# Health Occupations (GHO)

## Title 7. Morticians and Funeral Directors

### Subtitle 1. Definitions; General Provisions

#### Section 7-101

(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.

(a-1) "Alkaline hydrolysis" means the process of reducing human remains using water, alkaline chemicals, and heat inside a watertight vessel to accelerate decomposition.

(b) "Apprentice" means an individual licensed by the Board who assists a licensed mortician or funeral director in the practice of mortuary science or funeral direction, under direct supervision of a licensed mortician or funeral director.

(c) "Apprentice sponsor" means an individual who:

  (1) Is a licensed mortician or funeral director whose license is in good standing with the Board;

  (2) Has practiced mortuary science as a licensed mortician or funeral director in Maryland at least 1 year immediately prior to accepting the applicant as an apprentice; and

  (3) Provides direct supervision to an apprentice.

(c-1) "Authorizing agent" has the meaning stated in Sec. 5-508 of the Health - General Article.

(d) "Board" means the State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors.

(e)

  (1) "Business of operating a crematory" means controlling or managing a crematory.

  (2) "Business of operating a crematory" does not include:

    (i) The practice of funeral direction or the practice of mortuary science; or

    (ii)

      (1) Assistance in making decisions and filling out forms that are not directly related to cremation;

      (2) Obtaining vital statistics, signatures, and other information necessary to complete a death certificate;

      (3) Transportation of a body to the place of disposition; or

      (4) Any other services regarding the disposition of a body that are not directly related to cremation.

(f)

  (1) "Corporation" means a mortuary science business whose articles of incorporation are in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, or its successor, the initial business for which the license is issued must have been incorporated on or before June 1, 1945 and have "Incorporated", "Inc.", or "Corporation" in its name.

  (2) "Corporation" does not include, for purposes of issuing a corporation license, a "professional association" (P.A.) or a "professional corporation" (P.C.).

(g) "Courtesy card" means a license issued by the Board to licensed practitioners of mortuary science in other states, to make a removal of a dead human body in this State and to return the body to another state or country, to return dead bodies from another state or country to this State, to fill out the family history portion of the death certificate, and to sign the death certificate in the holder's capacity as a licensed practitioner of mortuary science.

(h) "Cremation" means disposition of a dead human body by means of incineration.

(i) "Crematory" means a building, portion of a building, or structure that houses the necessary appliances and facilities for cremation or alkaline hydrolysis.

(j)

  (1) "Engage in the operation of a crematory" means controlling or managing a crematory.

  (2) "Engage in the operation of a crematory" includes:

    (i) Providing burial goods as defined in Sec. 5-101 of the Business Regulation Article; and

    (ii) Selling pre-need goods.

  (3) "Engage in the operation of a crematory" does not include:

    (i) The practice of funeral direction or the practice of mortuary science; or

    (ii)

      (1) Assistance in making decisions and filling out forms that are not directly related to cremation;

      (2) Obtaining vital statistics, signatures, and other information necessary to complete a death certificate;

      (3) Transportation of a body to the place of disposition; or

      (4) Any other services regarding the disposition of a body that are not directly related to cremation.

(k)

  (1) "Engage in the operation of a reduction facility" means controlling or managing a reduction facility.

  (2) "Engage in the operation of a reduction facility" includes:

    (i) Providing burial goods as defined in Sec. 5-101 of the Business Regulation Article; and

    (ii) Selling pre-need goods.

  (3) "Engage in the operation of a reduction facility" does not include:

    (i) The practice of funeral direction or the practice of mortuary science; or

    (ii)

      (1) Assistance in making decisions and filling out forms that are not directly related to natural organic reduction;

      (2) Obtaining vital statistics, signatures, and other information necessary to complete a death certificate;

      (3) Transportation of a body to the place of disposition; or

      (4) Any other services regarding the disposition of a body that are not directly related to natural organic reduction.

(l) "Funeral director" means an individual who is licensed by the Board to practice all aspects of mortuary science except for embalming.

(m) "Funeral establishment" means any building, structure, or premises from which the business of practicing mortuary science is conducted.

(n)

  (1) "Human remains" means:

    (i) The body of a deceased person; or

    (ii) A part of a body or limb that has been removed from a living person.

  (2) "Human remains" includes the body or part of a body or limb in any state of decomposition.

