{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2800.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2800.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2800.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2800.html"}],"law_id":76263,"edition_id":1,"section_id":76263,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2800","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-260.1; 1956, c. 220; 1972, c. 797, \u00a7 54-260.67; 1988, c. 765; 1989, c. 684; 1991, c. 539; 1997, c. 116; 1998, cc. 718, 867; 2003, c. 505; 2006, c. 56; 2015, cc. 534, 670; 2024, cc. 247, 598; 2025, c. 511.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement” means any information disseminated or placed before the public.\n\t\t“At-need” means at the time of death or while death is imminent.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.\n\t\t“Cremate” means to reduce a dead human body to ashes and bone fragments by the action of fire.\n\t\t“Cremator” means a person or establishment that owns or operates a crematory or crematorium or cremates dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Crematory” or “crematorium” means a facility containing a furnace for cremation of dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee” means an optional and declinable fee agreed to by a preneed funeral contract purchaser, if offered by a seller, for which the cost of the preneed supplies and services as described in the preneed funeral contract shall be guaranteed. A declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee, when offered by a seller (i) shall not exceed 25 percent of the guaranteed preneed supplies and services included in the funeral contract price, (ii) shall be refundable if the purchaser terminates the contract within 30 days of execution, (iii) shall not be considered a finance fee, and (iv) shall be listed on the general price list in accordance with \u00a7 54.1-2812.\n\t\t“Embalmer” means any person engaged in the practice of embalming.\n\t\t“Embalming” means the process of chemically treating the dead human body by arterial injection and cavity treatment or, when necessary, hypodermic tissue injection to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms to temporarily retard organic decomposition.\n\t\t“Funeral directing” means the for-profit profession of directing or supervising funerals, preparing human dead for burial by means other than embalming, or making arrangements for funeral services or the financing of funeral services.\n\t\t“Funeral director” means any person engaged in the practice of funeral directing.\n\t\t“Funeral service establishment” means any main establishment, branch, or chapel that is permanently affixed to the real estate and for which a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the local building official where any part of the profession of funeral directing, the practice of funeral services, or the act of embalming is performed.\n\t\t“Funeral service intern” means a person who is preparing to be licensed for the practice of funeral services under the direct supervision of a practitioner licensed by the Board.\n\t\t“Funeral service licensee” means a person who is licensed in the practice of funeral services.\n\t\t“In-person communication” means face-to-face communication and telephonic communication.\n\t\t“Next of kin” means any of the following persons, regardless of the relationship to the decedent: any person designated to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedent’s remains upon his death pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-2825, the legal spouse, child aged 18 years or older, parent of a decedent aged 18 years or older, custodial parent or noncustodial parent of a decedent younger than 18 years of age, siblings over 18 years of age, guardian of minor child, guardian of minor siblings, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, maternal siblings over 18 years of age and paternal siblings over 18 years of age, or any other relative in the descending order of blood relationship.\n\t\t“Practice of funeral services” means engaging in the care and disposition of the human dead, the preparation of the human dead for the funeral service, burial or cremation, the making of arrangements for the funeral service or for the financing of the funeral service and the selling or making of financial arrangements for the sale of funeral supplies to the public.\n\t\t“Preneed” means at any time other than at-need.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral contract” means any agreement where payment is made by the consumer prior to the receipt of services or supplies contracted for, which evidences arrangements prior to death for (i) the providing of funeral services or (ii) the sale of funeral supplies. “Preneed funeral contract” does not include transportation protection agreements.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral planning” means the making of arrangements prior to death for (i) the providing of funeral services or (ii) the sale of funeral supplies.\n\t\t“Solicitation” means initiating contact with consumers with the intent of influencing their selection of a funeral plan or funeral service provider.\n\t\t“Transportation protection agreement” means an agreement that provides for the coordination and arranging of all professional services related to transportation of human remains or cremated remains beyond the distance stated in the preneed funeral contract.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":273800,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement” means any information disseminated or placed before the public.\n\t\t“At-need” means at the time of death or while death is imminent.