NYS FUNERAL LAW EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS GRADED A+ NEWEST
VERSION
Can Anatomical Gifts be executed through a will? - ANSWER Yes; Anatomical
Gifts MAY be executed through a will.
Can a funeral home require that funeral bills be paid in advance? -
ANSWER Yes, a funeral home MAY require funeral bills to be paid in advance.
HOWEVER, "paid In Advance" MUST be disclosed in your itemization statement
or agreement.
All customers must be treated equally.
Can a funeral home charge interest on an unpaid balance? If so, how much? -
ANSWER Yes, interest MAY be charged on an unpaid balance. The maximum
rate of interest that a funeral home can charge is 16% per year, pursuant to the
NYS banking law.
Can a funeral home charge back to the family a credit card surcharge? -
ANSWER No. Must be listed as a cash advanced item.
What amount does New York State reimburse localities for the burial of the
indigent? - ANSWER $900 dollars from NYS for indigent burial.
, Can unclaimed cadavers be delivered to schools for study? ANSWER Yes, at
the discretion of the hospital director, an unclaimed cadaver MAY be delivered to a
school for study.
Is Body Stealing a felony? - ANSWER Yes, Body Stealing is a Class D Felony.
Is receiving a stolen body a felony? - ANSWER No, receiving a stolen body is
a Misdemeanor.
If the funeral holds the dead body in arrest because the bill was unpaid, is it a
misdemeanor? - ANSWER Yes. You can NOT hold the body from the family.
Holding the body of a family member is a Misdemeanor.
Is disturbing a funeral considered to be a misdemeanor? - ANSWER Yes.
Disturbing a funeral is a misdemeanor.
If the funeral is NOT currently taking place, is it a misdemeanor to protest outside
the funeral home? - ANSWER No. The funeral must NOT take place for a
protest to legally occur.
What does the Winter Burial Law do? - ANSWER Winter Burial Law requires
cemeteries to;
1) make interments available throughout the year,
2) be open at least 6 days per week,
3) excluding legal holidays.
,To which cemeteries does the law apply? - ANSWER It applies to all not-for-
profit cemeteries.
What if bad weather does not permit an interment? - ANSWER The law clearly
states that cemeteries do NOT have to perform interments or provide grave
openings during severe weather.
Can cemeteries still close based on specific dates and times of the year? -
ANSWER No, a cemetery cannot close for any set period of time.
What should a funeral director do if a cemetery refuses to open for an interment,
even if the weather would permit it? - ANSWER Contact the Division of
Cemeteries, Regional Division Office Investigator, if a cemetery refuses to open
for an interment.
Can a cemetery charge a fee for a "winter burial?" - ANSWER Yes, a cemetery
can charge a fee for a "winter burial" that is based on "actual and reasonable"
additional costs necessary for the interment. A "winter burial" charge can NOT be a
fixed price because it should be specific to what is needed at the time.
Do hospital administrators have any duties regarding death certificates? -
ANSWER Yes. When death occurs in a hospital, the person in charge shall
promptly present the certificate to the physician.
If an "out of state burial permit" lists the incorrect place of disposition, which
registration district will issue a correct permit? - ANSWER The district where
the disposition is located. When an "out-of-state" Burial Permit lists the wrong
, place of disposition, the registration district where the place of disposition is
located will issue a corrected Burial Permit.
Are death certificates taxable? - ANSWER No. Death Certificates are NOT
taxable.
Can a New York State funeral director file a death certificate in another state? -
ANSWER No. A NYS funeral director may NOT file a death certificate in
another state.
Must the attending physician sign a death certificate? - ANSWER No, in NYS,
a death certificate can also be signed by a physician acting on behalf of the
attending physician. Or, a medical examiner.
What is the current next of kin list? - ANSWER 1. Agent or person designated
by written instrument
2. Spouse
3. Domestic Partner
4. Any child 18 or older
5. Parents
6. Brothers and Sisters
7. Authorized Guardian
8. Grandchildren
9. Great-Grandchildren
2026/2027 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS GRADED A+ NEWEST
VERSION
Can Anatomical Gifts be executed through a will? - ANSWER Yes; Anatomical
Gifts MAY be executed through a will.
