North Carolina Funeral Law Practice Exam

If a funeral contract beneficiary wishes to change funeral homes after a death has occurred, what is required?

1. The new funeral home must be a preneed licensee

2. Written consent is required from the previous funeral home

3. The funeral home need not be a preneed licensee

4. A meeting with both funeral homes must occur

The correct answer is: The funeral home need not be a preneed licensee

The correct answer emphasizes that the funeral home to which a beneficiary wishes to transfer services after death does not need to hold a preneed license. In North Carolina, the law allows for a transfer of services to any funeral home, provided that the necessary arrangements and legal requirements are adhered to. While some may assume that a new home must be a preneed licensee to handle the arrangements, this is not the case once the death has occurred. This approach ensures that families have flexibility and choice in their arrangements, responding to their immediate needs and preferences without being bound by the licensing status of the new funeral home. The requirement for written consent, meetings between funeral homes, or the necessity of preneed licensing can complicate the process unnecessarily. Instead, the focus is on the family’s right to choose the most suitable funeral home for their situation, reflecting the intent of consumer protection laws in North Carolina.