IL Funeral Juris flashcards

39 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Illinois funeral director license

A credential issued by IDFPR under 225 ILCS 41 that authorizes a person to engage in funeral directing; requires education, examination, and apprenticeship.

Embalmer license

A separate Illinois credential required to perform embalming; a funeral director license does not authorize embalming, and vice versa.

Continuing education requirement

Illinois funeral directors and embalmers must complete 12 hours of CE per biennium, including 3 hours on Illinois laws and rules and 3 hours on ethics.

Preneed funeral contract

A contract under 815 ILCS 390 to provide funeral goods or services before death; funds must be trusted or insured within 30 days, and the consumer has a 7-day cancellation right.

Disinterment permit

A permit required by 77 Ill. Adm. Code 970 to remove human remains from a grave; requires consent of the next of kin or a court order and local registrar approval.

Funeral or Burial Funds Act

225 ILCS 45 regulates care funds and preneed trusts; trustees must file annual reports with the Illinois Comptroller and may not commingle funds with operating accounts.

Unprofessional conduct

Includes practicing on a lapsed license, aiding unlicensed practice, false advertising, and soliciting dead bodies or funeral business; grounds for discipline under 225 ILCS 41.

Death certificate filing deadline

Under the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), the funeral director must file the death certificate with the local registrar within 7 days of death.

Informed consent for embalming

The funeral director must obtain family authorization before embalming; if declined, document the refusal and arrange refrigeration or timely burial per 77 Ill. Adm. Code 970.

FTC Funeral Rule

16 CFR Part 453 requires funeral providers to give a General Price List to in-person inquirers and an itemized Statement of Goods and Services Selected before services.

General Price List

A document required by the FTC Funeral Rule listing all funeral goods and services and their prices, with an effective date; must be offered to anyone who asks in person.

Direct cremation disclosure

The funeral provider must disclose in writing that embalming is not required by law for direct cremation and that a casket is not required.

Conflict of interest

A funeral director may not accept undisclosed commissions from casket or vault suppliers; any remuneration must be disclosed to the family to avoid influencing professional judgment.

Confidentiality

Funeral directors must protect client personal and financial information; while HIPAA does not directly apply, state law and professional ethics require confidentiality.

Truthful advertising

Funeral advertising must be accurate and not misleading; price ads must include an effective date, and testimonials require written consent from the person quoted.

Gift acceptance rule

Illinois law prohibits funeral directors from accepting gifts or gratuities from families that could influence professional judgment; nominal tokens require disclosure and documentation.

Preservative index

PI = (index of fluid × volume of fluid) / total solution volume; a PI of 1.5-2.0% is typical for normal bodies, with higher PI for decomposition or edema.

Arterial injection sites

Common carotid (head and neck), femoral (trunk and lower extremities), and axillary (upper extremities); drainage from the right atrium, jugular, or femoral vein.

Formaldehyde fixation

Formaldehyde cross-links proteins; optimal fixation occurs at pH 7.0-7.5, maintained by buffers such as borax or sodium citrate in the arterial solution.

Cavity embalming

Aspirate thoracic and abdominal cavities, then inject cavity fluid (index 20-30); trocar inserted 2 inches below and 2 inches left of the umbilicus.

Livor mortis

Postmortem blood pooling that begins 1-2 hours after death and becomes fixed in 6-12 hours; early arterial injection can clear it before fixation.

Rigor mortis

Postmortem stiffening that begins 2-4 hours after death, peaks at 12 hours, and resolves by 24-48 hours; embalming is best performed before onset or after resolution.

Restorative art

Reconstruction of facial features using wax, tissue builder, or sutures; guided by the Rule of Thirds (vertical proportions) and Rule of Fifths (facial width).

Arterial solution volume

An average adult body requires 2-4 gallons of arterial solution; dilution is typically 1 part concentrated fluid to 4-8 parts water, adjusted by preservative index.

Break-even analysis

Break-even funerals = fixed costs / (average revenue per funeral - variable cost per funeral); e.g., $500,000 / ($6,000 - $2,000) = 125 funerals.

Inventory turnover

Cost of goods sold divided by average inventory; for caskets, a turnover of 4-6 times per year is typical, with excess inventory raising storage costs and damage risk.

Current ratio

Current assets divided by current liabilities; a ratio of 1.5-2.0 indicates good liquidity for a funeral home, while a debt-to-equity ratio above 2:1 signals risk.

Preneed trust cash flow

Preneed trust funds are unavailable for operating expenses until death occurs; funeral homes should maintain working capital covering 3-6 months of operating expenses.

Pricing strategies

Cost-plus (cost + markup), value-based (perceived value), and competition-based pricing; FTC Funeral Rule requires itemized pricing, so bundles must be transparent.

Staffing compliance

Illinois requires a licensed funeral director in charge of each funeral home; staffing ratios must comply with 225 ILCS 41 and 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1250.

Preneed marketing rules

Solicitations must comply with 815 ILCS 390 and include the license number and a disclosure that the preneed contract is not insurance.

Recordkeeping requirement

Funeral homes must retain contracts, authorizations, and embalming records for at least 3 years; preneed records must be kept for the contract term plus 3 years.

Consumer complaint process

Consumers may file complaints with IDFPR for licensee discipline, the Illinois Attorney General for consumer fraud, and the FTC for Funeral Rule violations.

Casket Price List

A document required by the FTC Funeral Rule listing caskets and prices; must be given to consumers who inquire about caskets, with an effective date.

Outer Burial Container Price List

A document required by the FTC Funeral Rule listing vaults and grave liners with prices; must be provided to consumers who inquire about outer burial containers.

Statement of Goods and Services

An itemized FTC-required document given before services, listing the goods and services selected, their prices, and the total cost.

General Price List delivery

The GPL must be given to in-person inquirers; if requested by mail or phone, the funeral home must send it within 5 business days under 16 CFR 453.2.

License display

Illinois funeral homes must display the establishment license and the name of the licensed funeral director in charge; the GPL must be available for inspection.

Preneed annual statement

Under 815 ILCS 390, the preneed seller must provide the consumer an annual statement showing the status of funds and the accumulated value of the contract.