IC 23-14-58
    Chapter 58. Abandonment and Reburial

IC 23-14-58-1
Authority to abandon certain cemeteries; removal of bodies
    Sec. 1. If a cemetery in Indiana:
        (1) is under the ownership or control of any church or religioussociety;
        (2) is located within a city or town;
        (3) may have been, for at least twenty (20) years, abandoned asa place of burial of the dead; and
        (4) has become, in the judgment of the members or governingbody of the church or religious society, impracticable andundesirable to maintain due to the growth of the city or town inwhich it is located;
the church or religious society may abandon the cemetery and causethe bodies buried within the cemetery to be removed under theconditions set forth in this chapter.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.32.

IC 23-14-58-2
Abandonment of cemetery; removal and interment of bodies insuitable cemetery
    Sec. 2. If:
        (1) a church or religious society has the ownership or control ofa cemetery; and
        (2) it is determined, in accordance with the rules, regulations,and usages of the church or religious society, that it isimpracticable and undesirable for the church or religioussociety to maintain the cemetery or burial ground;
the church or religious society may abandon the cemetery and causethe bodies buried in the cemetery to be removed and interred in asuitable cemetery.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.32.

IC 23-14-58-3
Reinterment
    Sec. 3. A church or religious society that takes action undersection 1 or 2 of this chapter shall, at its own expense:
        (1) provide the place for the reinterment of all bodies in theabandoned cemetery;
        (2) cause the reinterment in a cemetery of all the bodiesremoved from the abandoned cemetery that can practically bereburied; and
        (3) preserve and cause to be replaced at the grave of eachdeceased person reinterred in another cemetery any gravestoneor other marker found at the grave from which the body wasremoved.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.32.
IC 23-14-58-4
Lawfulness of actions
    Sec. 4. Actions taken under this chapter by any person actingunder the direction of:
        (1) a church or religious society; or
        (2) the officers or governing body of a church or religioussociety;
are lawful.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.32.