In funeral service practice, what type of contract exists with the family when the terms are stated and agreed upon by both parties?

• A. Implied
• B. Expressed
• C. Executed
• D. Unilateral

Answer: (B)

When terms are stated and agreed upon by both parties, the agreement is an expressed contract. In funeral service practice, the funeral home and the family spell out what services and goods will be provided, the cost, and the payment terms, and both sides explicitly accept those terms. That clear, mutual understanding creates binding obligations for both sides—the home must provide the agreed services, and the family must pay as agreed.

Implied contracts come from conduct or circumstances rather than stated terms, so they aren’t formed by explicit agreement. Executed describes a contract that has already been performed, which isn’t about how the contract is created. Unilateral refers to a promise by one party in exchange for an action by the other, which isn’t the typical bilateral arrangement in funeral service contracts.