Mortuary Law Vocabulary Flashcards
1
Q
A federal statute prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in employment, public transportation, telecommunications services, and public accommodations and services operated by private entities.
A
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
2
Q
One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This involves services of the funeral provider after initial services have been provided by another firm at the locale of death. Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included.
A
Receiving Remains
3
Q
The legal term for the dead human body.
A
Corpse
4
Q
Service commemorating the deceased with the body present.
A
Funeral Ceremony
5
Q
Listing and valuation of a decedent’s assets by personal representative of the estate.
A
Inventory
6
Q
Where a party has a right to acquire actual custody/possession of the dead body although another party has actual physical possession.
A
Constructive Custody/Possession
7
Q
The providing of funds for a funeral in advance of need which are deposited or placed no necessarily in association with a prearranged funeral.
A
Prefunded
8
Q
Relationship to decedent of his relatives; each generation is one degree, counting to a common ancestor.
A
Degree of Kindred
9
Q
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. Mostly such insurance is provided by carriers not owned by a funeral home although many funeral homes endorse a specific carrier or plan. When the proceeds of the policy are used to pay for the funeral, the funeral director receives an assignment of the future death benefit. In a few jurisdictions, the funeral director may be named the beneficiary. The funeral arranged can be either guaranteed or non-guaranteed.
A
Funeral Insurance
10
Q
A will written entirely by the testator with his own hand.
A
Holographic Will
11
Q
One of the categories required to be itemized on the GPL (if the funeral provider offers the service). This 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 (consumer). Funeral Rule requires package pricing of this service with a description of the components included.
A
Forwarding of Remains
12
Q
A place of business used in the care and preparation for the funeral and/or final disposition of dead human bodies.
A
Funeral Establishment
13
Q
A man who has been appointed by the court to settle an estate.
A
Administrator
14
Q
The international failure to perform a manifest duty in reckless disregard of the consequences as affecting the life or property of another.
A
Gross Negligence
15
Q
A secured loan on a parcel of real estate.
A
Mortgage
16
Q
Enactments by an administrative body within the jurisdiction of that agency.
A
Rules and Regulations
17
Q
A man who makes a valid will.
A
Tastator
18
Q
Itemized written statement provided for retention to each person who arranges a funeral or other disposition. It must include the goods and services selected and prices paid for each, itemization of cash advance items and total cost.
A
Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected
19
Q
Between two or more states.
A
Interstate
20
Q
An action to recover possession of personal property.
A
Replevin
21
Q
None of the 16 items required to be separately itemized on the GPL can be listed as these or listed as no charge. Items not required by the rule can be listed as this.
A
Free Items
22
Q
An addition or amendment of a last will and testament executed with the same formality as the will.
A
Codicil
23
Q
The state or condition of dying without having made a will.
A
Intestate
24
Q
Provision in a deed limiting the use of property and prohibiting certain uses.
A
Restrictive Covenant
25
An instrument in writing authorizing one person to do anything for the principal. In other words, one party has full power of attorney for another party.
General Power of Attorney
26
Exist when a seller requires the purchase of unwanted items/services in order to obtain the desired item/service.
Tying Arrangements
27
One who inherits real estate under a will.
Devisee
28
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 (FTC)
29
One who holds title to property or another position of trust to a beneficiary; in funeral arrangements, the person who has right to control the funeral does so on behalf of all survivors.
Trustee
30
The method of dividing an estate where a class or group of distributes take the share which their deceased would have been entitled to had the deceased survived.
Per Stirpes
31
The absence of all vital signs.
Clinical Death (Legal Death)
32
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
33
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
34
An instrument executed with required formality by a person making disposition of their property to take effect upon their death.
Will
35
A person or firm who contracts to have available funeral services and/or merchandise. May or may not be a provider.
Seller
36
A law passed by a municipal governing body (e.g. zoning, building, safety ordinances, etc.)
Ordinance
37
The omission or cancellation of an instrument, act, license, or promise.
Revocation
38
The extinction or withdrawal of an inheritance because the decedent did not own the property at the time of death.
Ademption
39
Funeral provider must give consumers who call accurate information from the price lists and answer questions about offerings and prices with readily available information.
Telephone Price Disclosure
40
In the Uniformed Anatomical Gift Act defined as organs, tissues, eyes, bones, arteries, blood, other fluids and other portions of a human body for transportation. 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
41
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
42
Those who transport only in particular instances and only for those the chose to contract with funeral home vehicles and livery; as opposed to common carrier.
