New Jersey Mortuary Science Practice Exam

"At need" funeral arrangements refer to the plans and decisions that are made in response to an immediate death. When survivors make arrangements after a person's death, they are classified as "at need" because they occur during a time of urgency and emotional distress, requiring prompt action and responsiveness to the deceased's wishes and the family's needs.

This classification emphasizes the necessity of making decisions for services, merchandise, and disposition methods in a time-sensitive context. In contrast, arrangements made long before a person’s death or prepaid agreements are planned in advance and do not correspond to the immediate requirements following a death. Non-traditional burial plans may also be made separately from the immediate needs dictated by a recent passing. Hence, the focus on the timing and context for immediate arrangements clearly identifies them as "at need."