Title 13, Title 13

In case of the dissolution of a corporation pursuant to section 937 or any other provision of law, the assets of the corporation remaining after the payment of all of its debts must be distributed in the manner and to the persons, firms, associations, corporations, trusts or othe…

1. Prohibitions. No corporation which is a "private foundation" as defined in section 509 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, shall: A. Engage in any act of "self-dealing," as defined in section 4941 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, which would give rise to any lia…

Any domestic corporation organized without capital stock and any corporation located in Maine and chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts prior to the Articles of Separation may, by vote of its directors, trustees or managing board, however designated, or pursuant to bylaw…

Any 2 or more corporations organized under this chapter may consolidate into a single corporation, which may be either one of the corporations or a new corporation under the laws of this State to be formed by means of the consolidation. The consolidation may be effected by vote o…

A corporation organized for charitable or benevolent purposes may not sue any of its members for dues or contributions of any kind, or be sued by any member for any benefit or sum due to that member, but all such rights and benefits, dues and liabilities may be regulated and enfo…

An existing nonprofit corporation that is not currently recognized by the Secretary of State may prepare, sign, date and deliver for filing with the Secretary of State a certificate of organization setting forth the original name, the date, place and purpose of the incorporation,…

No person, society, association or corporation shall assume, adopt or use the name of a benevolent, humane, fraternal or charitable organization incorporated under the laws of this State, or any other state, or of the United States, or holding its charter or warrant under some re…

A person may not wear or exhibit the badge, button, emblem, decoration, insignia or charm or assume or use the name of any benevolent, humane, fraternal or charitable corporation incorporated under the laws of this State, or any other state, or of the United States, or holding it…

Whenever there shall be an actual or threatened violation of any of the provisions of sections 983 and 984, the Supreme Judicial Court and the Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to issue an injunction, upon notice to the defendant of not less than 5 days, restraining such act…

Whoever violates sections 983 or 984 shall be punished by a fine of not more than $50 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or by both.

A corporation or other entity created pursuant to this Title or regulated by this Title is subject to Title 5, section 194 and sections 194‑B to 194‑K if it is a public benefit corporation under Title 13‑B, section 1406.

Any cemetery, community mausoleum or columbarium established, maintained or operated in violation of or contrary to this chapter is declared to be a nuisance, which may be abated or enjoined as such by the civil action of any citizen of this State.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2023, c. 676, §1 (NEW).] 1. Natural organic reduction. "Natural organic reduction" means the contained accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. 2. Natural…

Except as otherwise provided by law, or in case of a dead body being rightfully carried through or removed from the State for the purpose of burial or disposition elsewhere, every dead body of a human being dying within the State and the remains of any body after dissection there…

This chapter shall not be construed as affecting any vested rights of any cemetery association or other agency owning, maintaining and operating a cemetery or crematory immediately prior to July 24, 1937. Insofar as this chapter does not violate any such vested rights, it shall, …

The Superior Court has original and concurrent jurisdiction in all cases under this chapter. Judges of the District Court may cause the persons brought before them on complaint for violation of section 1342 or 1343 to recognize with sufficient sureties to appear at the next term …

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person who fails to comply with or violates any of the provisions of this chapter in respect to the establishment, maintenance or operation of a cemetery, community mausoleum, crematory, natural organic reduction facility or columba…

All fines or penalties provided by section 1035 may be recovered or enforced by indictment, and the necessary processes for causing the crypts and catacombs to be sealed or the bodies to be removed and buried, and execution to recover the necessary expenses thereof, may be issued…

Persons of lawful age may organize themselves into a nonprofit-sharing corporation for the purpose of purchasing land for a burying ground and for the purpose of owning, maintaining and operating a cemetery or cemeteries, as provided in sections 901 and 903 and may proceed in the…

1. Grave sites of veterans in ancient burying grounds. In any ancient burying ground, as referenced in Title 30-A, section 5723, the municipality in which that burying ground is located, in collaboration with veterans' organizations, cemetery associations, civic and fraternal org…

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2003, c. 421, §1 (AMD).] 1. Ancient burying ground. "Ancient burying ground" means a cemetery established before 1880 in which burial is restricted to: A. Members…

1. Access to ancient burying grounds on privately owned land. The owner of an ancient burying ground shall provide a municipality or its caretaker designated pursuant to section 1101 access necessary to perform the duties pursuant to section 1101 and Title 30-A, section 2901. Any…

When a municipality fails without good reason to maintain the good condition and repair of a grave, headstone, monument or marker or fails to keep the grass suitably cut and trimmed on any such grave pursuant to section 1101 and at least one of the municipal officers has had 14 d…

If an ancient burying ground or a public burying ground as described in section 1101 is located in an unorganized township, the county in which the township is located is subject to sections 1101, 1101‑B and 1101‑C except that the county is not required to designate a caretaker b…

Veterans' graves as described in section 1101 that are located on a site that was owned by the Federal Government as of January 1, 2000 are not subject to the requirements of section 1101.

