N.Y. CNT Law § 678

§ 678. Disposition of money or property found on deceased. 1. Money\nand other property found upon the body of the deceased, not required for\nthe purposes of the investigation, shall be delivered to the county\ntreasurer. Unless claimed in the meantime by the legal representatives\nof the deceased, articles held for the purposes of the investigation,\nexcept such writings of the deceased as may be relevant to the diagnosis\nof means or manner of death, shall be delivered to the county treasurer\nat the conclusion of the investigation.\n 2. Upon the delivery of money to the county treasurer he must place it\nto the credit of the county. If other property is delivered to him he\nmust, within one year, sell it at public auction upon reasonable public\nnotice, and must, in like manner, place the proceeds to the credit of\nthe county.\n 3. If the money in the treasury be demanded within six years by the\nlegal representatives of the deceased, the treasurer must pay it to\nthem, after deducting the amount of expenses incurred in connection\ntherewith, or it may be so paid at any time thereafter, upon the order\nof the board of supervisors; provided, however, that such money may be\nso paid at any time upon the written order of the surrogate of the\ncounty.\n 4. Before auditing and allowing the account of the coroner or medical\nexaminer, the board of supervisors must require from him a statement in\nwriting of any money or other property found upon persons whose deaths\nhe has investigated, verified by his oath to the effect that the\nstatement is true and that the money or property mentioned in it has\nbeen delivered to the legal representatives of the deceased, or to the\ncounty treasurer.\n