Funeral Establishments

PURPOSE: This rule clarifies establishment license classifications, establishment names, and the documents to be maintained by licensed funeral homes. (1) Application for a Missouri licensed funeral establishment license shall be made on the forms provided by the board and be accompanied by the appropriate fee. Applications are available from the board’s office or the board’s website at http://pr.mo.gov/embalmers.asp. Each application shall indicate which license classification is being sought. (2) There shall be the following license classifications. (A) Function A establishments shall have authority to embalm dead human bodies and to transport dead human bodies to and from the funeral establishment. An establishment licensed only as a Function A establishment is prohibited from the care and preparation of dead human bodies other than by embalming, and also be prohibited from making funeral arrangements or embalming arrangements with any unlicensed person, cremating, conducting visitations and funeral ceremonies, and furnishing any funeral service in connection with the disposition of dead human bodies, or selling of funeral merchandise. Each Missouri licensed funeral establishment used solely or partially for embalming shall contain a preparation room that shall be devoted to activities of, or related to, the preparation or the embalming, or both, of dead human remains and shall be equipped and maintained as described in 20 CSR 2120-2.090. Each Function A funeral establishment licensed for embalming shall maintain on the premises a register log. (B) Function B establishments shall have authority to cremate through the use of any mechanical or chemical means dead human bodies and to transport dead human bodies to and from the funeral establishment. This establishment shall have a functioning cremation chamber and/or functioning facilities for alkaline hydrolysis chemical process for final disposition of a dead human body, except as otherwise provided by Chapter 333, RSMo, and the rules of the board. An establishment licensed only as a Function B establishment is prohibited from the care and preparation of dead human bodies other than by cremating, and is also prohibited from embalming, making funeral arrangements or cremation arrangements with any unlicensed person, conducting visitations and funeral ceremonies, and furnishing any funeral service in connection with the disposition of dead human bodies or selling funeral merchandise. In no event shall any licensee or licensed establishment cremate human remains in the same retort used for cremating non-human remains. Each Missouri licensed funeral establishment which is used solely or partially for cremations shall be equipped and maintained as described in 20 CSR 2120-2.071. This function shall maintain on the premises in the cremation area a cremation log. (C) Function C establishments shall have authority for the care and preparation of dead human bodies, other than by embalming or cremating, authority to transport dead human bodies to and from the funeral establishment, make funeral arrangements, furnish any funeral services in connection with the disposition of dead human bodies or the sale of funeral merchandise, and file death certificates. This function shall contain a separate area for the care and custody of dead human remains that is secured with a functioning lock and a separate area for confidential conferences to arrange funeral services. The Function C establishment shall have on-site equipment necessary for arranging funeral services including tables or desks and chairs for funeral service arrangement conferences and file cabinets for the confidential storage of funeral records. This function shall contain an available restroom and drinking water in the building and an area where funeral ceremonies or visitations may be conducted. The establishment shall be equipped with seating for visitations or funeral ceremonies, casket bier, register book stand, and officiate stand. This function shall maintain on the Missouri premises the following documents: 1. General price list; 2. Preneed contracts which have been cancelled or fulfilled; 3. Written Statements of Goods and Services; 4. Authorizations to embalm or cremate; and 5. Register log. (D) Function D establishments shall have authority to conduct visitations and funeral ceremonies only. A Function D license is dependent upon and shall be operated under the supervision and ownership of a Function C establishment. This function shall contain an available restroom and drinking water in the building, and an area where funeral ceremonies or visitations may be conducted. The establishment shall be equipped with seating for visitations or funeral ceremonies, casket bier, register book stand, and officiate stand. Each Function D funeral establishment shall maintain on the premises a register log. (E) Function E establishment shall have authority to make funeral arrangements and furnish any funeral services in connection with the disposition of dead human bodies or the sale of funeral merchandise and file death certificates. This function shall have a separate area for confidential conferences to arrange funeral services. The Function E establishment shall