7-4-2917. Disposition of property of deceased -- suicide note. (1) Any property of a decedent or any suicide note composed or purportedly composed by a decedent in the custody of the county coroner shall be held until such time as the county attorney establishes that it is not necessary to hold such property or note to determine the true cause of death, to assist any investigating agency, or to be used as evidence in any related criminal court action.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "investigating agency" means any county attorney, the state medical examiner, and any law enforcement agency of this state and any political subdivision of this state having jurisdiction of the death.
(3) When such property or note is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes, it shall be given upon written request to the personal representative of the decedent appointed under Title 72 or, if no personal representative is appointed, to the decedent's family or whoever in the discretion of the county attorney should receive the property or the note.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 408, L. 1983.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 4. Officers and Employees
Part 29. Office of County Coroner
7-4-2901. Appointment of deputy coroners
7-4-2902. Vacancy in office of county coroner or disqualification of coroner
7-4-2903. Stenographer for coroner in certain counties
7-4-2904. Qualifications for office of county coroner
7-4-2905. Coroner education and continuing education
7-4-2906. through 7-4-2910 reserved
7-4-2911. Duties of county coroner
7-4-2913. Payment of costs of inquest
7-4-2914. Statement required before allowing accounts of coroner
7-4-2915. Custody and disposition of bodies held pending investigation
7-4-2917. Disposition of property of deceased -- suicide note
7-4-2918. through 7-4-2920 reserved