Funeral Service Funeral Arranging and Directing Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the FTC Funeral Rule, when must a funeral provider give a General Price List (GPL) to a consumer?
- Only when the consumer has scheduled an arrangement conference.
- Upon beginning any face-to-face discussion about funeral goods, services, or their prices. (Correct answer)
- After the consumer has signed the Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected.
- When the consumer makes an inquiry by telephone or mail.
Correct answer: Upon beginning any face-to-face discussion about funeral goods, services, or their prices.
The FTC Funeral Rule requires a funeral provider to give a General Price List (GPL) for retention to anyone who inquires in person about the funeral goods, services, or prices offered. This must be done at the beginning of any face-to-face discussion.
Question 2: A family is arranging a direct cremation. They have decided to purchase a casket from a third-party seller. Which of the following actions is a funeral director prohibited from taking?
- Asking for a receipt to verify the purchase of the third-party casket.
- Requiring the family to sign a waiver regarding the quality of the third-party casket.
- Charging a handling fee for using a casket purchased elsewhere.
- Refusing to handle the casket because it was not purchased from the funeral home. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Refusing to handle the casket because it was not purchased from the funeral home.
The FTC Funeral Rule explicitly prohibits funeral providers from refusing to handle a casket or charging a fee for handling a casket purchased elsewhere. Consumers have the right to provide their own casket, and the funeral home cannot penalize them for this choice.
Question 3: During a funeral arrangement conference, the person with the legal right of disposition is unclear due to conflicting family claims. The deceased did not leave a will or pre-arrangement. What is the funeral director's most appropriate initial step?
- Proceed with the arrangements as directed by the majority of the family members present.
- Consult the funeral home's legal counsel before proceeding with any arrangements. (Correct answer)
- Follow the directions of the person who has agreed to pay for the funeral expenses.
- Delay the arrangements until the family members reach a unanimous agreement.
Correct answer: Consult the funeral home's legal counsel before proceeding with any arrangements.
When there is a dispute or uncertainty about who holds the legal right of disposition, the funeral director's most prudent course of action is to cease arrangements and consult with legal counsel. Proceeding without clear legal authority can lead to significant liability for the funeral home.
Question 4: Which of the following is a key objective of the at-need funeral arrangement conference?
- Completing the embalming and cosmetic preparation of the deceased.
- Gathering vital statistical information for the death certificate and other permits. (Correct answer)
- Finalizing the selection of cemetery property.
- Providing long-term grief counseling to the family.
Correct answer: Gathering vital statistical information for the death certificate and other permits.
A primary goal of the arrangement conference is to gather the necessary vital statistics of the deceased. This information is crucial for the funeral director to file the official death certificate, obtain burial or cremation permits, and process claims for benefits like Social Security or Veterans Affairs.
Question 5: A family is making pre-need arrangements and signs a contract for guaranteed goods and services. Years later, at the time of death, the funeral home finds that the selected casket model is no longer available. What is the funeral home's obligation?
- Cancel the contract and refund the original amount paid.
- Charge the family the difference for a more expensive, currently available casket.
- Provide a casket of lesser quality and refund the price difference.
- Furnish a casket of similar style and at least equal quality at no extra cost. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Furnish a casket of similar style and at least equal quality at no extra cost.
In a pre-need contract for guaranteed goods, if a specific item is unavailable at the time of need, the funeral home is typically obligated to provide a substitute of similar style and equal or greater quality without additional cost to the consumer.
Question 6: Before a cremation can take place, a signed document from the person with the legal authority is required. What is this document most commonly called?
- Burial-Transit Permit
- Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected
- Cremation Authorization Form (Correct answer)
- General Price List Acknowledgment
Correct answer: Cremation Authorization Form
The Cremation Authorization Form is the critical legal document that must be signed by the authorizing agent (the person with the right of disposition). This form gives the funeral home and crematory permission to proceed with the cremation process and contains important disclosures and identifications.