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.\n\t\t“Cremate” means to reduce a dead human body to ashes and bone fragments by the action of fire.\n\t\t“Cremator” means a person or establishment that owns or operates a crematory or crematorium or cremates dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Crematory” or “crematorium” means a facility containing a furnace for cremation of dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee” means an optional and declinable fee agreed to by a preneed funeral contract purchaser, if offered by a seller, for which the cost of the preneed supplies and services as described in the preneed funeral contract shall be guaranteed. A declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee, when offered by a seller (i) shall not exceed 25 percent of the guaranteed preneed supplies and services included in the funeral contract price, (ii) shall be refundable if the purchaser terminates the contract within 30 days of execution, (iii) shall not be considered a finance fee, and (iv) shall be listed on the general price list in accordance with \u00a7 54.1-2812.\n\t\t“Embalmer” means any person engaged in the practice of embalming.\n\t\t“Embalming” means the process of chemically treating the dead human body by arterial injection and cavity treatment or, when necessary, hypodermic tissue injection to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms to temporarily retard organic decomposition.\n\t\t“Funeral directing” means the for-profit profession of directing or supervising funerals, preparing human dead for burial by means other than embalming, or making arrangements for funeral services or the financing of funeral services.\n\t\t“Funeral director” means any person engaged in the practice of funeral directing.\n\t\t“Funeral service establishment” means any main establishment, branch, or chapel that is permanently affixed to the real estate and for which a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the local building official where any part of the profession of funeral directing, the practice of funeral services, or the act of embalming is performed.\n\t\t“Funeral service intern” means a person who is preparing to be licensed for the practice of funeral services under the direct supervision of a practitioner licensed by the Board.\n\t\t“Funeral service licensee” means a person who is licensed in the practice of funeral services.\n\t\t“In-person communication” means face-to-face communication and telephonic communication.\n\t\t“Next of kin” means any of the following persons, regardless of the relationship to the decedent: any person designated to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedent’s remains upon his death pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-2825, the legal spouse, child aged 18 years or older, parent of a decedent aged 18 years or older, custodial parent or noncustodial parent of a decedent younger than 18 years of age, siblings over 18 years of age, guardian of minor child, guardian of minor siblings, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, maternal siblings over 18 years of age and paternal siblings over 18 years of age, or any other relative in the descending order of blood relationship.\n\t\t“Practice of funeral services” means engaging in the care and disposition of the human dead, the preparation of the human dead for the funeral service, burial or cremation, the making of arrangements for the funeral service or for the financing of the funeral service and the selling or making of financial arrangements for the sale of funeral supplies to the public.\n\t\t“Preneed” means at any time other than at-need.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral contract” means any agreement where payment is made by the consumer prior to the receipt of services or supplies contracted for, which evidences arrangements prior to death for (i) the providing of funeral services or (ii) the sale of funeral supplies. “Preneed funeral contract” does not include transportation protection agreements.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral planning” means the making of arrangements prior to death for (i) the providing of funeral services or (ii) the sale of funeral supplies.\n\t\t“Solicitation” means initiating contact with consumers with the intent of influencing their selection of a funeral plan or funeral service provider.\n\t\t“Transportation protection agreement” means an agreement that provides for the coordination and arranging of all professional services related to transportation of human remains or cremated remains beyond the distance stated in the preneed funeral contract.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14000,"edition_id":1,"name":"Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13923,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:34","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:34","permalink":{"id":241755,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14000,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/28\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13923,"edition_id":1,"name":"Funeral Services","identifier":"28","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:19","permalink":{"id":241753,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13923,"identifier":"28","token":"54.1\/III\/28","url":"\/54.1\/III\/28\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":76263,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2800","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-2800\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2800","metadata":false},{"id":56302,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2801","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2801\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2801","metadata":false},{"id":60746,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2802","catch_line":"Board; appointment; terms; vacancies; meetings; quorum","url":"\/54.1-2802\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2802","metadata":false},{"id":73998,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2803","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of