Private Carrier
43
Laws, ordinances, and government regulations setting forth requirements for construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use of appearance of buildings.
Building Code
44
A set or moral principals or values governing individuals or groups; conforming to accepted professional standards of conduct.
Ethics
45
Those drives under the directions and control of the funeral establishment which is liable for the driver's negligent actions.
Agent Driver
46
A woman who makes a valid will.
Testatrix
47
Refers to the Federal Trade Commission.
Commission
48
A funeral arrangement made prior to need involving the written specification of what is desired, as well as the possible selection of merchandise. It does not involve payment of money.
Prearranged
49
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 person would not do; the lack of due care (exercised by a wrongdoer who has not acted as a reasonable person would).
Negligence
50
Any individual, partnership, corporation, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity.
Person
51
A term used in reference to any aspect of prearranging, prefunding, or preplanning. It encompasses the entire subject.
Preneed
52
The removal of dead human remains previously buried in the earth.
Disinterment (Exhumation)
53
Any person, partnership, or corporation that performs cremation and sells funeral goods.
Crematory
54
This form of insurance is fading fast from the funeral scene. It is 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
55
Person who represents and administers the estate of deceased persons i.e. executors and administrators.
Personal Representative
56
A woman appointed by the will of a deceased person to carry out the provisions thereof and settle the estate.
Executrix
57
A person who receives personal property from another as a bailment.
Bailee
58
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 removal societies for members of their group.
Alternative Price Lists
59
A law enacted by a federal or state legislative body.
Statute
60
The act of placing the dead human body in the ground.
Interment
61
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. (OSHA, FTC, state Board rules).
Administrative Law
62
Non-legislated principles and rules of action predicted upon usages and customs.
Common Law
63
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
64
A man appointed by the will of the deceased person to carry out the provisions thereof and settle the estate.
Executor
65
The cessation of life, permanent cessations of all vital functions and signs.
Death
66
Funeral director becomes legal protector of a dead human body from the time of removal until final disposition.
Custodian
67
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
68
A public officer whose duty it is to investigate cause of death when the question of accident, suicide or homicide may be evident where there was no doctor in attendance; An official elected or appointed to investigate suspicious or unnatural death.
Medical Examiner
69
Any altering or change made to a dead human body from the time of death, other than by natural causes.
Mutilation
70
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
71
Ceremony commemorating the deceased without the body present.
Memorial Service
72
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 death occurs.
Fixed Price (Guaranteed Price)
73
An official of a local community who holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths.
Coroner
74
Any person, partnership or corporation that sells or offers to sell funeral goods and funeral services to the public.
Funeral Provider
75
An estate in which the assets exceed the liabilities.
Solvent Estate
76
A person engaged in learning the practice of funeral directing and/or embalming under instruction, direction or personal supervision of a duty licensed funeral director and/or embalmer.
Apprentice (Intern, Resident Trainee)
77
Printed or typewritten list of goods and services offered for sale by a funeral provider with retail prices. Considered the keystone of the Funeral Rule.
General Price List (GPL)
78
Provides transportation for compensation only to those with whom it desires to do business.
Contract Carrier
79
A fictional contract created or implied by a Court for a person who is unable to contract for himself (i.e. medical care, death); an obligation which law creates in the absence of agreement; is invoked by courts where there is unjust enrichment. Function is to raise obligation in law where in fact the parties made no promises.
Quasi Contract
80
The placing of a remains in a crypt in a mausoleum.
Entombment
81
The inherent power of every government to make reasonable laws to protect the safety, health, morals and general welfare of its citizens.
Police Power
82
A dead human body intended solely for scientific study and dissection.
Cadaver
83
A claim or charge against property for payment of some debt. (There cannot be one against a dead human body for it is not property).
Lien
84
The relationship existing between two states whereby each extends privileges of licensure to licensees of the other state.
Reciprocity
85
The reduction of a dead human body to inorganic bone fragments by intense heat in a specifically designed retort or chamber.
Cremation
86
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
87
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 (Stare Decisis)
88
Goods which are sold or offered for sale directly to the public for use in connection with funeral services.
Funeral Goods
89
Statements required by the Rule which cannot be modified or edited and must appear in a clear and conspicuous manner.
Mandatory Disclosures
90
A court having jurisdiction over estates.