  (3) "Human remains" does not include soil remains produced after the completion of natural organic reduction.

(o) "Hydrolyzed remains" means the bone fragments produced by the completion of alkaline hydrolysis.

(p)

  (1) "License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board.

  (2) "License" includes, unless otherwise indicated:

    (i) A mortician license;

    (ii) An apprentice license;

    (iii) A funeral director license;

    (iv) A surviving spouse license;

    (v) A corporation license;

    (vi) A funeral establishment license; and

    (vii) A courtesy card.

(q) "Licensed apprentice" means, unless the context requires otherwise, an apprentice who is licensed by the Board to assist a licensed mortician or funeral director in the practice of mortuary science or funeral direction.

(r) "Licensed funeral director" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a funeral director who is licensed by the Board to practice funeral direction.

(s) "Licensed funeral establishment" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a funeral establishment that is licensed by the Board.

(t) "Licensed mortician" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a mortician who is licensed by the Board under this title to practice mortuary science.

(u) "Licensee" means an individual or entity licensed by the Board to practice mortuary science to the extent determined by the Board.

(v) "Mortician" means an individual who practices mortuary science.

(w) "Natural organic reduction" means the contained accelerated conversion of human remains into soil.

(x)

  (1) "Practice funeral direction" means:

    (i) To operate a funeral establishment;

    (ii) For compensation, to prepare a dead human body for disposition; or

    (iii) For compensation, to arrange for or make final disposition of a dead human body.

  (2) "Practice funeral direction" does not include:

    (i) For compensation, disinfecting or preserving a dead human body or any of its parts by arterial or cavity injection or any other type of preservation; or

    (ii) The business of operating a crematory or reduction facility.

(y)

  (1) "Practice mortuary science" means:

    (i) To operate a funeral establishment;

    (ii) For compensation, to prepare a dead human body for disposition; or

    (iii) For compensation, to arrange for or make final disposition of a dead human body.

  (2) "Practice mortuary science" includes:

    (i) The practice of funeral direction; and

    (ii) Disinfecting or preserving a dead human body or any of its parts by arterial or cavity injection.

  (3) "Practice mortuary science" does not include:

    (i) The pickup, removal, or transportation of a dead human body, if the unlicensed individual is acting under the direction of a licensed mortician or funeral director; or

    (ii) The business of operating a crematory or reduction facility.

(z) "Pre-need contract" means an agreement between a consumer and a licensed funeral director, licensed mortician,  or surviving spouse to provide any goods and services purchased prior to the time of death, including:

  (1) A service, including any form of preservation and disposition or cremation, that a mortician normally provides in the ordinary course of business; or

  (2) Merchandise, including a casket, vault, or clothing, that a mortician normally provides in the ordinary course of business.

(aa)

  (1) "Pre-need goods" means burial goods that are sold before the buyer's death.

  (2) "Pre-need goods" does not include burial space.

(bb) "Reduction facility" means a building, portion of a building, or structure that houses the necessary appliances, containers, and facilities for performing natural organic reduction.

(cc) "Registered crematory operator" means an individual registered to operate a crematory as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or permit holder.

(dd) "Registered reduction operator" means an individual registered to operate a reduction facility as a sole proprietor or on behalf of a sole proprietor or a permit holder.

(ee) "Registration" means a registration issued by the Board authorizing an individual to operate a crematory or a reduction facility.

(ff) "Responsible party" means a sole proprietor or the individual designated by a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation to be responsible for the operations of a crematory or reduction facility.

(gg) "Soil remains" means the soil produced at final disposition of a dead human body at a reduction facility by completion of natural organic reduction.

(hh) "Surviving spouse" means the legal widow or widower of a licensed funeral director or licensed mortician, whose license was in good standing at the time of death, and who at the time of death, wholly or partly owned and operated a mortuary science business.

#### Section 7-102

(a) This title does not limit the right of an individual to practice a health occupation that the individual is authorized to practice under this article.

(b) This title does not apply to:

  (1) The business of operating a cemetery, including the sale of cemetery lots, grave sites, mausoleums, monuments, lawn crypts, or vaults; or

  (2) The ownership of a crematory or the business of operating a crematory or incinerator at a licensed medical facility or educational institution.

#### Section 7-103

The purpose of this title is to protect the health and welfare of the public.

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Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)