Who is ultimately responsible if a funeral home license is held in a funeral director’s name?

The correct answer is that the funeral director who has signed the license application is ultimately responsible for the funeral home license. This is grounded in the regulatory framework governing funeral services in Ohio, where individual accountability is emphasized. When a funeral director signs the license application, they affirm their commitment to comply with all relevant laws and regulations pertaining to funeral services. This signature represents not just a formality, but a legal and ethical commitment to uphold the standards of the profession and to ensure that the funeral home operates within the applicable legal parameters.

In this context, it's important to understand that other parties involved, such as the funeral home property owner, board president, or office administrator, have distinct roles and responsibilities but do not bear the ultimate accountability tied to the licensing of the funeral home. The owner of the property may own the physical space but may not be responsible for the operations or legal compliance of the business. Similarly, the board president's role does not extend to personal liability for licenses signed by others, and the office administrator usually handles day-to-day administrative tasks without bearing the legal qualifications attached to funeral director responsibilities.

Thus, the obligation and liability connected to the funeral home license rest solely with the funeral director who has formally applied for and signed the license.