Is a living person allowed to designate someone to manage their final disposition?

A living person can indeed designate someone to manage their final disposition, which demonstrates their autonomy in decision-making regarding their end-of-life plans. This arrangement is commonly referred to as a "declaration," "advance directive," or "power of attorney for healthcare" in which an individual specifies who will have authority over their decisions regarding their remains after death.

It's important to note that while involving a notary public can provide additional legal credibility to such documents, it is not a requirement for the designation to be valid. Many state laws allow for these designations without the necessity of a notary, as long as the document is appropriately signed and meets the legal requirements established by jurisdiction.

The other options suggest various misconceptions. For instance, a deceased person's family does not exclusively hold the power to decide on final arrangements, nor is it inherently true that a legal document is necessary for such designations, as informal agreements can be recognized depending on the applicable laws. Additionally, there is no age restriction preventing someone from making such a designation if they are of sound mind. This underlines the importance of understanding personal autonomy in these decisions.