Can a funeral home require that funeral bills be paid in advance? -
ANSWER Yes, a funeral home MAY require funeral bills to be paid in advance.
HOWEVER, "paid In Advance" MUST be disclosed in your itemization statement
or agreement.
All customers must be treated equally.
Can a funeral home charge interest on an unpaid balance? If so, how much? -
ANSWER Yes, interest MAY be charged on an unpaid balance. The maximum
rate of interest that a funeral home can charge is 16% per year, pursuant to the
NYS banking law.
Can a funeral home charge back to the family a credit card surcharge? -
ANSWER No. Must be listed as a cash advanced item.
What amount does New York State reimburse localities for the burial of the
indigent? - ANSWER $900 dollars from NYS for indigent burial.
, Can unclaimed cadavers be delivered to schools for study? ANSWER Yes, at
the discretion of the hospital director, an unclaimed cadaver MAY be delivered to a
school for study.
Is Body Stealing a felony? - ANSWER Yes, Body Stealing is a Class D Felony.
Is receiving a stolen body a felony? - ANSWER No, receiving a stolen body is
a Misdemeanor.
If the funeral holds the dead body in arrest because the bill was unpaid, is it a
misdemeanor? - ANSWER Yes. You can NOT hold the body from the family.
Holding the body of a family member is a Misdemeanor.
Is disturbing a funeral considered to be a misdemeanor? - ANSWER Yes.
Disturbing a funeral is a misdemeanor.
If the funeral is NOT currently taking place, is it a misdemeanor to protest outside
the funeral home? - ANSWER No. The funeral must NOT take place for a
protest to legally occur.
What does the Winter Burial Law do? - ANSWER Winter Burial Law requires
cemeteries to;
1) make interments available throughout the year,
2) be open at least 6 days per week,
3) excluding legal holidays.
,To which cemeteries does the law apply? - ANSWER It applies to all not-for-
profit cemeteries.
What if bad weather does not permit an interment? - ANSWER The law clearly
states that cemeteries do NOT have to perform interments or provide grave
openings during severe weather.
Can cemeteries still close based on specific dates and times of the year? -
ANSWER No, a cemetery cannot close for any set period of time.
What should a funeral director do if a cemetery refuses to open for an interment,
even if the weather would permit it? - ANSWER Contact the Division of
Cemeteries, Regional Division Office Investigator, if a cemetery refuses to open
for an interment.
Can a cemetery charge a fee for a "winter burial?" - ANSWER Yes, a cemetery
can charge a fee for a "winter burial" that is based on "actual and reasonable"
additional costs necessary for the interment. A "winter burial" charge can NOT be a
fixed price because it should be specific to what is needed at the time.
Do hospital administrators have any duties regarding death certificates? -
ANSWER Yes. When death occurs in a hospital, the person in charge shall
promptly present the certificate to the physician.
If an "out of state burial permit" lists the incorrect place of disposition, which
registration district will issue a correct permit? - ANSWER The district where
the disposition is located. When an "out-of-state" Burial Permit lists the wrong
, place of disposition, the registration district where the place of disposition is
located will issue a corrected Burial Permit.
Are death certificates taxable? - ANSWER No. Death Certificates are NOT
taxable.
Can a New York State funeral director file a death certificate in another state? -
ANSWER No. A NYS funeral director may NOT file a death certificate in
another state.
Must the attending physician sign a death certificate? - ANSWER No, in NYS,
a death certificate can also be signed by a physician acting on behalf of the
attending physician. Or, a medical examiner.
What is the current next of kin list? - ANSWER 1. Agent or person designated
by written instrument
2. Spouse
3. Domestic Partner
4. Any child 18 or older
5. Parents
6. Brothers and Sisters
7. Authorized Guardian
8. Grandchildren
9. Great-Grandchildren
