%"></TD>
	<TD width="76%"></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#000">PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION OF 10(a) PROSPECTUS</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#001">PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#002">Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#003">Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#004">Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#005">Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#006">Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#007">Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD></TD><TD colspan="8"><A HREF="#008">Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#009">SIGNATURE</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="#010">EXHIBIT INDEX</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="h68182exv5w1.htm">EX-5.1</A></TD></TR>
<TR><TD colspan="9"><A HREF="h68182exv23w1.htm">EX-23.1</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<!-- /TOC -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>




<!-- link1 "PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION OF 10(a) PROSPECTUS" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="000"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART I<BR>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION OF 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This registration statement is being filed for the purpose of registering 1,000,000 Common
Shares of Carriage Services, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;), to be issued pursuant to the Carriage Services
2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the &#147;2007 Plan&#148;). The documents containing the information
specified in Part&nbsp;I of this registration statement will be sent or given to participants in the
2007 Plan as specified under Rule&nbsp;428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
&#147;Securities Act&#148;). These documents are not required to be, and are not being, filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) either as part of this registration
statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the Securities
Act. These documents, together with the documents incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item
3 of Part&nbsp;II of this registration statement, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of
Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
</DIV>

<!-- link1 "PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="001"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="002"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;3.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement:
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2008, filed on March&nbsp;10,
2009;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2009, filed on May&nbsp;8, 2009;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2009, filed on August&nbsp;7,
2009;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Current Reports on Form 8-K filed February&nbsp;4, 2009, February&nbsp;27, 2009 and May&nbsp;6, 2009;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(e)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of the Company&#146;s common stock contained in the registration statement
on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;28, 1998, as amended by Form 8-A/A filed on
December&nbsp;4, 2002, including any additional amendments that we may have filed in the past,
or may file in the future, for the purpose of updating the description of our common stock.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), subsequent to the
effective date of this Registration Statement, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement indicating that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
deregistering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any statement contained herein or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a
part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or superseded.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="003"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;4.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Description of Securities.</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="004"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="005"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;6.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company, a Delaware corporation, is empowered by Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the &#147;DGCL&#148;), subject to the procedures and limitations stated therein, to
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise,
against reasonable expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such
director, officer, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The Company is
required by Section&nbsp;145 to indemnify any person against reasonable expenses (including attorneys&#146;
fees) actually incurred by him in connection with an action, suit or proceeding in which he is a
party because he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or other enterprise, if he has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the
defense of the action, suit or proceeding. Section&nbsp;145 also allows a corporation to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any such person against any liability asserted against him in any
such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the
power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of Section&nbsp;145. In addition,
Section&nbsp;145 provides that indemnification pursuant to its provisions is not exclusive of other
rights of indemnification to which a person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of
shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;10 of the Company&#146;s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the &#147;Charter&#148;)
provides that the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless any person who was, is, or is
threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she (i)&nbsp;is or was a
director or officer of the Company or (ii)&nbsp;while a director or officer of the Company, is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor,
trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation,
partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise,
to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. The right to indemnification under Article&nbsp;10 of
the Charter is a contract right which includes, with respect to directors and officers, the right
to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its
disposition.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="006"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;7.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="007"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="margin-top: 12pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; background: transparent; color: #000000">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><B>Exhibits.</B></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the
Company with the Commission, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.1</TD>

    <TD align="left" valign="top">*</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the Commission
as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the Year Ended December&nbsp;31,
1996, and incorporated herein by reference).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->

    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.2</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">*</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed with the Commission as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to the Company&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1(Registration No.333-5545) and incorporated herein by
reference).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.3</TD>

