IC 23-14-63
    Chapter 63. Conveyance of Township Cemeteries to PrivateCorporations

IC 23-14-63-1
Application of chapter
    Sec. 1. This chapter applies whenever ten (10) or more heads offamilies:
        (1) who reside in:
            (A) a township; or
            (B) the immediate vicinity of a cemetery owned by atownship; and
        (2) who own lots in and whose dead relatives are buried in acemetery owned by the township;
organize, either by themselves or with others, as a corporation for theburial of the dead and the maintenance of a cemetery.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.37.

IC 23-14-63-2
Petition asking for conveyance; notice
    Sec. 2. (a) The persons described in section 1 of this chapter mayfile with the township trustee a petition asking for the conveyance ofthe cemetery owned by the township to the corporation.
    (b) The persons filing the petition under subsection (a) must givenotice of the filing at least three (3) weeks before the filing inaccordance with IC 5-3-1-2 by publishing a notice concerning thepetition in a newspaper:
        (1) that is published in the township; or
        (2) if there is no newspaper published in the township, in thenewspaper published nearest to the township.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.37.

IC 23-14-63-3
Requirements of petitioners
    Sec. 3. The persons filing a petition under section 2 of this chaptermust:
        (1) state in the petition that the corporation would have at thetime of taking over the cemetery an endowment or perpetualcare fund of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000);
        (2) agree to increase the balance in the fund to an amountsufficient to produce enough interest to keep the cemetery inproper condition; and
        (3) agree to:
            (A) keep the cemetery in good order; and
            (B) honestly and faithfully manage the cemetery.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.37.

IC 23-14-63-4
Duties of township trustee
    Sec. 4. The township trustee, if satisfied that the petition is signed

by a majority of the owners of lots in the cemetery who are residentsof the township or of the immediate vicinity of the cemetery, shallconvey the cemetery to the corporation formed by the petitioners.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.37.

IC 23-14-63-5
Powers and duties of corporation
    Sec. 5. (a) A corporation to which a cemetery is conveyed undersection 4 of this chapter:
        (1) shall control the cemetery;
        (2) shall ornament, beautify, and improve the cemetery;
        (3) may purchase additions and sell lots in the cemetery;
        (4) may assess all lots for the care, improvement, andbeautification of the cemetery;
        (5) may receive and hold in trust gifts, donations, and legaciesto be devoted to the purposes referred to in subdivisions (1)through (4); and
        (6) may exercise all the powers of a corporation organizedunder any statute for the purpose of owning, managing, andmaintaining cemeteries.
    (b) All actions that the corporation takes in accordance withstatutes concerning cemeteries before the cemetery is conveyed bythe township trustee to the corporation are valid and binding on allparties involved in the actions.
As added by P.L.52-1997, SEC.37.