Glossary: Funeral Service 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 and 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 (e.g., OSHA, FTC, state board rules and regulations)
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
A federal statute prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in employment, public transportation, telecommunication services, and public accommodations and services operated by private entities
Americans with Disabilities Act (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 (intern/resident trainee)
A person who receives personal property from another as a bailment
Bailee
A delivery of personal property by one person (the bailor) to another (the bailee) who holds the property for a certain purpose under an express or implied-in-fact contract
Bailment
A person who delivers personal property to another as a bailment
Bailor
A gift of personal property by will
Bequest (legacy)
In the Uniformed Anatomical Gift Act part is 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 necessary 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 or appearance of buildings
Building code
A dead human body intended solely for scientific study and dissection
Cadaver
Appellate court decisions that establish precedented principles
Case law
The absence of all vital signs
Clinical death (legal death)
An addition or amendment of a last will and testament executed with the same formality of the will
Codicil
Any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid (e.g. airline, train, etc…)
Common carrier
Non legislated principles and rules of action predicated upon usages and customs
Common law
Any fundamental or important law or edict
Constitution
Provides transportation for compensation only to those with whom it desires to do business (e.g. livery service)
Contract carrier
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)
A public officer whose duty it is to investigate cause of death when the question of accident, suicide, or homicide may be evident or where there was no doctor in attendance (see also medical examiner and justice of the peace)
Coroner
The body of a dead human being, deprived of life, but not yet entirely disintegrated
Corpse (dead human body)
The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber
Cremation
An action in violation of constitution, statues or ordinances, e.g. treason, felony, misdemeanor
Crime
Funeral Director becomes legal protector of dead human body from time of removal until final disposition
Custodian
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
The removal of a human remains previously buried in the earth
Disinterment (exhumation)
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
A person, properly licensed, who disinfects, preserves, or restores a dead human body
Embalmer
The inherent power of a gov’t 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 (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 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
An agency of federal government created in 1914 to promote free and fair competition by prevention of trade restrains, price fixing, false advertising and other unfair methods of competition
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The conclusive performance of services with respect to the dead human body
Final disposition
A person properly licensed, engaged in, or conducting, or holding him/herself out as being engaged in:
1. preparing, other than by embalming, for the burial or disposition of dead human bodies;
and / or
2. maintaining or operating a funeral establishment for the preparation and disposition, or for the care of dead human bodies
Funeral director
A place of business used in the care and preparation for the funeral and/or final disposition of dead human bodies
Funeral establishment
That branch of law which relates to matters concerned with the disposal of the dead and regulation of funeral directors / embalmers and funeral establishments
Funeral service law (mortuary law/mortuary jurisprudence)
An instrument in writing authorizing one person to do anything for the principle. In other words, one party has full power of attorney for another party
General power of attorney
The intentional failure to perform a manifest duty in reckless disregard of the consequences as affecting the life or property of another
Gross negligent act
The intentional failure to perform a manifest duty in reckless disregard of the consequences as affecting the life or property of another
Gross negligent act
A judicial appointment of a person to administer the affairs of another person who is incompetent by virtue of age or legal disability
Guardian
One who inherits, or is entitled to receive property by will or laws intestacy
Heir
A will written entirely by the testator with his own hand
Holographic will
The occupier of a house; one who owns or controls real estate where a death occurs
Householder
The estate which passes from the decedent to his/her heirs
Inheritance
The condition of the estate of a deceased person which is unable to pay the debts of the decedent and/or the estate
Insolvent estate
The act of placing the dead human body in the ground
Interment
Between two or more states
Interstate
The state or condition of dying without having made a will
Intestate
The succession of an heir at law to the property and estate of his ancestor when the latter has died without a will
Intestate succession
Within a state
Intrastate
Listing and valuation of a decedent’s assets by personal representative of the estate
Inventory
One who has been invited on the property by the landowner; persons coming to a funeral home for the purpose of attending funerals, viewing remains, or engaging the funeral director’s services
Invitee
A public officer whose duties may include among other things the investigation of death (see also coroner and medical examiner)
Justice of the peace
One’s relatives collectively; referring to blood relationship (legally, the surviving spouse is not this)
Kin
A rule of action prescribed by an authority able to enforce its will
Law
One who inherits personal property under a will
Legatee
Responsibility for wrongful acts or other debts
Liability
A claim or charge against property for payment of some debt (there can be no this against a dead human body for it is not property)
Lien
Automotive equipment made available for hire
Livery
A document which governs the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from an individual in the event of an incurable or irreversible condition that will cause death within a relatively short time, and when such person is no longer able to make decisions regarding his/her medical treatment
Living will
Improper or negligent professional act by a professional person
Malpractice
A forensically-trained physician whose duty it is to investigate questionable or unattended deaths (has replaced the coroner in some states); (see also coroner and justice of the peace)
Medical examiner
Mental suffering resulting from grief, severe disappointment, indignation, wounded pride, shame, public humiliation, despair, etc., usually accompanied by physical injury or by a outrageous intentional or grossly negligent act
Mental anguish
A place where dead human bodies are kept until identified and/or released for final disposition
Morgue
A secured loan on a parcel of real estate
Mortgage
An act showing inherent baseness or vileness of principle or action; shameful wickedness; depravity
Moral turpitude
An altering or change made to a dead human body from the time of death, other than by natural causes
Mutilation
Failure to exercise ordinary care; omission to do something which a reasonable prudent person would do under ordinary circumstances or the doing of something which a reasonable and prudent would not do; the lack of due care (exercised by a wrongdoer who has not acted as a reasonable person would)
Negligence
A landowner’s use of property which interferes with the public or another landowner’s use of his property
Nuisance
Acts, occupations or structures which are not nuisances per se, but may become nuisances by reason of the location or manner in which it is operated
Nuisance in fact
Acts, occupations or structures which are nuisances at all times and under all circumstances-: it may be prejudicial to public mortals, dangerous to life, or injurious to public rights
Nuisance per se
Oral will declare or dictated by testator during last illness before appropriate witnesses to dispose of personal property and afterwards reduced to writing (not valid in all states)
Nuncupative will
A governmental agency with the responsibility for regulatory and enforcement of safety and health matters for most employees
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
A law passed by a local municipal governing body (e.g., zoning, building, safety, etc.)
