2005 Minnesota Statutes

     261.035 Funerals at expense of county. 

    When a person dies in any county without apparent means to 
 provide for that person's funeral or final disposition, the 
 county board shall first investigate to determine whether that 
 person had contracted for any prepaid funeral arrangements.  If 
 arrangements have been made, the county shall authorize 
 arrangements to be implemented in accord with the instructions 
 of the deceased.  If it is determined that the person did not 
 leave sufficient means to defray the necessary expenses of a 
 funeral and final disposition, nor any spouse of sufficient 
 ability to procure the burial, the county board shall provide 
 for a funeral and final disposition of the person's remains to 
 be made at the expense of the county.  Any funeral and final 
 disposition provided at the expense of the county shall be in 
 accordance with religious and moral beliefs of the decedent or 
 the decedent's spouse or the decedent's next of kin.  If the 
 wishes of the decedent are not known and the county has no 
 information about the existence of or location of any next of 
 kin, the county may determine the method of final disposition. 

    HIST: (3176) RL s 1503; 1984 c 534 s 28; 1986 c 444; 1991 c 
 292 art 3 s 32; 1992 c 513 art 8 s 50