Board","url":"\/54.1-2803\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2803","metadata":false},{"id":64045,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2804","catch_line":"Licensing authority","url":"\/54.1-2804\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2804","metadata":false},{"id":84677,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2805","catch_line":"Engaging in the practice of funeral services or the business of preneed funeral planning or acting as a funeral director or embalmer without a license","url":"\/54.1-2805\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2805","metadata":false},{"id":65511,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2806","catch_line":"Refusal, suspension, or revocation of license, registration, or courtesy card","url":"\/54.1-2806\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2806","metadata":false},{"id":73758,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807","catch_line":"Other prohibited activities","url":"\/54.1-2807\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807","metadata":false},{"id":57356,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.01","catch_line":"When next of kin disagree","url":"\/54.1-2807.01\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.01","metadata":false},{"id":75008,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.02","catch_line":"Absence of next of kin","url":"\/54.1-2807.02\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.02","metadata":false},{"id":79482,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.03","catch_line":"Proof of next of kin status","url":"\/54.1-2807.03\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.03","metadata":false},{"id":72647,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2807.1","catch_line":"Confidentiality of information on infectious diseases","url":"\/54.1-2807.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2807.1","metadata":false},{"id":55082,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-2808\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808","metadata":false},{"id":79091,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808.1","catch_line":"Disposition of cremains","url":"\/54.1-2808.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808.1","metadata":false},{"id":59456,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808.2","catch_line":"Identification of unclaimed cremains of veterans and eligible dependents","url":"\/54.1-2808.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808.2","metadata":false},{"id":74092,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2808.3","catch_line":"Acceptance of third-party-provided caskets","url":"\/54.1-2808.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2808.3","metadata":false},{"id":81802,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2809","catch_line":"Penalties","url":"\/54.1-2809\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2809","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":56302,"structure_id":14000,"section_number":"54.1-2801","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2801\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2801","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2800\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1956, chapter 220; in 1972, chapter 797; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1989, chapter 684; in 1991, chapter 539; in 1997, chapter 116<\/a>; in 1998, chapters 718<\/a> and 867<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 505<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 56<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 534<\/a> and 670<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 247<\/a> and 598<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 511<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68053,"section_number":"32.1-263","catch_line":"Filing death certificates; medical certification; investigation by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-263\/"},{"id":75099,"section_number":"32.1-286","catch_line":"Exhumations","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-286\/"},{"id":68230,"section_number":"38.2-4021","catch_line":"Interest in benefits; assignability; liability to attachment, etc","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-4021\/"},{"id":60523,"section_number":"46.2-380","catch_line":"Reports made under certain sections open to inspection by certain persons; copies; maintenance of reports and photographs for three-year period","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-380\/"},{"id":81764,"section_number":"54.1-2312.1","catch_line":"Resale of interment right; conditions for resale transaction; contents of transfer form; approval by cemetery company","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2312.1\/"},{"id":79482,"section_number":"54.1-2807.03","catch_line":"Proof of next of kin status","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2807.03\/"},{"id":79569,"section_number":"54.1-2818.5","catch_line":"Request for life insurance information; notification of beneficiaries","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2818.5\/"},{"id":68795,"section_number":"54.1-2820","catch_line":"Requirements of preneed