    <TD align="left" valign="top">*</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective December&nbsp;18, 2000. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.9 to the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for its year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.4</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">*</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective May&nbsp;20, 2008. (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Company&#146;s current report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed May&nbsp;28, 2008 and incorporated
herein by reference).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.5</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">*</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Carriage Services, Inc. 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to
Appendix&nbsp;A to the Proxy Statement relating to Carriage&#146;s 2007 annual meeting of stockholders,
as filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;20, 2007, Commission File No.&nbsp;001-11961).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">5.1</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Opinion of Haynes and Boone, LLP.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.1</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of KPMG LLP.</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.2</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of Haynes and Boone, LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="right" valign="top">24.1</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">*</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Incorporated herein by reference</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="008"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.  Undertakings.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(a)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">(1)&nbsp;To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">(i)&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933;
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">(ii)&nbsp;To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than 20&nbsp;percent change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#147;Calculation of Registration
Fee&#148; table in the effective registration statement;
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 4%">(iii)&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><I>Provided, however</I>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration
statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or
furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">(2)&nbsp;That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 2%">(3)&nbsp;To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(b)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(c)&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link1 "SIGNATURE" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="009"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on the 8<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">th</SUP> day of
October, 2009.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Terry E. Sanford
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Terry E. Sanford&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left" nowrap>Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>SIGNATURE and POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>