Probate Court
91
Printed or typewritten list of the casket and alternative containers normally offered for sale by the funeral provider which do not require special ordering. Must include retail price and enough descriptive information to enable consumers to identify the merchandise.
Casket Price List (CPL)
92
The inherent power of a government to take private property for public use. In the U.S. just compensation to the property owners is required.
Eminent Domain
93
Date that the specific price list was put into use.
Effective Date
94
Law created by legislative bodies in contrast to law generated by judicial opinions (case law) and administrative bodies.
Statutory Law
95
A proportional reduction of a legacy under a will when assets out of such legacy are payable and not sufficient to pay it in full.
Abatement
96
One's relatives collectively; referring to blood relationship. (Legally, the surviving spouse is not a kin).
Kin
97
Responsibility for wrongful acts or other debts.
Liability
98
Contracts which are such provide that when death occurs and the funeral is conducted by a firm other than the one with which there is a contract, the contract and funds will be transferred to the other establishment to be fulfilled.
Portability of Contract
99
Ceremony commemorating the deceased at place of final disposition.
Graveside Service
100
Act, occupations or structures which are not nuisances per se, but may become nuisances by reason of the location of manner in which it is operated.
Nuisance in Fact
101
Basic services, not to be included in prices of other categories, that are furnished by a funeral provider in arranging any funeral, such as conducting the arrangements conference, planning the funeral, obtaining necessary permits, and placing obituary notices.
Services of Funeral Director and Staff
102
Monies deposited for a funeral arranged and contracted for in advance of need. Said funds earn interest which could offset the effect of inflation on the price of the selection made. The contract could be either guaranteed or non-guaranteed.
Trust Funds
103
A model law to achieve uniformity in probate proceedings throughout the U.S.
Uniform Probate Code
104
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
105
Appellate court decisions that establish precedented principles.
Case Law
106
Death of a product of conception prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother.
Fetal Death
107
An act showing inherent baseness of vileness of principle or action; shameful wickedness; depravity.
Moral Turpitude
108
A law permitting a person of legal age and sound mind to give al or any part of his body to take effect upon his/her death or gives the right to another.
Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
109
The estate which passes from the decedent to his/her heirs.
Inheritance
110
Method of price quotation by which each unit of service and/or merchandise is priced separately.
Itemization
111
An instrument in writing authorizing one person to act as agent for another. Revoked on death of principal by operation of law. Can be general (full) or special (limited).
Power of Attorney
112
One who inherits, or is entitled to receive, property by will or laws intestacy.
Heir
113
Within a state.
Intrastate
114
A judicial appointment of a person to administer the affairs of another person who is incompetent by virtue of age or legal disability.
Guardian
115
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
116
Disposition of human remains by burial, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present, except for a graveside service.
Immediate Burial
117
The physical possession of the dead human body.
Actual Custody of the Body
118
A claim which is not supported by pledge, mortgage, or lien on other assets.
Unsecured Claim
119
A landowner's use of property which interferes with the public or another landowner's use of his property.
Nuisance
120
The condition of leaving a will at death.
Testate
121
Improper or negligent professional act by a professional person.
Malpractice
122
One who intentionally and without consent or privilege enters another's property.
Trespasser
123
Automotive equipment made available for hire.
Livery
124
Any item or service or merchandise described as "cash advance", "cash accommodation", "cash disbursement", or similar term. Also any item obtained from a third party and paid for by the funeral provider on the purchaser's behalf. May include, but are not limited to: cemetery or crematory services, pallbearers, public transportation, clergy honoraria, flowers, musicians or singers, nurses, obituary notices, gratuities and death certificates.
Cash Advance Items
125
A public officer whose duties may include among other things the investigation of death.
Justice of Peace
126
A governmental body created by legislation empowered to regulate an industry and issue rules and regulations.
Administrative Agency
127
Total and irreversible cessation of brain function as indicated by a flat EEG reading.
Brain Death
128
A rule of action prescribed by an authority able to enforce its will.
Law
129
A person, properly licensed, who disinfects, preserves, or restores a dead human body.
Embalmer
130
A wrongful act committed by one person against another person or their property.
Tort
131
A debt which is supported by pledge, mortgage or lien on assets belonging to the debtor.
Secured Claim
132
The property of a deceased person, both read and/or personal.
Estate
133
Printed or typewritten list of outer burial containers normally offered for sale by the funeral provider which do not require special ordering. This must include retail price and enough descriptive information to enable consumers to identify the merchandise.