funeral contracts","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2820\/"},{"id":70953,"section_number":"64.2-2023","catch_line":"Estate planning","order_by":null,"url":"\/64.2-2023\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":62203,"section_number":"54.1-2812","catch_line":"Itemized statement and general price list of funeral expenses to be furnished","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2812\/"},{"id":84076,"section_number":"54.1-2825","catch_line":"Person to make arrangements for funeral and disposition of remains","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2825\/"}],"permalink":{"id":241757,"object_type":"law","relational_id":76263,"identifier":"54.1-2800","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2800","url":"\/54.1-2800\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2800\/","token":"54.1\/III\/28\/1\/54.1-2800","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2800","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement<\/span>” means any information disseminated or placed before the public.\n\t\t“At-need<\/span>” means at the time of death or while death is imminent.\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Board<\/span> of Funeral Directors<\/span> and Embalmers<\/span>.\n\t\t“Cremate<\/span>” means to reduce a dead human body to ashes and bone fragments by the action of fire.\n\t\t“Cremator<\/span>” means a person or establishment that owns or operates a crematory<\/span> or crematorium<\/span> or cremates<\/span> dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Crematory<\/span>” or “crematorium<\/span>” means a facility containing a furnace for cremation of dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee<\/span>” means an optional and declinable fee agreed to by a preneed funeral contract<\/span> purchaser, if offered by a seller, for which the cost of the preneed supplies and services as described in the preneed funeral contract<\/span> shall be guaranteed. A declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee<\/span>, when offered by a seller (i) shall not exceed 25 percent of the guaranteed preneed supplies and services included in the funeral contract price, (ii) shall be refundable if the purchaser terminates the contract within 30 days of execution, (iii) shall not be considered a finance fee, and (iv) shall be listed on the general price list in accordance with \u00a7 54.1-2812<\/a>.\n\t\t“Embalmer<\/span>” means any person engaged in the practice of embalming<\/span>.\n\t\t“Embalming<\/span>” means the process of chemically treating the dead human body by arterial injection and cavity treatment or, when necessary, hypodermic tissue injection to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms to temporarily retard organic decomposition.\n\t\t“Funeral directing<\/span>” means the for-profit profession of directing or supervising funerals, preparing human dead for burial by means other than embalming<\/span>, or making arrangements for funeral services or the financing of funeral services.\n\t\t“Funeral director<\/span>” means any person engaged in the practice of funeral directing<\/span>.\n\t\t“Funeral service establishment<\/span>” means any main establishment, branch, or chapel that is permanently affixed to the real estate and for which a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the local building official where any part of the profession of funeral directing<\/span>, the practice of funeral services<\/span>, or the act of embalming<\/span> is performed.\n\t\t“Funeral service intern<\/span>” means a person who is preparing to be licensed for the practice of funeral services<\/span> under the direct supervision of a practitioner licensed by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Funeral service licensee<\/span>” means a person who is licensed in the practice of funeral services<\/span>.\n\t\t“In-person communication<\/span>” means face-to-face communication and telephonic communication.\n\t\t“Next of kin<\/span>” means any of the following persons, regardless of the relationship to the decedent: any person designated to make arrangements for the disposition<\/span> of the decedent’s remains upon his death pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-2825<\/a>, the legal spouse, child aged 18 years or older, parent of a decedent aged 18 years or older, custodial parent or noncustodial parent of a decedent younger than 18 years of age, siblings over 18 years of age, guardian of minor<\/span> child, guardian of minor<\/span> siblings, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, maternal siblings over 18 years of age and paternal siblings over 18 years of age, or any other relative in the descending order<\/span> of blood relationship.\n\t\t“Practice of funeral services<\/span>” means engaging in the care and disposition<\/span> of the human dead, the preparation of the human dead for the funeral service, burial or cremation, the making of arrangements for the funeral service or for the financing of the funeral service and the selling or making of financial arrangements for the sale of funeral supplies to the public.\n\t\t“Preneed” means at any time other than at-need<\/span>.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral contract<\/span>” means any agreement where payment is made by the consumer prior to the receipt of services or supplies contracted for, which evidences<\/span> arrangements prior to death for (i) the providing of funeral services or (ii) the sale of funeral supplies. “Preneed funeral contract<\/span>” does not include transportation protection agreements<\/span>.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral planning<\/span>” means the making of arrangements prior to death for (i) the providing of funeral services or (ii) the sale of funeral supplies.