<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-03-000930
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030513
<FILING-DATE>20030515
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FOSTER VINCE D
<CIK>0001193236
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-11961
<FILM-NUMBER>03700423
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1300 POST OAK BLVD.
<STREET2>STE. 800
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77345
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CARRIAGE SERVICES INC
<CIK>0001016281
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7200
<IRS-NUMBER>760423828
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1300 POST OAK BLVD STE 1500
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77056
<PHONE>2815567400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1300 POST OAK BLVD
<CITY>HOUSTON
<STATE>TX
<ZIP>77056
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -2003-05-013
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-13</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001016281</issuerCik>        <issuerName>CARRIAGE SERVICES INC</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>CSV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001193236</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>FOSTER VINCE D</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>3.60</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>CS</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53250</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Vince D. Foster</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
