diff --git a/src/p4est_communication.c b/src/p4est_communication.c
index e0f7955a8..a0466714d 100644
--- a/src/p4est_communication.c
+++ b/src/p4est_communication.c
@@ -574,6 +574,53 @@ p4est_comm_is_empty (p4est_t * p4est, int p)
   return gfq[p] == gfq[p + 1];
 }
 
+int
+p4est_comm_is_contained (p4est_t * p4est, p4est_locidx_t which_tree,
+                         const p4est_quadrant_t * q, int rank)
+{
+  p4est_topidx_t      ctree;
+  p4est_quadrant_t    qlast;
+  const p4est_quadrant_t *cur;
+
+  P4EST_ASSERT (p4est != NULL && p4est->connectivity != NULL);
+  P4EST_ASSERT (p4est->global_first_position != NULL);
+  P4EST_ASSERT (0 <= which_tree &&
+                which_tree < p4est->connectivity->num_trees);
+  P4EST_ASSERT (q != NULL);
+  P4EST_ASSERT (0 <= rank && rank < p4est->mpisize);
+  P4EST_ASSERT (p4est_quadrant_is_node (q, 1) || p4est_quadrant_is_valid (q));
+
+  /* check whether q begins on a lower processor than rank */
+  cur = &p4est->global_first_position[rank];
+  P4EST_ASSERT (cur->level == P4EST_QMAXLEVEL);
+  ctree = cur->p.which_tree;
+  if (which_tree < ctree ||
+      (which_tree == ctree &&
+       (p4est_quadrant_compare (q, cur) < 0 &&
+        (q->x != cur->x || q->y != cur->y
+#ifdef P4_TO_P8
+         || q->z != cur->z
+#endif
+        )))) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  /* check whether q ends on a higher processor than rank */
+  ++cur;
+  P4EST_ASSERT (cur == &p4est->global_first_position[rank + 1]);
+  P4EST_ASSERT (cur->level == P4EST_QMAXLEVEL);
+  ctree = cur->p.which_tree;
+  if (which_tree > ctree ||
+      (which_tree == ctree &&
+       (p4est_quadrant_last_descendant (q, &qlast, P4EST_QMAXLEVEL),
+        p4est_quadrant_compare (cur, &qlast) <= 0))) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  /* the quadrant lies fully in the ownership region of rank */
+  return 1;
+}
+
 int
 p4est_comm_is_owner (p4est_t * p4est, p4est_locidx_t which_tree,
                      const p4est_quadrant_t * q, int rank)
diff --git a/src/p4est_communication.h b/src/p4est_communication.h
index 3d25157d1..adc7f3d43 100644
--- a/src/p4est_communication.h
+++ b/src/p4est_communication.h
@@ -136,6 +136,17 @@ void                p4est_comm_count_pertree (p4est_t * p4est,
  */
 int                 p4est_comm_is_empty (p4est_t * p4est, int p);
 
+/** Test whether a quadrant is fully contained in a rank's owned regien.
+ * This function may return false when \ref p4est_comm_is_owner returns true.
+ * \param [in] rank    Rank whose ownership is tested.
+ *                     Assumes a forest with no overlaps.
+ * \return true if rank is the owner of the whole area of the quadrant.
+ */
+int                 p4est_comm_is_contained (p4est_t * p4est,
+                                             p4est_locidx_t which_tree,
+                                             const p4est_quadrant_t * q,
+                                             int rank);
+
 /** Test ownershop of a quadrant via p4est->global_first_position.
  * The quadrant is considered owned if its first descendant is owned.
  * This, a positive result occurs even if its last descendant overlaps
diff --git a/src/p4est_to_p8est.h b/src/p4est_to_p8est.h
index e038a43b9..78b7139cf 100644
--- a/src/p4est_to_p8est.h
+++ b/src/p4est_to_p8est.h
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@
 #define p4est_comm_global_partition     p8est_comm_global_partition
 #define p4est_comm_count_pertree        p8est_comm_count_pertree
 #define p4est_comm_is_empty             p8est_comm_is_empty
+#define p4est_comm_is_contained         p8est_comm_is_contained
 #define p4est_comm_is_owner             p8est_comm_is_owner
 #define p4est_comm_find_owner           p8est_comm_find_owner
 #define p4est_comm_tree_info            p8est_comm_tree_info
diff --git a/src/p8est_communication.h b/src/p8est_communication.h
index 8c83f49bd..68d488d3a 100644
--- a/src/p8est_communication.h
+++ b/src/p8est_communication.h
@@ -136,6 +136,17 @@ void                p8est_comm_count_pertree (p8est_t * p8est,
  */
 int                 p8est_comm_is_empty (p8est_t * p8est, int p);
 
+/** Test whether a quadrant is fully contained in a rank's owned regien.
+ * This function may return false when \ref p8est_comm_is_owner returns true.
+ * \param [in] rank    Rank whose ownership is tested.
+ *                     Assumes a forest with no overlaps.
+ * \return true if rank is the owner of the whole area of the quadrant.
+ */
+int                 p8est_comm_is_contained (p8est_t * p8est,
+                                             p4est_locidx_t which_tree,
+                                             const p8est_quadrant_t * q,
+                                             int rank);
+
 /** Test ownershop of a quadrant via p8est->global_first_position.
  * The quadrant is considered owned if its first descendant is owned.
  * This, a positive result occurs even if its last descendant overlaps