Pennsylvania Statutes Title 16 P.S. Counties § 4235. Unclaimed property of deceased; sales

(a) The coroner shall safely keep in his charge all personal effects and property which appear to have been on or about the person at the time of his death, or being found on any decedent whose body is received at the county morgue, and all such effects and property which are delivered to him according to law. The coroner shall hold such property for one year, unless sooner claimed by legal representatives of the deceased or otherwise duly and lawfully claimed or disposed of.

(b) After one year, the coroner shall cause such property remaining unclaimed, or so much thereof as remains undisposed of according to law, except moneys and such properties as securities which may not be subject to such a sale, which shall be turned over to the commissioners for proper disposition or use, to be sold at public sale.

(c) Notice of any such public sale shall be published in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county once a week for three successive weeks. The proceeds of all such sales shall be paid immediately into the county treasury, and the coroner shall make a written report thereof to the county commissioners, under oath, at the same time. If the body has been buried at the expense of the institution district, the county shall pay the proceeds of sale, or such property as was not subject to sale, as hereinbefore provided, less costs, over to the institution district. The foregoing provisions shall be in lieu of escheat to the Commonwealth.