The county after proper investigation shall cause an 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 one thousand dollars ($1,000), 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; 1978 Comp., § 24-13-4; 1997, ch. 116, § 1; 1999, ch. 241, § 7; 2023, ch. 162, § 11. The 2023 amendment, effective July 1, 2023, raised the amount the county may pay for opening and closing a grave; and after "shall not exceed", deleted "six hundred dollars ($600)" and added "one thousand dollars ($1,000)". 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).
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