Which document authorizes a funeral director to act on behalf of a deceased individual’s estate?

The correct choice is a funeral service contract. This document serves as an agreement between the funeral director and the family or estate of the deceased, allowing the funeral director to make necessary arrangements and act on behalf of the deceased individual's estate. It outlines the services provided, the costs involved, and the responsibilities of both parties during the funeral planning process.

A death certificate, while vital for legal purposes after a person's passing, does not grant authority to a funeral director to act on behalf of the estate. It serves primarily as an official record of death. Similarly, an estate planning document may provide guidance on the wishes of the deceased regarding their estate, but it does not inherently give a funeral director the authority to manage funeral arrangements directly. A last will and testament outlines how the deceased's estate should be handled but does not specifically allow a funeral director to manage funeral services without a separate agreement. Thus, the funeral service contract is the key document that establishes the funeral director's authority to act for the deceased’s estate.