The coroner of the county in which a death is discovered shall take charge of the case and ensure that relatives or friends of the deceased individual, if known, are notified as soon as possible, giving details of the death and disposition of the deceased individual. If the relatives or friends of the deceased are unknown, the coroner shall dispose of the personal effects and body in the following manner:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 11-19.1-15

  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Individual: means a human being. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

1.    After using such clothing as may be necessary in the final disposition of the body, the remaining personal effects of the deceased must be turned over to law enforcement for appropriate disposition.

2.    The remains must be:

a.    Disposed of in accordance with section 23-06-14; or

b.    Otherwise disposed of in accordance with the laws governing final disposition of residents within the state who are indigent.