Ordinance
An act with complete disregard for proper conduct which transcends the bounds of common decency
Outrageous act
The method of dividing an estate by which an equal share is given to each of a number of persons, all of whom stand in equal degree to the decedent
Per capita
Contract which involves such personal knowledge, skills or confidence that it can only be performed by the person with whom it is made; a contract whereby both parties should recognize that any breach will usually cause anguish
Personal service contract
The method of proportionately dividing an estate between beneficiaries according to their deceased ancestor’s share
Per stirpes
Person who represents and administers the estate of deceased persons (e.g., executors and administrators)
Personal representative
The inherent power of every government to make reasonable laws to protect the safety, health, morals and general welfare of its citizens
Police power
An instrument granting someone authority to act as agent or attorney-in-fact for the grantor; an ordinary power of attorney is revocable and automatically terminates upon the death or incapacity of the principle
Power of attorney
A decision of a court which is thereafter followed as an example in subsequent similar cases
Precedent
The facility in a funeral home especially designed and equipped for embalming and otherwise preparing dead human bodies
Preparation room
Those who transport only in particular instances and only for those they choose to contract with (e.g., funeral home vehicles and livery)
Private carrier
The process where the estate of a decedent is administered
Probate
A court having jurisdiction over estates
Probate court
The property of a decedent that is subject to administration by the executor or administrator of an estate
Probate estate
A fictional contract created or implied by a court for a person who is unable to contract for himself (e.g., medical care, death); an obligation which law creates in the absence of agreement; is invoked by courts where there is unjust enrichment
Quasi contract
The accepted theory of the legal status of a dead human body; rights associated with the body are as if it were property for the purpose of disposition only
Quasi-property theory
The relationship existing between two states whereby each extends some privileges of licensure to licensees of the other state
Reciprocity
An action to recover possession of wrongfully withheld personal property
Replevin
Provision in a deed limiting the use of property and prohibiting certain uses
Restrictive covenant
The omission or cancellation of an instrument, act, license, or promise
Revocation
Enactments by an administrative body within the jurisdiction of that agency
Rules and regulations
A debt which is supported by a pledge, mortgage or lien on assets belonging to the debtor
Secured claim
A nuncupative will, informal in nature, in which a soldier in the field or sailor at sea may dispose of personal property only
Soldiers and sailors will
An estate in which the assets exceed the liabilities
Solvent estate
An instrument in writing authorizing one person to act as an agent for another affective only upon a certain event occurring
Springing power of attorney
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
Stare decisis
A law enacted by a federal or state legislative body
Statute
Law created by legislative bodies in contrast to law generated by judicial opinions (case law) and administrative bodies
Statutory law
The condition of leaving a will at death
Testate
A man who makes a valid will
Testator
A woman who makes a valid will
Testatrix
A private or civil wrong, other than breach of contract, for which there may be action for damages
Tort
One who intentionally and without consent or privilege enters another’s property
Trespasser
One who holds title to property or another position of trust to a beneficiary; in funeral arrangements, the person who has the right to control funeral does so on behalf of all survivors
Trustee
A law permitting a person of legal age and sound to give all or any part of his body to take effect upon his/her death or gives the right to another
Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
A model law to achieve uniformity in probate proceedings throughout the US
Uniform Probate Code
A claim which is not supported by a pledge, mortgage, or lien on other assets
Unsecured claim
The registration, preparation, transcription, collection, compilation and preservation of data pertaining to births, adoptions, deaths, stillbirths, martial status, etc.
Vital statistics
Those drivers not under the control of the funeral director
Volunteer driver
An instrument executed with required formality by a person making disposition of their property to take effect upon their death
Will
A law passed by a municipality by virtue of the police power which regulates and prescribes the kind of building, residences, or businesses that shall be built and used in different parts of the municipality
Zoning ordinance
