Final answer:
The legality of two funeral homes providing a visitation facility in a small community depends on local regulatory laws and proper compliance with business, licensing, and consumer protection requirements. Options like licensing as a branch, clear signage, or forming a new corporation are legally plausible structures, contingent on the specific jurisdiction's laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether two funeral homes can legally collaborate to provide a visitation facility in a small community depends on the regulatory laws governing funeral homes and businesses in that particular jurisdiction. Generally, businesses can form partnerships or agreements to offer services, but they must comply with all applicable laws, such as licensing, zoning, and consumer protection regulations. The specific options outlined in the question (licensing as a branch, clear signage, or forming a separate corporation) are all plausible legal structures that businesses might consider, each with its own legal implications and requirements. For instance, licensing as a branch might require both funeral homes to be held to the same standards and regulations, clear signage could be a consumer protection issue to ensure transparency, and forming a new corporation would entail a separate legal entity. Ultimately, to determine the legality of such an endeavor, one should consult legal experts or authorities in the region where the facility would be established.