MOR 385 - Funeral Law

Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: Voc/Tech

1. Paraphrase foundational principles of mortuary laws  

   1. Define terminology associated with funeral service laws 

   2. Identify sources of funeral service law  

2. Describe the status of the decedent and the family of the decedent.  

   1. Explain legal definitions of death  

   2. Describe the methods of final disposition  

   3. Outline the order of control of disposition

   4. Identify torts involving the disposition of the decedent  

3. Summarize principles of mortuary law relating to funeral establishments  

   1. Describe funeral establishment restrictions  

   2. Describe the laws pertaining to funeral service practices  

   3. Explain copyright and trademark implications for funeral services  

   4. Describe the liability of funeral homes maintaining possession of property of the decedent 

   5. Summarize ways to limit liability exposure under warranties  

4. Summarize who has responsibility for payment of the funeral  

   1. Identify the charges that can legally be made for a funeral  

   2. Identify individuals who can be held liable for funeral charges  

   3. Determine the priority of the individuals for payment of funeral charges  

   4. Explain the use of negotiable instruments in the payment of funeral charges  

5. Explain the various methods of final disposition  

   1. Enumerate the current legal methods of final disposition  

   2. Explain cemetery and crematory regulations  

   3. Explain funeral director obligations of disposition 

   4. Articulate the liability associated with each method of final disposition 

6. Analyze the laws and rules related to probate law  

   1. Explore the laws that govern the disposition of an estate  

   2. Define the terms related to wills and estates

   3. Describe the procedures of a person dying intestate  

   4. Explain the administration of an estate 

7. Examine the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule  

   1. List the requirements of the Funeral Rule  

   2. Summarize the misrepresentations identified by the Federal Trade Commission  

   3. Utilize forms to complete the requirements of the Funeral Rule for given scenarios  

8. Enumerate the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as it relates to funeral directors or embalmers  

   1. Identify elements of the Formaldehyde standard  

   2. Communicate the elements of the Bloodborne Pathogen standard  

   3. Initiate a plan to accomplish a Hazard Communication standard

   4. List the requirements of the Medical Records standard  

9. Summarize federal employment regulations  

   1. Determine the agency status of funeral directors  

   2. Relate the wage and hour laws to funeral service situations  

   3. Paraphrase the rights and responsibilities of funeral service employees as it relates to covenants not to compete  

10. Demonstrate the funeral director responsibilities according to professional licensing requirements  

    1. State the limitations imposed upon the practice of funeral director or embalmer

    2. Identify the responsibilities of the funeral director to the families that request service 

    3. Identify the responsibilities of the funeral director to other professionals