2011 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 18: Libraries, Museums and Cultural Properties
Article 10: Abandoned Cultural Properties, 18-10-1 through 18-10-5
Section 18-10-3: Abandonment of property.

18-10-3. Abandonment of property.

A. Property on loan to a museum shall be deemed abandoned:

(1) if, since the expiration date of the loan, seven years have passed with no written notice of termination of the loan from the lender to the museum; or

(2) if the loan has no expiration date, at least seven years have passed since the loan was made and the lender has failed to respond to written notice from the museum.

B. A museum shall acquire title to property deemed to be abandoned by providing the lender with a notice of abandonment. If no valid claim has been made for the property within sixty-five days from the date of notice of abandonment, title to the property shall vest in the museum free of all claims of the lender and all persons claiming on behalf of the lender.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 13-6-1 and 13-6-2 NMSA 1978, property acquired by a museum through abandonment procedures established in the Abandoned Cultural Properties Act [18-10-1 NMSA 1978] may be kept by the museum, may be sold, with the proceeds going to the museum, or may be destroyed. The museum shall notify the state auditor or, in the case of private museums, the governing authority of the museum regarding the disposition of all abandoned property.