Cremation Authorization Forms
Section 1: General Definitions & Purpose (1-15)
1. A cremation authorization form is a legal document that:
A) Allows the funeral home to embalm the body
B) Grants permission from the legally authorized person to cremate the remains
C) Authorizes the cemetery to open a grave
D) Certifies the cause of death
2. The primary purpose of a cremation authorization form is to:
A) Generate revenue for the crematory
B) Ensure that cremation is performed only with proper legal consent, preventing
unauthorized cremation
C) Replace the death certificate
D) Eliminate the need for a burial permit
3. Cremation authorization is required because cremation is:
A) Reversible
B) Irreversible and final
C) Less expensive than burial
D) Preferred by most religions
4. Without a properly signed cremation authorization form, a crematory:
A) May proceed with cremation after 24 hours
B) May not legally perform cremation
C) May cremate if the family verbally agrees
D) May cremate after notifying the police
5. The cremation authorization form is separate from:
A) The death certificate
B) The burial transit permit (cremation permit)
C) The funeral home's contract
D) All of the above
6. Who must sign the cremation authorization form?
A) The funeral director
B) The person with the legal right to control disposition (next of kin or designated agent)
, C) The attending physician
D) The crematory operator
7. The cremation authorization form must be signed:
A) After cremation
B) Before cremation takes place
C) At the time of burial
D) Within 30 days after death
8. If the cremation authorization form is signed under duress or fraud, it is:
A) Void or voidable
B) Valid
C) Enforceable
D) Not subject to challenge
9. The funeral home/crematory must retain the signed cremation authorization form for:
A) 30 days
B) A period required by state law (often several years)
C) 1 week
D) Until the next business day
10. The cremation authorization form may be combined with:
A) The death certificate
B) Other disposition documents, but must be a distinct consent section
C) The cemetery deed
D) The obituary
11. Which of the following is NOT typically required on a cremation authorization form?
A) Name of the decedent
B) Signature of the authorizing party
C) The decedent's Social Security number
D) Date of death
12. Cremation authorization is required by:
A) Federal law only
B) State laws (all states require some form of authorization)
C) No law
D) International treaty
13. The cremation authorization form protects the crematory from:
A) Liability for unauthorized cremation
, B) All liability
C) None
D) Only criminal liability
14. A properly executed cremation authorization form establishes:
A) The authorizing party's legal right to control disposition
B) The cause of death
C) The method of embalming
D) The cemetery location
15. If multiple people have equal priority (e.g., multiple adult children), some states
require:
A) Only one signature
B) Unanimous consent (all must sign)
C) Majority consent
D) No consent
Section 2: Required Information on the Form (16-30)
16. The cremation authorization form must include the decedent's:
A) Full name and date of death
B) Social Security number only
C) Blood type
D) Fingerprints
17. The form must include the name, address, and relationship of:
A) The funeral director
B) The person authorizing the cremation
C) The cemetery manager
D) The attending physician
18. The form must include a statement that the authorizing party has the legal right to:
A) Embalm the body
B) Control disposition of the remains
C) Sell the casket
D) Claim life insurance
19. The form must include a statement that cremation is:
A) Reversible within 30 days
Section 1: General Definitions & Purpose (1-15)
1. A cremation authorization form is a legal document that:
A) Allows the funeral home to embalm the body
B) Grants permission from the legally authorized person to cremate the remains
C) Authorizes the cemetery to open a grave
D) Certifies the cause of death
2. The primary purpose of a cremation authorization form is to:
A) Generate revenue for the crematory
B) Ensure that cremation is performed only with proper legal consent, preventing
unauthorized cremation
C) Replace the death certificate
D) Eliminate the need for a burial permit
3. Cremation authorization is required because cremation is:
A) Reversible
B) Irreversible and final
C) Less expensive than burial
D) Preferred by most religions
4. Without a properly signed cremation authorization form, a crematory:
A) May proceed with cremation after 24 hours
B) May not legally perform cremation
C) May cremate if the family verbally agrees
D) May cremate after notifying the police
5. The cremation authorization form is separate from:
A) The death certificate
B) The burial transit permit (cremation permit)
C) The funeral home's contract
D) All of the above
6. Who must sign the cremation authorization form?
A) The funeral director
B) The person with the legal right to control disposition (next of kin or designated agent)
, C) The attending physician
D) The crematory operator
7. The cremation authorization form must be signed:
A) After cremation
B) Before cremation takes place
C) At the time of burial
D) Within 30 days after death
8. If the cremation authorization form is signed under duress or fraud, it is:
A) Void or voidable
B) Valid
C) Enforceable
D) Not subject to challenge
9. The funeral home/crematory must retain the signed cremation authorization form for:
A) 30 days
B) A period required by state law (often several years)
C) 1 week
D) Until the next business day
10. The cremation authorization form may be combined with:
A) The death certificate
B) Other disposition documents, but must be a distinct consent section
C) The cemetery deed
D) The obituary
11. Which of the following is NOT typically required on a cremation authorization form?
A) Name of the decedent
B) Signature of the authorizing party
C) The decedent's Social Security number
D) Date of death
12. Cremation authorization is required by:
A) Federal law only
B) State laws (all states require some form of authorization)
C) No law
D) International treaty
13. The cremation authorization form protects the crematory from:
A) Liability for unauthorized cremation
, B) All liability
C) None
D) Only criminal liability
14. A properly executed cremation authorization form establishes:
A) The authorizing party's legal right to control disposition
B) The cause of death
C) The method of embalming
D) The cemetery location
15. If multiple people have equal priority (e.g., multiple adult children), some states
require:
A) Only one signature
B) Unanimous consent (all must sign)
C) Majority consent
D) No consent
Section 2: Required Information on the Form (16-30)
16. The cremation authorization form must include the decedent's:
A) Full name and date of death
B) Social Security number only
C) Blood type
D) Fingerprints
17. The form must include the name, address, and relationship of:
A) The funeral director
B) The person authorizing the cremation
C) The cemetery manager
D) The attending physician
18. The form must include a statement that the authorizing party has the legal right to:
A) Embalm the body
B) Control disposition of the remains
C) Sell the casket
D) Claim life insurance
19. The form must include a statement that cremation is:
A) Reversible within 30 days
