2023 Tennessee Code › Title 33 - MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (§§ 33-1-101 — 33-11-106) › Chapter 4 - SPECIAL RULES FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICE RECIPIENTS (§§ 33-4-101 — 33-4-210) › Part 1 - RIGHTS OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICE RECIPIENTS (§§ 33-4-101 — 33-4-110) › Section 33-4-109 - Notice of death to next of kin - Notification to office of medical examiner to investigate death - Disposal of unclaimed property after discharge or death

(a)
(1)
Upon the death of a person admitted to a facility, the chief officer of the facility shall mail written notice of death to the next of kin, if known, and notify the office of the medical examiner having jurisdiction to investigate the death.
(2)
Upon the death of a person admitted to a facility under chapter 7 of this title, the chief officer of the facility shall mail written notice of death to the court that entered the order resulting in the admission, mail written notice of death to the next of kin, if known, and notify the office of the medical examiner having jurisdiction to investigate the death.
(3)
A chief officer of a facility that is required by this subsection (a) to make a notice to the medical examiner having jurisdiction to investigate a death shall make such notice as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event more than twelve (12) hours after the discovery of the death. A chief officer of a facility shall mail the other notices required by this subsection (a) within ten (10) days of the discovery of the death.
(b)
Notice of a death shall also be given promptly to the person's legal guardian, legal custodian, or conservator. The administrator, executor or personal representative of the deceased person, or if there is none, one (1) or more of the heirs at law or next of kin, shall be notified by registered mail of the deceased's personal property at the facility at the time of death. Notice to an administrator, executor or personal representative shall be directed to the probate court of the county in which that person is qualified to administer the estate of the deceased.
(c)
Property left by the deceased person in the facility shall be disposed of pursuant to subsection (e) if, after diligent search and inquiry, none of the persons required to be notified can be found and notified or if the persons notified do not open the estate or otherwise proceed to dispose of the estate in a lawful manner.
(d)
If a person is discharged and leaves personal property in the facility, the chief officer shall promptly notify the person by registered mail addressed to the person's last known address that the property has been left and is subject to sale under subsection (e) if not claimed.
(e)
The chief officer shall keep the deceased or discharged person's personal property for six (6) months if it is not claimed. The chief officer shall then sell the property, with the approval of the commissioner, and deposit the proceeds in a fund, maintained under the supervision of the chief officer, for the benefit of needy service recipients.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 62, Secs.s2, s3 eff. 3/29/2021.
Acts 1965, ch. 38, § 25; 1974, ch. 802, § 31; 1975, ch. 248, § 1; 1983, ch. 323, §§ 5, 6; T.C.A., § 33-318; Acts 1996, ch. 1079, § 36; T.C.A., §
33-3-107
; Acts 2000, ch. 947, §§ 1, 6.