</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Terry E. Sanford, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file
the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the 8<SUP style="font-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top">th</SUP> day of October,
2009.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="75%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Melvin C. Payne
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Melvin C. Payne</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Terry E. Sanford
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Terry E. Sanford</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Vincent D. Foster
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Vincent D. Foster</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Ronald  A. Erickson
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Ronald A. Erickson</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ L. William Heiligbrodt
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
L. William Heiligbrodt</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom" style="padding-top: 1em">
    <TD align="left" nowrap valign="top">/s/ Richard W. Scott
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Richard W. Scott</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">
Director</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always"><A HREF="#toc">Table of Contents</A></H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->
<DIV align="left"><A NAME="010"></A></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="88%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top"> *&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the Commission
as Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the Year Ended December&nbsp;31,
1996, and incorporated herein by reference).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top"> *&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed with the Commission as Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to the Company&#146;s
Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S-1(Registration No.&nbsp;333-5545) and incorporated herein by
reference).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.3</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top"> *&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective December&nbsp;18, 2000. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.9 to the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for its year ended
December&nbsp;31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
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    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.4</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top"> *&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective May&nbsp;20, 2008. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Company&#146;s current report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed May&nbsp;28, 2008 and incorporated
herein by reference).</DIV></TD>
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    <TD align="right" valign="top">4.5</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top"> *&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Carriage Services, Inc. 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to
Appendix&nbsp;A to the Proxy Statement relating to Carriage&#146;s 2007 annual meeting of stockholders,
as filed with the Commission on April&nbsp;20, 2007, Commission File No.&nbsp;001-11961).</DIV></TD>
</TR>
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    <TD align="right" valign="top">5.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Opinion of Haynes and Boone, LLP.</DIV></TD>
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    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of KPMG LLP.</DIV></TD>
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    <TD align="right" valign="top">23.2</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Consent of Haynes and Boone, LLP (included in Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</DIV></TD>
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    <TD align="right" valign="top">24.1</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).</DIV></TD>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CARRIAGE SERVICES INC", "cik": "0001016281", "assigned-sic": "7200", "irs-number": "760423828", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-162408", "film-number": "091113982"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3040 POST OAK BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 300", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056", "phone": "7133328475"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3040 POST OAK BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 300", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056"}}
sv8
Table of Contents
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 8, 2009.
Registration No. 333-______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
76-0423828
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 300,
Houston, Texas
(Address of principal executive offices)
77056
(Zip Code)
2007 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Terry E. Sanford
Chief Financial Officer
3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77056
(Name and address of agent for service)
(713) 332-8400
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large
accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Large accelerated filer
o
Accelerated filer
þ
Non-Accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting company
o
(Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Maximum
Proposed Maximum
Title of Securities to
Amount to be
Offering Price Per
Aggregate Offering
Amount of
be Registered
Registered(1)
Share(2)
Price(2)
Registration Fee
Common Stock, par
value $1.00 per
share
1,000,000
$
3.81
$
3,810,000
$
212.60
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The registration fee
has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
based upon the average of the high and low prices for the common stock of Carriage Services, Inc.
on October 2, 2009, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION OF 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
Item 4. Description of Securities
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
Item 8. Exhibits
Item 9. Undertakings
SIGNATURE
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-5.1
EX-23.1
Table of Contents
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION OF 10(a) PROSPECTUS
This registration statement is being filed for the purpose of registering 1,000,000 Common
Shares of Carriage Services, Inc. (the "Company"), to be issued pursuant to the Carriage Services
2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "2007 Plan"). The documents containing the information
specified in Part I of this registration statement will be sent or given to participants in the
2007 Plan as specified under Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). These documents are not required to be, and are not being, filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this registration
statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities
Act. These documents, together with the documents incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item
3 of Part II of this registration statement, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of
Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement:
(a)
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, filed on March 10,
2009;
(b)
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed on May 8, 2009;
(c)
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, filed on August 7,
2009;
(d)
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed February 4, 2009, February 27, 2009 and May 6, 2009;
(e)
The description of the Company's common stock contained in the registration statement
on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on April 28, 1998, as amended by Form 8-A/A filed on
December 4, 2002, including any additional amendments that we may have filed in the past,
or may file in the future, for the purpose of updating the description of our common stock.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), subsequent to the
effective date of this Registration Statement, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement indicating that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
deregistering all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained herein or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a
part of this Registration Statement, except as so modified or superseded.
Item 4.
Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5.
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Table of Contents
Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Company, a Delaware corporation, is empowered by Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), subject to the procedures and limitations stated therein, to
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise,
against reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such
director, officer, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The Company is
required by Section 145 to indemnify any person against reasonable expenses (including attorneys'
fees) actually incurred by him in connection with an action, suit or proceeding in which he is a
party because he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or other enterprise, if he has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the
defense of the action, suit or proceeding. Section 145 also allows a corporation to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any such person against any liability asserted against him in any
such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the
power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of Section 145. In addition,
Section 145 provides that indemnification pursuant to its provisions is not exclusive of other
rights of indemnification to which a person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of
shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Article 10 of the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Charter")
provides that the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless any person who was, is, or is
threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she (i) is or was a
director or officer of the Company or (ii) while a director or officer of the Company, is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor,
trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation,
partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise,
to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL. The right to indemnification under Article 10 of
the Charter is a contract right which includes, with respect to directors and officers, the right
to be paid by the Company the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its
disposition.
Item 7.
Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
Unless otherwise indicated below as being incorporated by reference to another filing of the
Company with the Commission, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith:
4.1
*
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the Commission
as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31,
1996, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.2
*
Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1(Registration No.333-5545) and incorporated herein by
reference).
4.3
*
Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective December 18, 2000. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its year ended
December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.4
*
Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective May 20, 2008. (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2008 and incorporated
herein by reference).
Table of Contents
4.5
*
Carriage Services, Inc. 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to
Appendix A to the Proxy Statement relating to Carriage's 2007 annual meeting of stockholders,
as filed with the Commission on April 20, 2007, Commission File No. 001-11961).
5.1
Opinion of Haynes and Boone, LLP.
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2
Consent of Haynes and Boone, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).
*
Incorporated herein by reference
Item 9.  Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities
offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration
statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or
furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
Table of Contents
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Table of Contents
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on the 8
th
day of
October, 2009.
CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
By:
/s/ Terry E. Sanford
Terry E. Sanford
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
SIGNATURE and POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Terry E. Sanford, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file
the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the 8
th
day of October,
2009.
Signature
Title
/s/ Melvin C. Payne
Melvin C. Payne
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Terry E. Sanford
Terry E. Sanford
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Vincent D. Foster
Vincent D. Foster
Director
/s/ Ronald  A. Erickson
Ronald A. Erickson
Director
/s/ L. William Heiligbrodt
L. William Heiligbrodt
Director
/s/ Richard W. Scott
Richard W. Scott
Director
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Description
4.1
*
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the Commission
as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31,
1996, and incorporated herein by reference).
4.2
*
Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1(Registration No. 333-5545) and incorporated herein by
reference).
4.3
*
Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective December 18, 2000. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its year ended
December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.4
*
Amendments to the Bylaws of the Company effective May 20, 2008. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 2008 and incorporated
herein by reference).
4.5
*
Carriage Services, Inc. 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to
Appendix A to the Proxy Statement relating to Carriage's 2007 annual meeting of stockholders,
as filed with the Commission on April 20, 2007, Commission File No. 001-11961).
5.1
Opinion of Haynes and Boone, LLP.
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2
Consent of Haynes and Boone, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).
*
Incorporated herein by reference