have on site tables or desks and chairs for funeral service arrangement conferences and file cabinets for the confidential storage of funeral records. This function shall contain an available restroom and drinking water in the building. The establishment is to be used only for arranging funerals and visitations to be conducted at another facility, no services shall be held at this establishment. This function shall maintain on the premises the following documents: 1. General price list; 2. Preneed contracts which have been cancelled or fulfilled; 3. Written Statements of Goods and Services; 4. Authorizations to embalm or cremate; and 5. Register log. (3) If a Missouri licensed funeral establishment wishes to add to its classification, it shall file a new application for a Missouri licensed funeral establishment indicating its new classification. If a Missouri licensed funeral establishment desires to eliminate one (1) of its functions, it shall notify the board in writing of its intention to surrender the function, but is not required to file a new application for a new Missouri licensed funeral establishment. (4) A Missouri licensed funeral establishment shall be used only for the function for which it is licensed. (5) Each application for a funeral establishment shall be made in the name of the person or business entity authorized to conduct business in Missouri. No license shall be issued to an establishment that has no legal recognition. A Missouri licensed funeral establishment shall maintain a current and active authorization to conduct business in Missouri with the Missouri Secretary of State. (6) A funeral establishment application shall indicate the name and license number of the Missouri licensed funeral directorin-charge, as defined by 20 CSR 2120-1.040. When the Missouri licensed funeral director-in-charge changes, the new Missouri licensed funeral director-in-charge and the former Missouri licensed funeral director-in-charge, jointly or individually, shall notify the board of the change within fifteen (15) days of the date when the change first occurs. Failure to notify the board is a violation of this rule on the part of each Missouri funeral director licensee and on the part of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment. A change in the Missouri licensed funeral director-in-charge does not require a new Missouri licensed funeral establishment license. (7) Within thirty (30) days after an application for a Missouri licensed funeral establishment has been received in the board’s office, the board shall cause the establishment to be inspected. The board shall act on the application and, within thirty (30) days after the application was received in the board’s office, the applicant will be advised whether the license is granted or denied. If an applicant determines the establishment will not meet the qualifications for inspection or licensure within the thirty- (30-) day application period, up to two (2) thirty- (30-) day extensions of the application may be requested by the applicant in writing to the board before the application expires. Each request for an extension shall be received by the board prior to the expiration of the application or extension period. (8) The establishment license issued by the board is effective for a fixed place or establishment and for a specific name of a person or entity authorized to conduct business in Missouri. The license issued by the board shall be displayed in a conspicuous location accessible to the general public at that location. Whenever the ownership, location, or name of the Missouri licensed establishment is changed, a new license shall be obtained. If the Missouri licensed funeral establishment maintains a chapel, preparation room, or other facility in a building or portion physically separated from and located at a place designated by an address differing from the office, chapel, or other facilities of the applicant, the chapel, preparation room, or other funeral facility otherwise located shall be deemed to be a separate funeral establishment. Nothing contained in this rule shall be construed or interpreted to require a separate registration for a building if it is joined or connected by a private passage, walk or driveway existing between the registered establishment and the other building. (A) If a change of ownership is caused by the elimination of a majority of the owners, for whatever reason (death, sale of interest, divorce, etc.) without the addition of any new owner(s), it is not necessary to obtain a new establishment license. However, a new application for an establishment license form shall be filed as an amended application prior to the change of ownership. (B) A corporation is considered by law to be a separate person. If a corporation owns a Missouri licensed funeral establishment, it is not necessary to obtain a new establishment license or to file an amended application for an establishment license if the owners of the stock change. (C) However, as a separate person, if a corporation begins ownership of a Missouri licensed funeral establishment or ceases ownership of a Missouri licensed funeral establishment, a new establishment license shall be obtained regardless of the relationship of the