Which party is NOT legally able to authorize funeral arrangements?

The party that is not legally able to authorize funeral arrangements is the deceased's neighbor. In funeral service laws, specific individuals who are closely related to the deceased or have a legal standing within the context of estate management are granted the authority to make such arrangements. This typically includes the executor of the estate, the deceased's spouse, or the next of kin, as these individuals have a recognized legal or familial relationship that entitles them to make decisions regarding the disposition of the deceased's body.

In contrast, a neighbor does not have any legal relationship to the deceased that would empower them to make decisions about funeral arrangements. Such decisions are typically reserved for family members or those designated through legal means, like executors of the estate. Therefore, recognizing the legal hierarchy underpinning funeral authorization is crucial in determining who can legally make these arrangements.