If a body is in one mortuary, what type of custody does the mortuary with control of final disposition have?

The correct answer is constructive custody. In the context of mortuary practice, custody refers to the relationship between a funeral home and the deceased individual in their care. Constructive custody means that while the body is physically in another facility (in this case, one mortuary), the mortuary responsible for the final disposition holds the legal authority and responsibility for the body.

This type of custody emphasizes the mortuary’s rights over the deceased, despite the physical location of the body being elsewhere. Constructive custody is particularly relevant in situations where the final arrangements, like cremation or burial, are planned but not yet carried out. The mortuary has the legal duty to manage the body and make decisions regarding its final resting place.

Actual custody would imply a physical possession of the body, which does not apply here since the body is in a different mortuary. Legal custody refers to a more formal judicial context, while supervisory custody implies oversight without the same level of legal responsibility. Thus, constructive custody reflects the correct understanding of how custody works in relation to mortuary services and final dispositions.