If you have any questions regarding personal property, you may ask a staff member when you are being interviewed.

OCME has an Evidence Unit, which on occasion receives personal property. If a person dies in the absence of family, or has no family, all personal property is taken to the precinct in which the death occurred; from there it is transmitted to the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) Property Clerk. OCME staff can provide the phone number for the precinct.

If the deceased died while in the hospital or nursing home, or death was pronounced upon arrival at a hospital, personal property is safeguarded there. OCME staff will provide you with the name and phone number of the hospital administrator to contact.

If the death is a homicide, personal property may be held by NYPD until the close of the criminal prosecution.