Medical Definition of undertaker : an individual whose business is to prepare the dead for burial and to arrange and manage funerals. — called also mortician. More from Merriam-Webster on undertaker.

Funeral directors or morticians are professionals who assist family members of the deceased with all aspects of planning a funeral service. Collaborating with the family of the deceased to arrange the logistics and details of the funeral according to their wishes.

Funeral Service Options Another decision to make is who will be officiating the service. You can choose to have a minister (or other religious leader) or a celebrant officiate the service. The difference between a minister and a celebrant is a celebrant is non-denominational.

A large funeral home with many morticians will often use the term “funeral director” for the owner of the business, and “mortician” for the person who handles the body and embalming process. The title of undertaker applies to both, and is euphemistic in its reference to one who undertakes the duty of corpse care.

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While the funeral director or mortician is charged with actually dressing the body, the clothing is selected by the family. Some families have preferences for what they want their loved ones to wear, and some individuals also include their burial clothing as part of their final wishes.

What Is a Funeral Arranger? Funeral arrangers are also known as funeral directors. They plan funerals, and they work with the family or friends of the deceased to make decisions and arrangements.

You may buy rights to bury or scatter the remains in a designated part of a cemetery. Although the burial of cremated remains is not permitted outside a licensed cemetery, you may scatter the ashes or cremated remains on private property with the written consent of the land owner.

It is customary to thank the clergy for their assistance and to offer an honorarium if they are involved in the service. It is considered inappropriate to ask the clergy what fee they “charge” for funerals. A typical honorarium is $150–300, in consideration of the hours spent with the family and performing the service.

Be at least 18 years old.

Aspiring funeral directors typically need to be licensed, which usually involves completing a diploma or certificate program in a field such as Mortuary Science or Funeral Service Foundations.

The state of Georgia does not offer a mortician license but it does offer an embalmer and/or funeral director license. To apply for the license you should contact the Georgia Board of Funeral Services. To qualify for this license you must earn your high school diploma and attend mortuary college for one year.

The Board of Funeral Services was established by the Legislature to regulate the practice of and establish standards for individuals and businesses participating in and practicing funeral services in Montana.