Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Elliott Paul Donald
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
08/31/2012		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CARRIAGE SERVICES INC [CSV]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
5219 LAURELWOOD		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
Regional Partner
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

KINGWOOD, TX 77345		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 12,000 (1)
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Performance Award (2)   (2) 08/31/2017 Common Stock 50,000 $ 9 (3) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Elliott Paul Donald
5219 LAURELWOOD
KINGWOOD, TX 77345		       Regional Partner

Signatures

/s/ Paul D. Elliott 09/05/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Restricted Stock grant pursuant to the Carriage Services, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan which vest 1/3 on 08/31/2013, 1/3 on 08/31/2014 and 1/3 on 08/31/2015. Granted upon employment.
(2) Represents performance-based stock awards granted under the Carriage Services, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The award will vest (if at all) on or before August 31, 2017 on the date on which the closing price of Carriage's Common Stock is greater than or equal to $21.50 for the third time, whether or not consecutive, within a period of 30 consecutive calendar days. If these conditions are satisfied on or prior to the first anniversary of the grant date, which is August 31, 2013, then the vesting date of these awards will be August 31, 2013; provided that the Reporting Person has remained continuously employed by Carriage through such date.
(3) The award represents the right of the Reporting Person to receive shares of Carriage Services, Inc. Common Stock in exchange for payment of a purchase price equal to $9.00 per share.

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