Funeral claims against the decedent's state are

• A. unsecured claims
• B. contingent claims
• C. preferred claims
• D. ordinary claims

Answer: (C)

Funeral expenses are given priority in paying from the decedent's estate. This means they are settled before many other debts because they represent essential costs linked to the deceased’s burial and immediate arrangements. In probate terms, such expenses are classified as preferred (priority) claims, so they are paid out of estate assets before ordinary or unsecured claims. They aren’t contingent, since the obligation exists at death and the amount is typically known or determinable. They aren’t ordinary claims, which are the usual unsecured debts that don’t have this priority.