Under what condition does a funeral establishment not have to follow a decedent's written instructions?

A funeral establishment is not required to follow a decedent's written instructions when financial arrangements have not been made. This situation arises because funeral establishments often rely on pre-paid funeral plans or financial agreements to ensure that the services requested can be carried out. If there are no funds allocated for the specified services, the establishment may be legally obligated to use discretion regarding the type of services they can provide.

In such cases, even if a decedent expressed specific wishes in writing, the lack of financial backing can render those instructions impractical or unfeasible. Hence, ensuring that adequate financial arrangements are in place is crucial for honoring the decedent's instructions. Other circumstances, such as unclear instructions, family disagreements, or the absence of legal documentation, may create complications but do not supersede the absence of funding in determining whether a funeral establishment can fulfill the decedent's requests.