Funeral Service Law: Mortuary Law Flashcards
A proportional reduction of a legacy under a will when assets out of which such legacy are payable are not sufficient to pay it in full
Abatement
The physical possession of the dead human body
Actual Custody of the Body
The extinction or withdrawal of an inheritance because decedent did not own the property at the time of death
Ademption
A governmental body created by legislation empowered to regulate an industry an issue rules and regulations
Administrative Agency
That body of law created by federal and state administrative agencies to implement their powers and duties in the form of rules, regulations, orders, and decisions
Administrative Law
A man who has been appointed by the court to settle an estate
Administrator
A woman who has been appointed by the court to settle an estate
Administratrix
Those drivers under the directions and control of the funeral establishment which is liable for the driver’s negligent actions
Agent Driver
Unfinished wood box or other non-metal receptacle or enclosure, without ornamentation or a fixed interior lining, which is designed for the encasement of human remains, and which is made of fiberboard, pressed-wood, composition materials (with or without an outside covering) or like materials
Alternative Container
Price lists which may be prepared for use in certain limited situations such as children/infants, for government agencies to provide for indigent persons, for agreements with religious groups, burial or memorial societies for members of their group
Alternative Price Lists
A federal statute prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in employment, public transportation, telecommunications, services, and public accommodations and services operated by private entities
Americans with Disabilities Act aka ADA
A person engaged in learning the practice of funeral directing and/or embalming under instruction, direction, or personal supervision of a duly licensed funeral director and/or embalmer
Apprentice aka Intern aka Resident Trainee
A person who receives personal property from another as a bailment
Bailee
A delivery of personal property by one person (bailor) to another (bailee) who holds the property for a certain purpose under an express or implied in fact contract
Bailment
A gift of personal property by will
Bequest aka Legacy
Int eh uniformed anatomical gift act defined as organs, tissues, eyes, bones, arteries, blood, other fluids, and other portions of a human body for transplantation. After removal of a body part, without unnecessary mutilation, the custody of the remainder of the body rests with the person who otherwise has the right to control final disposition
Body Parts
Total and irreversible cessation of brain function as indicated by a flat EEG reading
Brain Death
Laws, ordinances, and government regulations setting forth requirements for construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use of appearance of buildings
Building Code
This form of insurance is fading fast from the funeral scene. Life insurance payable in merchandise and service or as a credit toward merchandise and service, with a lesser benefit often payable in cash when the person dies and final disposition occurs outside the service area of the funeral establishment that services that burial association
Burial Insurance
A dead human body intended solely for scientific study and dissection
Cadaver
Appellate court decisions that establish precedented principles
Case Law
Any item of service or merchandise described to a purchaser as a cash advance, accommodation, cash disbursement, or similar term. Any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser’s behalf.
Cash Advance Items
Rigid container which is designed for the encasement of human remains and which is usually constructed of wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic, or like material, and ornamented and lined with fabric
Casket
Charge, fee, or surcharge applied to consumers who purchase their casket elsewhere from a source other than the price list/funeral provider
Casket Handling Fees
Printed or typewritten list of the casket and alternative containers normally offered for sale by the funeral provider which do not require special ordering
Casket Price List aka CPL
Must include retail price and enough descriptive information to enable consumers to identify the merchandise
Casket Price List
The absence of all vital signs
Clinical Death aka Legal Death
An addition or amendment of a last will and testament executed with the same formality as the will
Codicil
Commission refers to the
Federal Trade Commission
Any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid
Common Carrier
Non-legislated principles and rules of action predicated upon usages and customs
Common Law
Any fundamental or important law of edict
Constitution
Where a party has a right to acquire actual custody/possession of the dead body although another party has actual physical possession
Constructive Custody/Possession
Provides transportation for compensation only to those with whom is desires to do business
Contract Carrier
An official of a local community who holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths
Coroner
The legal term for the dead human body
Corpse
The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber
Cremation
Any person, partnership, or corporation that performs cremation and sells funeral goods
Crematory
An action in violation of constitution, statutes, or ordinances
Crime aka Criminal Act
A legal process used by one wishing to collect a debt from an estate
Creditor’s Claim
Funeral director becomes legal protector of dead human body from time of removal until final disposition
Custodian
The body of a dead human being, deprived of life, but not yet entirely disintegrated which may include cremated remains
Dead Human Body
The cessation of life; permanent cessations of all vital functions and signs
Death
Relationship to decedent of his relatives; each generation is one degree, counting to a common ancestor
Degree of Kindred
A gift of real estate made by will
Devise
One who inherits real estate under a will
Devisee
Disposition of human remains by cremation, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present
Direct Cremation
The removal of a human remains previously buried in the earth
Disinterment aka Exhumation
A policy of courts to stand by a precedent and apply it to all future cases where the facts are substantially the same. To stand by things decided
Doctrine of Stare Decisis
The attention reasonably expected from, and ordinarily exercised by, a person who seeks to satisfy a legal requirement or to discharge an obligation
Due Diligence
Exists when person executes a power of attorney which will become or remain effective in the event he or she should later become disabled
Durable Power of Attorney
Date that the specific price list was put into use
Effective Date
A person, properly licensed, who disinfects, preserves, or restores a dead human body
Embalmer
The inherent power of a government to take private property for public use. In the US just compensation to the property owners is required
Eminent Domain
The placing of a remains in a crypt in a mausoleum
Entombment
A governmental agency with environmental protection regulatory and enforcement authority
Environmental Protection Agency aka EPA
Forfeiture of a decedent’s property to the state in the absence of heirs
Escheat
The property of a deceased person, both real and/or personal
Estate
A set of moral principles or values governing individuals or groups; conforming to accepted professional standards o conduct
Ethics
A man appointed by the will of a deceased person to carry out the provisions thereof and settle the estate
Executor
A woman appointed by the will of a deceased person to carry out the provisions thereof and settle the estate
Executrix
Situation requiring immediate action or urgency; FTC recognized that funeral provider might embalm without permission
Exigent Circumstances
An agency of federal government created in 1914 to promote free and fair competition by prevention of trade restraints, price fixing, false advertising, and other unfair methods of competition
Federal Trade Commission aka FTC
Death of a product of conception prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother
Fetal Death
The conclusive performance of services with respect to the dead human body
Final Disposition
These synonymous terms indicate that the funeral which has been prearranged and prefunded will be provided whether or not the funds entrusted plus any accrual on them are sufficient to pay for the funeral selected regardless of its price at the time of death
Fixed or Guaranteed Price
One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL if the funeral provider offers the service. Involves services of the funeral provider in the locale where death occurs and preparation for transfer to another funeral provider as selected by the family
Forwarding of Remains
None of the 16 items required to be separately itemized on the GPL can be listed as
Free items or no charge
A person properly licensed engaged in or conducting, or holding himself out as being engaged in 1) preparing, other than by embalming, for the burial or disposition of dead human bodies, 2) maintaining or operating a funeral establishment for the preparation and disposition, or for the care of the dead human bodies
Funeral Director
Service commemorating the deceased with the body present
Funeral Ceremony
A place of business used in the care and preparation for the funeral and/or final disposition of dead human bodies
Funeral Establishment
Goods which are sold or offered for sale directly to the public for use in connection with funeral services
Funeral Goods
Life insurance payable in cash to any designated beneficiary for use in any manner chosen, but not necessarily intended to be applied toward funeral expenses. Most such is provided by carriers not owned by a funeral home although many funeral homes endorse a specific carrier or plan
Funeral Insurance
Any person, partnership, or corporation that sells or offers to sell funeral goods and funeral services to the public
Funeral Provider