2025 Delaware Code
Title 24 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 31. FUNERAL SERVICES
Subchapter I. Board of Funeral Services
§ 3101. Definitions [For application of this section, see 84 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 16].
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter shall have the meanings ascribed to them under this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(1) “Board” means the State Board of Funeral Services established in this chapter.
(2) “Burial” means the interment of human remains.
(3) “Cremation” means the process of burning human remains to ashes.
(4) “Division” means the State Division of Professional Regulation.
(5) “Embalming” means the disinfecting or preservation of a dead human body, entirely or in part, by the use of chemical substances, fluids, or gases in the body, or by the introduction of the same into the body by vascular or hypodermic injection, or by the direct application of the same into the organs or cavities.
(6) “Embalming room assistant” means a person who has met all of the requirements, including all necessary training in blood borne pathogens standards, and who has received all necessary vaccinations related to the industry, to be able to perform their duties in the embalming or dressing room areas for the preparation of a deceased human remains. Such individual shall not possess the ability to embalm a decedent.
(7) “Funeral director” means a person engaged in the care of human remains or in the disinfecting and preparing by embalming of human remains for the funeral service, transportation, burial, entombment, cremation, or natural organic reduction, and who files all death certificates or permits as required by Chapter 31 of Title 16.
(8) “Funeral establishment” means any place used in the care and preparation of human remains for funeral service, burial, entombment, cremation, or natural organic reduction, including areas for embalming, the convenience of the bereaved for viewing, and other services associated with human remains. A funeral establishment also includes a place or office in which the business matters associated with funeral services are conducted.
(9) “Funeral services” means those services rendered for the disinfecting, embalming, burial, entombment, cremation, or natural organic reduction of human remains, including the sale of those goods and services usual to arranging and directing funeral services.
(10) “Housing status” means as defined in § 204 of Title 19.
(11) “Intern” means a person, duly registered with the Board, engaged in training to become a licensed funeral director in this State under the direction and personal supervision of a state-licensed funeral director.
(12) “Natural organic reduction” means as defined in § 3101 of Title 16.
(13) “Natural organic reduction facility” means as defined in § 3101 of Title 16.
(14) “Nonresident funeral director” means a funeral director licensed in another state, district, territory or foreign country.
(15) “Person” means a corporation, company, association and partnership, as well as an individual.
(16) “Practitioner” means a funeral director.
(17) “Protective hairstyle” includes braids, locks, and twists.
(18) “Race” includes traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and a protective hairstyle.
(19) “Student of mortuary science” means a person registered in an official accredited Institution of Mortuary Science program.
(20) “Substantially related” means the nature of the criminal conduct, for which the person was convicted, has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability to perform 1 or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the provision of funeral services.
