Sec. 11. (a) This section applies to money or other personal property:

(1) owned by a deceased person whose death is subject to a coroner’s investigation; or

Terms Used In Indiana Code 36-2-14-11

  • Personal property: includes goods, chattels, evidences of debt, and things in action. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Sheriff: means the sheriff of the county or another person authorized to perform sheriff's duties. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(2) found:

(A) on a body; or

(B) at the scene of death.

     (b) If money or personal property is not claimed by a person entitled to them, the coroner shall do the following:

(1) Take possession of the property.

(2) Publish, in accordance with IC 5-3-1, a description of the deceased and the name of the deceased if known.

(3) Make a reasonable search to find a person who is entitled to the money or other personal property.

     (c) If, after complying with subsection (b), the coroner does not know of a person entitled to the money, the coroner shall deliver the money to the county treasurer for deposit in the county general fund.

     (d) If, after complying with subsection (b), the coroner does not know of a person entitled to the personal property other than money that has an intrinsic value, the coroner shall deliver the personal property to the sheriff for sale at any auction that the sheriff conducts under law. The sheriff shall deposit the receipts from the auction of the personal property in the county general fund.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 17-3-17-8 part; 17-3-17-10.]

As added by Acts 1980, P.L.212, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.45, SEC.11; P.L.141-1992, SEC.1.