North Carolina Funeral Law Practice Exam

In cases of suicidal death, within how many months will burial associations pay no benefits?

1. Six months

2. Twelve months

3. Eighteen months

4. Twenty-four months

The correct answer is: Twelve months

In North Carolina, burial associations typically have specific clauses regarding the payment of benefits in the event of suicide. When a member passes away due to suicide, the association will not pay out benefits if the death occurs within a predetermined timeframe. In this case, the correct period is twelve months. This limitation is often included in burial association policies to protect against potential abuses and to manage risk effectively. The rationale behind a twelve-month exclusion is that it allows sufficient time for any mental health issues that may lead to such a tragic decision to be adequately addressed. After this initial review period, the association usually recognizes that there may have been recovery or changes in circumstances that could allow for the provision of benefits in other instances. Understanding this specific timeframe is crucial for both funeral professionals and consumers to navigate the details of burial association benefits effectively.