North Carolina Funeral Law Practice Exam

Are funeral homes permitted to offer free embalming in their mutual burial association plans?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only with certain conditions

4. Only to members of the association

The correct answer is: No

Funeral homes are not permitted to offer free embalming in their mutual burial association plans due to specific regulations governing these associations. In North Carolina, mutual burial associations are designed to provide affordable funeral services and often operate on a prepaid basis. However, the law stipulates that certain services, including embalming, must be performed for a fee, reflecting the actual costs associated with providing these services. By requiring embalming to be billed separately rather than being offered for free, the regulations ensure financial transparency and protect the integrity of the association's funds. This avoids potential abuses of the system and ensures the association can maintain financial stability while providing essential services to its members. Therefore, the provision of free embalming is not permissible under the guidelines that govern mutual burial associations in North Carolina.