If such officers, treasurer or committee neglect so to apply such fines, they each forfeit the amount thereof, in a civil action, to any person suing therefor.

When any persons appropriate for a burying ground a piece of land containing not more than 1/2 of an acre, it shall be exempt from attachment and execution, and inalienable and indivisible by the owners without the consent of all; and be kept fenced or otherwise substantially mar…

When a person appropriates for a family burying ground a piece of land containing not more than 1/4 of an acre, causes a description of it to be recorded in the registry of deeds of the same county or by the clerk of the town where it is situated and substantially marks the bound…

Lots in public or private cemeteries are exempt from attachment and levy on execution and from liability to be sold by executors and administrators of insolvent estates for the payment of debts and charges of administration. Only one lot shall be so exempt for any one person.

The municipal officers of any town may on petition of 10 voters enlarge any public cemetery or burying ground or incorporated cemetery or burying ground within their town by taking land of adjacent owners, to be paid for by the town or otherwise as the municipal officers may dire…

Notice of a time and place for a hearing held under section 1181 shall be given by posting written notices thereof, signed by said officers, at least 7 days prior thereto, in 2 public places in said town. A copy of such notice and of the petition shall be served on the owners of …

If the municipal officers at the hearing held under section 1181 grant the prayer of the petitioners, they shall then determine what land shall be taken and assess the damages suffered by each person thereby, as if the land were taken for town ways, make a written return of their…

Any person aggrieved by the amount of damages awarded may have them determined by written complaint to the Superior Court in the manner provided respecting damages for the establishment of town ways.

Any private cemetery or burying ground, by written agreement of all the owners thereof, recorded by the clerk of the town in which it is situated may, by vote of such town within one month after the recording of such agreement by the town clerk, become public and subject to the l…

Any city, town, cemetery corporation, trust company or trustee may accept any conveyance of land not exceeding 1/2 acre, to be forever held, kept and used for a private or family burying ground for the grantors and such of their heirs and relatives by blood or marriage as the con…

Cemetery trust funds of any cemetery corporation or association, trust company, church, religious or charitable society, or other trustee, shall be invested in the manner provided in Title 30‑A, chapter 223, subchapter III-A, and, unless the instrument or order creating the trust…

A copy of the record of the vote of the trustee so accepting a conveyance of lands shall be indorsed on the conveyance and certified thereon by the clerk of the grantee and recorded in the registry of deeds with the conveyance.

Any person owning or interested in a lot or lots in a public burying ground of a city or town may deposit with the treasurer of such city or town a sum of money for the purpose of providing for the preservation and care of such lot or lots, or their appurtenances, which sum shall…

A city or town may pass such ordinances or bylaws as may be necessary for the purposes of section 1261 and not repugnant to law, and may receive such money for said purposes, and may invest and hold the same as provided in section 1261.

When any person owning or interested in a lot in a public burying ground in a city or town deposits with the treasurer of such city or town a sum of money for the preservation or care of such lot as provided by section 1262, said city or town may accept a conveyance of such lot f…

1. Trust accounts. Pre-need funds received for cemetery or crematory services or property to be delivered at or after the date of death must be placed in a cemetery or crematory trust account in a bank, trust company, credit union or savings institution. For purposes of this subs…

Upon written request and payment of any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, a cemetery, crematory or natural organic reduction facility shall deliver to a person, the person's attorney-in-fact or the person's personal representative any item of tangible personal property purchased…

Uninvited telephone or door-to-door solicitations for crematory, cemetery or natural organic reduction facility services or property are prohibited. This section may not be construed to limit the raising of funds for capital improvements as long as those funds are not raised thro…

A person is subject to criminal prosecution under Title 17‑A, chapter 15 if the person violates section 1264 or 1265. A person who violates section 1266 commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 may be adjudged.

Any 7 or more persons may be incorporated, not for profit, in the manner provided in section 901 for the purpose of owning, managing and protecting lands and their appurtenances appropriated for public cemeteries. The property of such corporations and the shares of stock therein …