N.Y. County Law § 678: Disposition of money or property found on deceased

§ 678. Disposition of money or property found on deceased. 1. Money

and other property found upon the body of the deceased, not required for

the purposes of the investigation, shall be delivered to the county

treasurer. Unless claimed in the meantime by the legal representatives

of the deceased, articles held for the purposes of the investigation,

except such writings of the deceased as may be relevant to the diagnosis

of means or manner of death, shall be delivered to the county treasurer

at the conclusion of the investigation.

2. Upon the delivery of money to the county treasurer he must place it

to the credit of the county. If other property is delivered to him he

must, within one year, sell it at public auction upon reasonable public

notice, and must, in like manner, place the proceeds to the credit of

the county.

3. If the money in the treasury be demanded within six years by the

legal representatives of the deceased, the treasurer must pay it to

them, after deducting the amount of expenses incurred in connection

therewith, or it may be so paid at any time thereafter, upon the order

of the board of supervisors; provided, however, that such money may be

so paid at any time upon the written order of the surrogate of the

county.

4. Before auditing and allowing the account of the coroner or medical

examiner, the board of supervisors must require from him a statement in

writing of any money or other property found upon persons whose deaths

he has investigated, verified by his oath to the effect that the

statement is true and that the money or property mentioned in it has

been delivered to the legal representatives of the deceased, or to the

county treasurer.