2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 31 - Government - Municipal
Powers and Functions of Cities and Towns
Article 25 - Public Improvements
Part 7 - Cemeteries
§ 31-25-703. Foreclosure proceedings

(1) When, pursuant to section 31-25-702, a municipality has established a cemetery, and the ordinance establishing the same requires the owners of burial spaces to pay annual assessments for or provide for the care and maintenance of such spaces, and the owner of any burial space has failed and neglected for a period of five years or more to pay such annual assessments for or to provide for the care and maintenance of such space, and no other provisions have been made in the ordinance, deed, or contract for the case of such a default, the governing body or the other official having jurisdiction over such cemetery may institute proceedings for the forfeiture, termination, or foreclosure of the rights and interests of such owner. When the governing body or other official determines there has been such failure and neglect, a resolution reciting such determination shall be duly adopted, and a certified copy shall be served on the owner personally by any competent person over the age of eighteen years or shall be sent by registered mail to the owner's last known address.

(2) If compliance with said ordinances, rules, and regulations is not effected or provisions made therefor within a period of thirty days, the governing body may file a petition in the district court in and for the county in which said cemetery is located. The petition shall set forth the facts relating to the sale and ownership of such burial space as revealed by the records of said municipality and cemetery, a description of the burial space described in the same manner as such burial space is known and described on the books and records of the municipality and cemetery, and the failure and neglect to comply with the ordinances, rules, and regulations for the care and maintenance of said burial space. The petition shall ask for the forfeiture, termination, or foreclosure of all right, title, and interest of such owner in said burial space and that title thereto be vested in the municipality. The proceeding provided for in this section is deemed and held to be a proceeding in rem, and the procedure for forfeiture, termination, or foreclosure under this part 7 shall conform to the Colorado rules of civil procedure for the courts of record except as otherwise provided in this part 7. A copy of said petition with a notice of hearing thereon shall be served upon said owner in such manner and form as may be provided for the service of process by the Colorado rules of civil procedure. Thereupon it is the duty of such owner to appear and answer the allegations of said petition. If the owner fails to appear and answer on or prior to the day set for hearing, his default may be entered in the same manner as is provided by the Colorado rules of civil procedure for the entering of defaults generally.