IA Funeral Juris case studies
IA Funeral Juris · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Iowa Funeral Jurisprudence Examination is the law-focused assessment that Iowa uses to confirm a candidate understands the statutes and board rules governing funeral service in the state before practicing as a licensed funeral director or embalmer. It is aimed at applicants who have completed the required mortuary science education and practical training and now need to demonstrate command of Iowa-specific law rather than clinical embalming technique. The IA Funeral Juris case studies are 5 cases and about 3,091 words.
1The Vacationing Preceptor and the Unlicensed Embalmer
An Iowa funeral home owner holds funeral director and embalmer licenses and leaves for a two-week vacation. The owner tells a 23-year-old funeral service graduate who has finished mortuary school but has not taken the Iowa jurisprudence exam or received any Iowa license to “cover the prep room.” During those two weeks the graduate embalms three decedents, signs the establishment’s embalming records as “embalmer,” and directs a licensed funeral director assistant to release a body for cremation.
649 words, about 3 min2The Unlicensed “Care Center” Across Town
A licensed Iowa funeral establishment in a town of 8,000 buys a former dental clinic 22 miles away. It renovates a 14-by-10-foot room with an embalming table, sink, and locked cabinet; a three-bay garage for two hearses and a removal van; a 20-by-20 visitation room; and a small office.
639 words, about 3 min3The 35% Preneed Cancellation Clause
In January, a 79-year-old woman signs a preneed funeral contract with an Iowa funeral home for 11,200. The contract says it is “fully funded by a life insurance policy” and names the funeral home as beneficiary.
632 words, about 3 min4The Notarized Wishes Form and the Second Wife
A 67-year-old man dies in an Iowa hospital. He was married for 18 months to his second wife, who wants immediate cremation and no viewing.
620 words, about 3 min5The Saturday Hospice Death and the Sunday Cremation
A 58-year-old man dies at home under hospice care at 2:10 a.m. The hospice nurse pronounces death and leaves a signed notice of death, but the attending physician is out of town until Monday.
551 words, about 3 min