66-29-203 - Abandonment Notice Vesting of title in museum. - Tennessee Statutes

66-29-203. Abandonment Notice Vesting of title in museum.

(a)  Any abandoned cultural property held by a museum to which no person has made claim shall be deemed to be abandoned.

(b)  A museum holding abandoned cultural property shall publish in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the institution is located at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks a notice and listing of the property. The notice shall contain:

     (1)  The name and last known address, if any, of the last known owner of the property;

     (2)  A description of the property; and

     (3)  A statement that if proof of claim is not presented by the owner to the museum and if the owner's right to receive that property is not established to the museum's satisfaction within sixty-five (65) days from the date of the second published notice, the property will be deemed abandoned and shall become the property of the museum.

(c)  If no claim has been made to the abandoned cultural property within sixty-five (65) days from the date of the second published notice, title to the property shall vest in the museum, free from all claims of the owner and of all persons claiming through or under the owner.

[Acts 1984, ch. 862, § 3.]