Free State Mortuary Law Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the State Mortuary Law Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Under Texas licensing law, which individuals may perform funeral directing services?

   1. A. Any funeral-establishment employee
   2. B. Only a funeral director, or a provisional license holder or qualified mortuary student under a funeral director's supervision and direction
   3. C. Any embalmer without funeral-director supervision
   4. D. Any cemetery employee

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 651.251 states, "Funeral directing may be performed only by a funeral director or a provisional license holder or qualified mortuary student under the supervision and direction of a funeral director."

   Reference: Oc 651 — Texas Occupations Code §651.251(a)

2. 2What offense does the Texas handbook identify for knowingly revealing confidential information from a death certificate?

   1. A. Class C misdemeanor
   2. B. Class B misdemeanor
   3. C. Class A misdemeanor
   4. D. State jail felony

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The handbook provides, "It is a Class A misdemeanor for a person to knowingly reveal or induce another to reveal confidential information from a death certificate." Therefore Class A misdemeanor is the correct classification.

   Reference: DSHS Booklet — Texas Health and Safety Code §195.005

3. 3A public institution holds a body that had been unclaimed for burial. A bona fide friend presents the required written relationship statement, and the custodian is satisfied the relationship exists. What must the custodian do when the friend claims the body for burial?

   1. A. Release the body to the friend without requiring payment for its release.
   2. B. Deliver the body to the commission before considering the friend's claim.
   3. C. Release the body only after the friend pays the institution's burial costs.
   4. D. Hold the body until a surviving relative personally approves the claim.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "The person in charge of the body shall release the body to the claimant without requiring payment when the person is satisfied that the claimed relationship exists." A qualifying written claim by a bona fide friend prevents the unclaimed-body delivery duty; payment and an additional relative's approval are not prerequisites in this provision.

   Reference: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 691 — §691.024(b)–(c)

4. 4No private claimant is handling disposition of a deceased pauper in a Texas county. Which government body has the duty to provide for disposition of the body?

   1. A. The county justice of the peace sitting as an inquest official.
   2. B. The Texas Funeral Service Commission acting as the license regulator.
   3. C. The district court sitting in the county of the decedent's death.
   4. D. The commissioners court of the county where the pauper died.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: "The commissioners court of each county shall provide for the disposition of the body of a deceased pauper." The commissioners court carries this county duty; the other bodies have distinct inquest, regulatory, or judicial roles.

   Reference: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 694 — §694.002(a)

5. 5A Texas hospital elects the specific §697.004(a) method for fetal tissue remains that begins with steam disinfection. Which step completes that listed method?

   1. A. Cremation of the remains following the disinfection step.
   2. B. Incineration of the remains following the disinfection step.
   3. C. Transfer of the remains for another tissue-processing procedure.
   4. D. Interment of the remains following the disinfection step.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: "(4) steam disinfection followed by interment." This is the specified steam-disinfection route. Cremation and incineration appear as different disposal methods in the same section, but neither replaces the interment that completes the chosen steam route.

   Reference: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 697 — §697.004(a)(4)

6. 6A corporation has been formed to operate a Texas perpetual care cemetery. Beyond corporate formation, what Chapter 712 authorization must it hold before operating?

   1. A. A crematory establishment license issued for its burial property.
   2. B. A certificate of authority issued under the perpetual-care chapter.
   3. C. A certificate of death issued for its first planned interment.
   4. D. A cemetery plot conveyance certificate issued by the owner.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "A corporation must hold a certificate of authority issued under this chapter to operate a perpetual care cemetery." Chapter 712 requires its own certificate of authority; the other documents govern cremation, individual deaths, or plot rights.

   Reference: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 712 — §712.0032

7. 7A nonprofit corporation organized to restore an old Texas cemetery needs statutory authorization to operate and maintain it under Chapter 715. Where may it petition for that authorization?

   1. A. The county commissioners court in the county of the cemetery.
   2. B. The Texas Funeral Service Commission in the county of the cemetery.
   3. C. The district court in the county where the cemetery is located.
   4. D. The local registrar's office in the county of the cemetery.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: "A nonprofit corporation organized under this chapter to restore, operate, and maintain a historic cemetery may petition the district court of the county in which the cemetery is located to authorize the nonprofit corporation to restore, operate, and maintain the cemetery." Chapter 715 names the district court in the cemetery's county; the other bodies carry different public functions.

   Reference: Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 715 — §715.002

8. 8A licensed embalmer is preparing to perform an authorized embalming in ordinary circumstances, with no major disaster. Which location satisfies the state rule?

   1. A. A properly equipped medical examiner's examination facility.
   2. B. A properly equipped mortuary-science teaching laboratory.
   3. C. A properly equipped licensed funeral establishment's preparation room.
   4. D. A properly equipped crematory receiving room licensed solely for cremation.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: "Embalming shall be performed only by embalmers licensed by the Commission, in properly equipped and licensed establishments, or in the event of a disaster of major proportions, in facilities designated by a Medical Examiner, Coroner, or state health official." In ordinary circumstances, embalming requires an appropriately equipped and licensed establishment. A medical examiner's facility, teaching laboratory, or cremation-only room is not the qualifying ordinary location.

   Reference: Texas Administrative Code §203.32 — 22 TAC §203.32(a)(1)

9. 9A Chapter 691 anatomical specimen is transferred from one authorized organization to another. Which parties must complete and sign the corresponding custody-transfer entries?

   1. A. The releasing party and the commission inspector witnessing delivery.
   2. B. The receiving party and the final-disposition provider named later.
   3. C. The transport courier and the receiving party after storage ends.
   4. D. The releasing party and the receiving party at the transfer.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: "At each transfer of custody, the releasing party and the receiving party shall each complete and sign the corresponding entries in Section B (Custody Transfers)." Both parties to this transfer sign their entries; a courier or later custodian does not replace either signer.

   Reference: Texas Administrative Code §206.3 — 22 TAC §206.3(d)(2)

10. 10A funeral director assumes custody of a body at 9:00 a.m. on Monday. What is the Texas deadline for transmitting the report of death to the proper local registrar?

    1. A. Within 48 hours
    2. B. Within 120 hours
    3. C. Within 24 hours
    4. D. Within 240 hours

    Answer: C

    Explanation: DSHS states, "The report of death shall be, within 24 hours of assuming custody of the body, transmitted to the local registrar of the district in which the death occurred or in which the body was found." The deadline is 24 hours after custody begins.

    Reference: DSHS Booklet — Death Registration Handbook, page 6; 25 Texas Administrative Code §181.2(a)