\n\t\t“Solicitation<\/span>” means initiating contact with consumers with the intent<\/span> of influencing their selection of a funeral plan or funeral service provider.\n\t\t“Transportation protection agreement<\/span>” means an agreement that provides for the coordination and arranging of all professional services related to transportation of human remains or cremated remains beyond the distance stated in the preneed funeral contract<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-2800)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement” means any information disseminated or placed\nbefore the public.\n\t\t“At-need” means at the time of death or while death is imminent.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.\n\t\t“Cremate” means to reduce a dead human body to ashes and bone\nfragments by the action of fire.\n\t\t“Cremator” means a person or establishment that owns or operates a\ncrematory or crematorium or cremates dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Crematory” or “crematorium” means a facility\ncontaining a furnace for cremation of dead human bodies.\n\t\t“Declinable preneed funeral guarantee fee” means an optional and\ndeclinable fee agreed to by a preneed funeral contract purchaser, if offered by\na seller, for which the cost of the preneed supplies and services as described\nin the preneed funeral contract shall be guaranteed. A declinable preneed\nfuneral guarantee fee, when offered by a seller (i) shall not exceed 25 percent\nof the guaranteed preneed supplies and services included in the funeral contract\nprice, (ii) shall be refundable if the purchaser terminates the contract within\n30 days of execution, (iii) shall not be considered a finance fee, and (iv)\nshall be listed on the general price list in accordance with \u00a7 54.1-2812.\n\t\t“Embalmer” means any person engaged in the practice of embalming.\n\t\t“Embalming” means the process of chemically treating the dead\nhuman body by arterial injection and cavity treatment or, when necessary,\nhypodermic tissue injection to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms\nto temporarily retard organic decomposition.\n\t\t“Funeral directing” means the for-profit profession of directing\nor supervising funerals, preparing human dead for burial by means other than\nembalming, or making arrangements for funeral services or the financing of\nfuneral services.\n\t\t“Funeral director” means any person engaged in the practice of\nfuneral directing.\n\t\t“Funeral service establishment” means any main establishment,\nbranch, or chapel that is permanently affixed to the real estate and for which a\ncertificate of occupancy has been issued by the local building official where\nany part of the profession of funeral directing, the practice of funeral\nservices, or the act of embalming is performed.\n\t\t“Funeral service intern” means a person who is preparing to be\nlicensed for the practice of funeral services under the direct supervision of a\npractitioner licensed by the Board.\n\t\t“Funeral service licensee” means a person who is licensed in the\npractice of funeral services.\n\t\t“In-person communication” means face-to-face communication and\ntelephonic communication.\n\t\t“Next of kin” means any of the following persons, regardless of\nthe relationship to the decedent: any person designated to make arrangements for\nthe disposition of the decedent’s remains upon his death pursuant to \u00a7\n54.1-2825, the legal spouse, child aged 18 years or older, parent of a decedent\naged 18 years or older, custodial parent or noncustodial parent of a decedent\nyounger than 18 years of age, siblings over 18 years of age, guardian of minor\nchild, guardian of minor siblings, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents,\nmaternal siblings over 18 years of age and paternal siblings over 18 years of\nage, or any other relative in the descending order of blood relationship.\n\t\t“Practice of funeral services” means engaging in the care and\ndisposition of the human dead, the preparation of the human dead for the funeral\nservice, burial or cremation, the making of arrangements for the funeral service\nor for the financing of the funeral service and the selling or making of\nfinancial arrangements for the sale of funeral supplies to the public.\n\t\t“Preneed” means at any time other than at-need.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral contract” means any agreement where payment is\nmade by the consumer prior to the receipt of services or supplies contracted\nfor, which evidences arrangements prior to death for (i) the providing of\nfuneral services or (ii) the sale of funeral supplies. “Preneed funeral\ncontract” does not include transportation protection agreements.\n\t\t“Preneed funeral planning” means the making of arrangements prior\nto death for (i) the providing of funeral services or (ii) the sale of funeral\nsupplies.\n\t\t“Solicitation” means initiating contact with consumers with the\nintent of influencing their selection of a funeral plan or funeral service\nprovider.\n\t\t“Transportation protection agreement” means an agreement that\nprovides for the coordination and arranging of all professional services related\nto transportation of human remains or cremated remains beyond the distance\nstated in the preneed funeral contract.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-260.1; 1956, c. 220; 1972, c. 797, \u00a7 54-260.67; 1988,\nc. 765; 1989, c. 684; 1991, c. 539; 1997, c. 116; 1998, cc. 718, 867; 2003, c.\n505; 2006, c. 56; 2015, cc. 534, 670; 2024, cc. 247, 598; 2025, c. 511.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}