NC Funeral Juris flashcards

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

NC funeral license age minimum

An applicant for a funeral director or embalmer license in North Carolina must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalent.

Grounds for Board discipline

The Board may discipline a licensee for fraud, misrepresentation, unprofessional conduct, practicing on a lapsed license, or conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude.

License renewal requirement

North Carolina funeral licenses renew on a Board-set schedule; renewal requires completing continuing education hours set by rule and paying the renewal fee before expiration.

Unlicensed practice offense

Practicing funeral directing or embalming without a current North Carolina license is a criminal offense and may also result in civil penalties.

Right of disposition order

North Carolina law generally gives disposition authority first to a surviving spouse, then adult children, then parents, then siblings, subject to statutory exceptions.

General Price List timing

The funeral director must give the General Price List before discussing selections and provide the signed Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected at the end of arrangements.

Embalming disclosure rule

The funeral director must disclose that embalming is not required by law except in specific circumstances and must obtain consent before charging for it.

Chain of custody documentation

Verify the deceased's identity at every transfer and record each custodian, time, and location from place of death through final disposition.

Medical examiner jurisdiction

When a death falls under medical examiner jurisdiction, no embalming or cremation may proceed until the required release or permit is obtained.

Arterial embalming route

Arterial embalming typically injects preservative fluid through the right common carotid artery while draining from the internal jugular vein or femoral vessels.

Formaldehyde index meaning

Index indicates the percentage of formaldehyde gas by weight in embalming fluid; a 20-index fluid contains roughly 20 percent formaldehyde.

Cavity embalming purpose

After aspiration, concentrated cavity fluid is injected with a trocar into the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities to treat organs that arterial injection cannot reach.

Six signs of injection

Distribution, tissue firming, bleaching, drying of mucous membranes, reduced swelling, and venous drainage indicate successful arterial embalming.

Hypodermic embalming use

Hypodermic embalming injects fluid into localized tissue such as fingers, toes, or ears that arterial injection failed to reach or where vessels are blocked.

Edema embalming adjustment

Edema cases call for restricted drainage, stronger fluid, and careful monitoring to avoid swelling; dehydration cases call for humectant-rich fluid.

Universal precautions embalming

Treat every body as potentially infectious; wear gloves, eye protection, and a gown, and disinfect instruments and surfaces after each case.

Preneed contract definition

A preneed funeral contract is a written agreement to furnish funeral goods or services at a future date, funded by trust or insurance.

Preneed funding deadline

Preneed funds received must be deposited into the designated trust or insurance arrangement within the timeframe set by North Carolina statute and Board rule.

Preneed agent licensing

A preneed sales agent must be licensed by the Board and may sell only for a licensed funeral establishment, disclosing funding method and refund terms.

Guaranteed price disclosure

The contract must state whether prices are guaranteed and how excess funds or shortfalls are handled when the death occurs.

Preneed trust commingling ban

Preneed trust funds may not be commingled with the funeral establishment's operating funds; they must be held and reported as required by law.

Preneed cancellation rights

The purchaser may cancel within the statutory period and receive a refund as specified by law; cancellation terms must be disclosed in writing.

Cremation authorization

Cremation requires written authorization from the person with the right of disposition plus any permit required from the medical examiner or registrar.

Pacemaker removal before cremation

Implanted pacemakers, radioactive devices, and other hazardous materials must be removed before cremation and disposed of according to protocol.

Metal identification tag

A metal identification tag stays with the deceased through cremation and processing until the container is sealed to prevent misidentification.

Commingling prohibition

Cremated remains of different decedents may not be commingled unless the authorizing persons give written consent; remains stay separate otherwise.

Alkaline hydrolysis process

Alkaline hydrolysis uses a heated alkaline solution to reduce remains; effluent is disposed of per permit and remaining bone is processed like cremated remains.

Establishment director in charge

A licensed funeral establishment must have a licensed funeral director in charge at all times and hold a current Board-issued establishment license.

Preparation room standards

The preparation room must meet Board standards for ventilation, plumbing, and sanitation and provide adequate space for embalming and holding remains.

Ownership change notice

A change of ownership, location, or name requires Board notification and, where applicable, a new or amended license before operations continue.

Board inspection authority

The Board may inspect a licensed establishment during business hours; refusing inspection is grounds for disciplinary action.

Price list availability

The establishment must keep a General Price List, casket price list, and outer burial container price list available for inspection at all times.