Whenever the death of any person shall have been referred to the coroner for investigation, there shall be delivered to the coroner any note, letter or other document apparently written by the deceased which may tend to indicate an intention by the writer to take the writer’s life, including directions for disposition of property or disposal of remains. A facsimile copy thereof shall be placed in the coroner’s records, and, if an inquest be held, a true copy shall be read into the record and transcribed into the notes of the official stenographer. Upon completion of legal proceedings arising from such death, the original instrument shall be delivered by the coroner to the addressee or to the legal representative of the estate of the decedent; provided, however, that if the instrument purports to be testamentary in nature, it shall be filed with the clerk of the court as provided by law.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 185. Effective January 1, 2003.)