Outer Burial Container Price List (OBCPL)
134
An action in violation of constitution, statutes, or ordinances, e.g. treason, felony, misdemeanor.
Crime (Criminal Act)
135
Occurrence of situations that require certain action. i.e. for giving out the GPL this is the face-to-face meeting.
Triggering Event
136
A governmental agency with environmental protection regulatory and enforcement authority.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
137
Basic services is the only fee which the consumer cannot decline (unless state or local law requires otherwise.) Funeral providers should recover expenses for services, facilities or unallocated overhead in this charge.
Non-Declinable Service Fee
138
The property of a decedent that is subject to administration by the executor or administrator of an estate.
Probate Estate
139
The complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life.
Live Birth
140
Oral will dictated by testator during last illness before appropriate witnesses to dispose of personal property and afterwords reduced to writing (not valid in all states).
Nuncupative Will
141
Exists when a 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
142
A woman who has been appointed by the court to settle an estate.
Administratrix
143
That facility in a funeral home especially designed and equipped for embalming and otherwise preparing dead human bodies.
Preparation Room
144
Any container which is designed for placement in the grave around the casket including, but not limited to, container commonly known as burial vaults, grave boxes, and grave liners.
Outer Burial Container
145
A gift of real estate made by will.
Devise
146
The body of dead human being, deprived of life, but not yet entirely disintegrated.
Dead Human Body (Corpse)
147
Disposition of human remains by cremation, without formal viewing, visitation, or ceremony with the body present.
Direct Cremation
148
Situation requiring immediate action or urgency. FTC recognizes that funeral providers might embalm without permission.
Exigent Circumstances
149
A governmental agency with the responsibility for regulatory and enforcement of safety and health matters for most employees.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
150
A law passed by a municipality by virtue o 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
151
Any fundamental or important law of edict.
Constitution
152
A legal process used by one wishing to collect a debt from an estate.
Creditor's Claim
153
Mental suffering resulting from grief, severe disappointment, indignation, wounded pride, shame, public humiliation, despair, etc. usually accompanied by physical injury or by an outrageous intentional or grossly negligent act.
Mental Anguish
154
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
155
The process where the estate of a decedent is administered.
Probate
156
A place where dead human bodies are kept until identified and/or released for final disposition.
Morgue
157
Funeral goods consumers purchase from a source other than the price list/funeral provider.
Third Party Merchandise
158
Use of a single dollar amount to identify the charge for a group or bundle of goods and/or services.
Package Pricing
159
One who inherits personal property under a will.
Legatee
160
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
161
The occupier of a house; one who owns or controls real estate where a death occurs.
Householder
162
Prearrangements for a funeral and payment for it at the time of prearrangement or an installment basis.
Prearranged and Prefunded
163
You can put property in this while you are still alive. When you die, the property automatically goes to your heirs without going through probate court which can be very time consuming and expensive. You can revoke this at any time if you change your mind.
Living Trust
164
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
165
The conclusive performance of services with respect t the dead human body.
Final Disposition
166
That branch of law which relates to matters concerned with the disposal of the dead and regulation of funeral directors/embalmers and funeral establishments.
Mortuary Law (Mortuary Jurisprudence, Funeral Service Law)
167
Those drives not under the direct control of the funeral director.
Volunteer Driver
168
Any carrier required by law to convey passengers or freight without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid (airline, train, etc.).
Common Carrier
169
Forfeiture of a decedent's property to the state in the absence of heirs.
Escheat
170
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
171
Act, occupations or structures which are nuisances at all times and under all circumstances. It may be prejudicial to public morals, dangerous to life, or injurious to public rights.
Nuisance Per Se
172
A decision of a court which is thereafter followed as an example by other courts.
Precedent
173
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 dead human bodies.
Funeral Director
174
An act with complete disregard for proper conduct which transcends the bounds of common decency.
Outrageous Act
175
A gift of personal property by will.
Bequest (Legacy)
176
Any services which may be used to (1) care for and prepare deceased human bodies for burial, cremation or other final disposition; and (2) arrange, supervise or conduct the funeral ceremony or the final disposition of deceased human bodies.
Funeral Services
177
The registration, preparation, transcription, collection, compilation and preservation of data pertaining to births, adoptions, deaths, stillbirths, marital status, etc.
Vital Statistics
