Kansas Funeral Director Practice Exam

When a funeral director possesses personal effects of a deceased individual, he is termed a __________?

1. Guardian

2. Agent

3. Bailee

4. Custodian

The correct answer is: Bailee

When a funeral director possesses the personal effects of a deceased individual, the appropriate term to describe this relationship is "bailee." In this context, a bailee is someone who temporarily holds property for the benefit of another party, which in this case, is the handling of the deceased's belongings until they are returned to the rightful owner or disposed of according to the deceased's wishes or family instructions. This term specifically denotes the legal and personal responsibility the funeral director has to safeguard the items while they are in their possession. The director must exercise a certain standard of care to ensure that the personal effects are not lost, damaged, or mishandled. The other terms do have their own specific legal definitions but do not accurately describe the scenario where a funeral director is holding onto someone else's property. A guardian typically refers to a person legally appointed to manage the affairs of another, particularly minors or those unable to manage their own affairs. An agent implies someone authorized to act on behalf of another, often in business contexts, and is more about the action taken rather than the possession of property. A custodian also suggests that someone is responsible for the care of property, but it lacks the specific legal context that bailee offers, especially regarding the temporary holding of