previous or subsequent owner to the corporation. (9) The professional business and practice of funeral directing shall be conducted only from a fixed place or establishment that has been licensed by the board except as permitted by section 333.071, RSMo. The Missouri licensed funeral establishment physical facility shall be under the general management and supervision of the Missouri licensed funeral director-in-charge. Every Missouri licensed funeral establishment shall provide and allow access to any member or agent of the board for the purpose of inspection, investigation, examination, or audit as authorized in Chapters 333 and 436, RSMo. If any representative of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment fails or refuses to provide or allow access, it shall be considered a violation of this rule by the Missouri licensed funeral establishment and by the Missouri licensed funeral director-in-charge of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment. Additionally, if the Missouri licensed funeral establishment representative who fails or refuses to provide or allow access holds any license or registration issued by this board, that person is in violation of this rule. (10) No one licensed by this board may be employed in any capacity by an unlicensed funeral establishment. Violation of this section will be deemed misconduct in the practice of embalming or funeral directing. (11) Only one (1) Missouri funeral establishment license will be issued by this board for any physical address that is considered to be a Missouri licensed funeral establishment as defined by statute and rule. (12) If a Missouri funeral establishment licensed by this board is destroyed by fire or some other disaster or act of God, the board, in its discretion, for a period of not more than six (6) months, may allow the Missouri licensed funeral establishment to continue its operation from another Missouri licensed funeral establishment or from a facility that has not been licensed as a funeral establishment if the facility meets the minimum requirements for the functions outlined in section (2) of this rule. The temporary location is not intended for longterm use, but rather as a means to maintain the business of the Missouri licensed establishment while it actively pursues the steps necessary to re-open its facilities at the licensed location. (A) If the Missouri licensed funeral establishment has not been able to re-open its facilities at the licensed location within the initial six (6) months, then the Missouri licensed funeral establishment may make a written request to the board for an additional six (6) months to continue to operate from its temporary location which the board may grant, at its discretion. In order to operate at a temporary location, the Missouri licensed funeral establishment must take all steps necessary to maintain its establishment license in a current and active status. (B) If the Missouri licensed funeral establishment is unable to re-open its facilities at its licensed location after the expiration of the second six (6) month extension, then the Missouri licensed funeral establishment may make a written request and make an appearance before the board to present its plan to re-open at the licensed location and show good cause for any additional extension. (C) Before a Missouri licensed funeral establishment operates at any location other than its licensed location, that establishment must make a written request to the board that sets forth the reason a temporary location is required, the address of the requested temporary location, and show a legal right to occupy the premises at the temporary location that may include a deed, a rental agreement, a letter from the owner of the temporary location, or other similar written documentation. Upon approval of the temporary location, the board shall issue its written notice of approval. The temporary location may not be used by the licensee until it receives that written notice of approval from the board. (D) When the Missouri licensed funeral establishment is ready to re-open the facilities at the licensed location, it must notify the board, in writing, that it is ready to re-open and the board will conduct an inspection to ensure the facilities at the licensed location comply with all requirements to be operated as a licensed establishment and upon approval will provide written notice to the establishment that it is approved to resume operations at the licensed location. No new application or application fee shall be required. (E) In order to operate at a temporary location, the Missouri licensed funeral establishment must take all steps necessary to maintain its establishment license in a current and active status. (13) A Missouri licensed funeral establishment may use only its registered name(s) that are registered with the board in any advertisement or holding out to the public. (A) All signs, stationery, and any advertising in newspapers, publications or otherwise, shall include the name(s) of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment registered with the board. (B) It is not deemed to be misleading if a listing appears in a telephone directory or national directory if the name