214.209. Abandonment of burial site, rights revert to cemetery. - Missouri Statutes

Abandonment of burial site, rights revert to cemetery.

214.209. 1. After a period of seventy-five years since the lastrecorded activity on a burial site and after a reasonable search for heirsand beneficiaries, the burial site shall be abandoned and the right ofownership in the burial site shall revert to the private or publiccemetery, after the cemetery has met the requirements of this section.

2. A reasonable search for heirs and beneficiaries pursuant to thissection shall include sending a letter of notice to the last known addressof the record property owner; and publishing a copy of the description ofthe abandoned burial site in a newspaper qualified to publish publicnotices as provided in chapter 493, RSMo, published in the county of therecord property owner's last known address, for three weeks; and if noperson proves ownership of the burial site within one year after suchpublication, the burial site shall be deemed abandoned.

3. If persons with a legitimate claim to the abandoned burial sitepresent themselves after the abandoned burial site has been used or sold bythe private or public cemetery, the person's claim shall be settled byproviding an equal burial site in an equivalent location to the burial sitethat reverted to the private or public cemetery.

(L. 2001 H.B. 567)