The board of county commissioners after proper investigation shall cause any deceased indigent or unclaimed decedent to be decently interred or cremated. The cost to be paid by the county of opening and closing a grave shall not exceed six hundred dollars ($600), which sum shall be in addition to the sums enumerated in Section 24-13-3 NMSA 1978.
History: Laws 1939, ch. 224, § 4; 1941 Comp., § 73-207; 1953 Comp., § 13-2-7; Laws 1957, ch. 123, § 2; 1997, ch. 116, § 1; 1999, ch. 241, § 7.
The 1999 amendment, effective June 18, 1999, inserted "or unclaimed decedent" in the first sentence and "to be paid by the county" in the second sentence.
The 1997 amendment, effective June 20, 1997, substituted "$600" for "$35" and made a stylistic change.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 22A Am. Jur. 2d Dead Bodies §§ 75, 78 to 81.
25A C.J.S. Dead Bodies §§ 4(3), 8(4).
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 24 - Health and Safety
Article 13 - Burial of Indigents
Section 24-13-1 - Burial or cremation of unclaimed decedents and of indigents.
Section 24-13-2 - Persons deemed indigent.
Section 24-13-3 - Expenses for burial or cremation.
Section 24-13-4 - Burial after investigation; cost of opening and closing grave.
Section 24-13-5 - Payment of burial or cremation expenses; commissioners' liability.
Section 24-13-6 - Money from relatives; duty of funeral director.
Section 24-13-7 - Failure to notify; funeral director's liability.
Section 24-13-8 - [District attorneys to enforce burial act.]