What might a funeral director legally deliver without an advance directive?

A funeral director is legally permitted to provide general care and services to the deceased without requiring an advance directive. This encompasses essential functions such as preparing the body for viewing, refrigeration, and other basic care activities that are part of standard funeral services. These services are necessary to ensure that the deceased is treated with dignity and respect before any specific arrangements, such as customized memorial services or embalming, are finalized.

Advance directives are typically documents that outline a person's preferences for medical treatment and may also indicate wishes regarding post-mortem care. However, general care for the deceased does not necessitate such documents because they pertain to the direct handling and care of the body, which is standard practice within the industry. Other more specific services, like full embalming or customized memorials may require directives or decisions that align more closely with the individual's final wishes or family input.