§ 37-15-16 — Administrator shall take charge of unclaimed estates of small value

If a member of the veterans' home dies leaving property of the value of three thousand
dollars or less, the administrator immediately shall take charge of the property. If within forty-five
days of the date of death a valid claim of any heir or devisee is not made for the property and an
application or petition has not been filed for issuance of letters of administration, the
administrator shall convert the property into cash without probate or other proceedings and
make payment first toward reasonable funeral expenses and second toward reasonable and
necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last illness of the decedent. If any cash
remains, the administrator shall deposit the cash with the state treasurer who shall credit it to
the veterans' home operating fund. The administrator shall make a report of the administrator's
action to the administrative committee on veterans' affairs and the governor. The report must be
audited by, and included in the records of, the committee.