of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment changes after the listing has been placed, but before a new directory is published. (14) The interior and exterior of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment physical plant shall be maintained in a manner that does not present a potential or actual hazard to the health, safety, or welfare of the public and kept free and clean of litter, dirt, debris, and clutter. (15) No person is permitted in a preparation room during the course of embalming a dead human body except the employees of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment in that the human body is being embalmed, members of the family of the deceased, and persons authorized by the members of the family of the deceased, or any person otherwise authorized by law. (16) According to section 333.330, RSMo, the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors may impose disciplinary action for failure to obtain authorization to embalm from the person entitled to custody or control of the body, if the body is embalmed. If the body is not embalmed, a Missouri licensed funeral establishment shall not hold the unembalmed body for any longer than twenty-four (24) hours unless the unembalmed body is refrigerated in a cooling unit at a temperature of forty degrees Fahrenheit (40° F) or cooler or encased in an airtight metal or metal-lined burial case, casket or box that is closed and hermetically sealed. If the deceased gave written authorization to embalm and did not revoke the authorization, the authorization shall satisfy this requirement. If the deceased did not give written authorization to embalm, the next of kin of the deceased may give authorization to embalm. Authorization to embalm may be given by the next of kin prior to the death of the person whose body is to be embalmed. Authorization to embalm given prior to death may be in any written document, including a preneed contract. (A) The next of kin, for purposes of this rule, is defined pursuant to section 194.119.2, RSMo. (B) Any person or friend who assumes responsibility for the disposition of the deceased’s remains if no next of kin assumes such responsibility may authorize to embalm the deceased; (C) The county coroner or medical examiner pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 58, RSMo may authorize to embalm the deceased; (D) If the body is required to be buried at public expense, the body shall be disposed of according to the terms of section 194.150, RSMo; (E) If the Missouri licensed funeral establishment receives no authorization to embalm from any of the persons identified in subsections (16)(A), (B), or (C) of this rule, the Missouri licensed funeral establishment may proceed with embalming if it has attempted to locate a person from whom authorization to embalm may be obtained for at least six (6) hours and it has a written statement from city, county, or state law enforcement officials that they have assisted the Missouri licensed funeral establishment in attempting to locate such a person. However, the Missouri licensed embalmer may proceed to embalm sooner if the condition of the body is such that waiting for six (6) hours would substantially impair the ability to effectively embalm the body or if the deceased died as a result of a communicable disease, was subject to isolation at the time of death; and (F) If a Missouri licensed embalmer proceeds to embalm a body under the provisions of subsection (16)(E), the Missouri licensed funeral establishment which employs the Missouri licensed embalmer shall not require payment for the embalming unless the funeral arrangements that are subsequently made authorized the embalming. (17) Each Missouri licensed funeral establishment shall maintain documentation of the following information regarding authorization to embalm a body which is embalmed by or on behalf of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment— (A) When authorization to embalm is given in writing: 1. The name of the deceased; 2. The name and signature of the person who is authorizing embalming; 3. The relationship of that person to the deceased; 4. The time and date authorization to embalm was given; and 5. The name and title of the person receiving authorization to embalm on behalf of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment; and (B) Authorization to embalm shall be given in writing if the person authorizing embalming is present in the Missouri licensed funeral establishment or in the physical presence of the person receiving authorization to embalm on behalf of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment. If verbal authorization to embalm is given, the Missouri licensed funeral establishment shall document: 1. The name of the person who is actually authorizing embalming, if different from the person who is verbally communicating authorization to embalm to the Missouri licensed funeral establishment; 2. The relationship of that person to the deceased; 3. The name of the person who is verbally communicating authorization to embalm and that person’s relationship to the person who is actually authorizing embalming; 4. The time and date authorization to embalm was given; and 5. The name and title of the person receiving authorization to