How can next-of-kin obtain the property of a decedent?

Any personal property arriving on or with a decedent to the Department of the Medical Examiner is inventoried and secured until release of the decedent.  At that time, the personal property will accompany the decedent to the funeral home or agency of family’s choosing where it will be released back to next-of-kin.  Large quantities of cash are released directly from the Department of the Medical Examiner to Probate Court.  Often, in homicide cases, all property on the Victim at the time of the incident is collected as evidence and released to the investigating law enforcement agency.  This property would eventually be released by the law enforcement agency when it is no longer deemed needed as evidence.