Subdivision 1.Transfer authorized.

A public cemetery association that owns a cemetery in which no interments have been made for 40 years may transfer the cemetery and real estate owned by it, together with funds or property that it possesses, to another public cemetery association or corporation serving the same community in the burial of the dead.

Subd. 2.Method of transfer.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 306.023

  • Chair: includes chairman, chairwoman, and chairperson. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Majority: means with respect to an individual the period of time after the individual reaches the age of 18. See Minnesota Statutes 645.451
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.

To accomplish the transfer, the board of trustees of the transferring cemetery association shall adopt a resolution to that effect by an unanimous vote of the board of trustees. The chair or president of the board of trustees and the secretary may then execute the proper instruments and a deed in the name of the association to evidence the transfer. However, the transfer must first have been authorized by a majority vote of all members of the association, present and voting, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, after written notice to the members specifying the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

If the association is an unincorporated association, a deed executed in the name of the association by the chair or president and the secretary or treasurer of the board of trustees is a valid conveyance of the lands of the association.

Subd. 3.Acceptance of transfer.

A public cemetery association or corporation serving the community in the burial of the dead may accept a transfer of a cemetery and its lands, property, and funds. Before a transfer is made, the public cemetery association to which the transfer is being made shall adopt a resolution agreeing to accept the cemetery and its real and personal property and funds and agreeing to operate, maintain, control, and manage the cemetery and administer its property and funds in the name of, and in accordance with the rules and laws governing the accepting public cemetery association.

Subd. 4.Effect of transfer.

After transfer, lot owners of the former association continue their ownership. They are entitled to the same rights and privileges with respect to their lots accorded to lot owners by the public cemetery association to which the transfer was made and are thereafter subject to all the rules and laws governing the public cemetery association.