Which of the following is an example of a signed agreement of an oral understanding?

• A. Immediate cremation order
• B. Funeral service contract
• C. Embalming authorization
• D. Powers of attorney

Answer: (C)

The best choice shows a signed confirmation of a discussion that happened orally, specifically consent to a procedure. An embalming authorization is the written, signed permission to embalm, typically obtained after talking through options with the family. It captures the agreement reached in the conversation and gives the funeral home the authority to proceed, providing clear, documented consent.

A cremation order is simply an instruction for final disposition and may not reflect the discussed embalming choice. A funeral service contract is a broader agreement about services, not necessarily the immediate written record of an oral understanding about a specific procedure. A power of attorney is a general legal instrument granting someone authority to act on another’s behalf, not the specific recording of an oral agreement about embalming.