embalm on behalf of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment. (18) Each Function A funeral establishment licensed for embalming shall maintain on the premises in the preparation room a register log. (19) All documents required by this rule to be maintained, shall be maintained on the premises of the Missouri licensed funeral establishment for two (2) years from the date the record was created. All documents required to be maintained by this rule may be maintained electronically, but all documents shall be stored in such a manner to allow access by the board and so the board, or its assignee, may easily and timely obtain hard copies or electronic copies in a format easily readable by the board, or its assignee. (20) Each funeral establishment shall maintain a register log on the premises of the licensed funeral establishment and be easily accessible and in full view for a board inspector. A register log shall include the following: (A) The name of the deceased; (B) The date and time the dead human body arrived at the funeral establishment; (C) The date and time the embalming took place, if applicable; (D) The name and signature of the Missouri licensed embalmer, if applicable; (E) The name and signature of the Missouri registered apprentice embalmer, if any; (F) The Missouri licensed embalmer’s license number, if applicable; (G) The Missouri apprentice embalmer registration number, if any; and (H) The name of the licensed funeral establishment, or other that was in charge of making the arrangements if from a different location. (21) No dead human body shall be buried, disinterred, interred, or cremated within this state or removed from this state, unless the burial, disinterment, interment, cremation, removal, or other authorized disposition, is performed under the direction of a Missouri licensed funeral establishment or Missouri licensed funeral director, unless otherwise authorized by law. If the disinterment does not require legal notification to the county coroner or medical examiner, a funeral director’s presence may not be required. Nothing in this rule shall be interpreted to require the use of a Missouri licensed funeral establishment or director if the person(s) having the right to control the incidents of burial request or determine otherwise, provided that this provision does not exempt any person from licensure as required by Chapter 333, RSMo. (22) A licensee shall be prohibited from knowingly using, placing, or including any false, misleading, deceptive, or materially incorrect information, or assisting or enabling any person to provide such information, on a death certificate filed in the state of Missouri. (23) Whenever a dead human body is donated to a medical or educational institution for medical and/or scientific study and arrangements for return of the body to the legal next of kin have not been made, then delivery of the body to the medical or educational institution shall constitute final disposition. If, however, arrangements for return of the body to the legal next of kin have been made, then final disposition shall be the burial, interment, cremation, or removal of the body out of this state, after the medical or educational institution has returned the body. AUTHORITY: sections 333.061, 333.091, 333.111, and 333.145, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 120-2.070. Original rule filed Oct. 17, 1975, effective Oct. 28, 1975. Amended: Filed Aug. 16, 1976, effective Dec. 11, 1976. Emergency rule filed Nov. 9, 1978, effective Nov. 20, 1978, expired Feb. 11, 1979. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Nov. 8, 1978, effective Feb. 11, 1979. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Jan. 13, 1982, effective April 11, 1982. Amended: Filed Aug. 6, 1982, effective Nov. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 1985, effective Dec. 26, 1985. Rescinded and readopted: Filed May 28, 1987, effective Sept. 11, 1987. Amended: Filed June 24, 1988, effective Sept. 29, 1988. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 1988, effective Dec. 11, 1988. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 1989, effective Dec. 28, 1989. Amended: Filed Dec. 4, 1989, effective March 11, 1990. Amended: Filed Sept. 5, 1990, effective March 14, 1991. Amended: Filed March 4, 1991, effective Sept. 30, 1991. Amended: Filed Aug. 15, 1991, effective Jan. 13, 1992. Amended: Filed Dec. 14, 1992, effective June 7, 1993. Amended: Filed Nov. 29, 1994, effective July 30, 1995. Amended: Filed Sept. 3, 1996, effective April 30, 1997. Amended: Filed Nov. 1, 2001, effective April 30, 2002. Rescinded and readopted: Filed Dec. 31, 2003, effective July 30, 2004. Moved to 20 CSR 2120-2.070, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Nov. 15, 2007, effective May 30, 2008. Amended: Filed April 8, 2009, effective Oct. 30, 2009. Amended: Filed Nov. 6, 2019, effective May 30, 2020. ** *Original authority: 333.061, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 2001, 2011; 333.091, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 2009, 2011; 333.111, RSMo 1965, amended 1981, 1993, 1995; and 333.145, RSMo 1981. **Pursuant to Executive Order 21-07, 20 CSR 2120-2.070 was suspended from April 10, 2020 through April 23, 2021.