§ 372.
Ascertainment
of
heirs
of
deceased
allottees; settlement of estates; sale of lands;
deposit of Indian moneys
When any Indian to whom an allotment of
land has been made, or may hereafter be made,
dies before the expiration of the trust period and
before the issuance of a fee simple patent, with-
out having made a will disposing of said allot-
ment as hereinafter provided, the Secretary of
the Interior, upon notice and hearing, under the
Indian Land Consolidation Act [25 U.S.C. 2201 et
seq.] or a tribal probate code approved under
such Act and pursuant to such rules as he may
prescribe, shall ascertain the legal heirs of such
decedent, and his decisions shall be subject to
judicial review to the same extent as determina-
tions rendered under section 373 of this title. If
the Secretary of the Interior decides the heir or
heirs of such decedent competent to manage
their own affairs, he shall issue to such heir or
heirs a patent in fee for the allotment of such
decedent; if he shall decide one or more of the
heirs to be incompetent, he may, in his discre-
tion, cause such lands to be sold: Provided, That
if the Secretary of the Interior shall find that
the lands of the decedent are capable of parti-
tion to the advantage of the heirs, he may cause
the shares of such as are competent, upon their
petition, to be set aside and patents in fee to be
issued to them therefor. All sales of lands allot-
ted to Indians authorized by this or any other
Act shall be made under such rules and regula-
tions and upon such terms as the Secretary of
the Interior may prescribe, and he shall require
a deposit of 10 per centum of the purchase price
at the time of the sale. Should the purchaser fail
to comply with the terms of sale prescribed by
the Secr
File SHA-256: 32478fa34685e1788ac30ba3e82d6b4c3339609be2d0dbc32d1243b8d65e214a. The original may include catalog metadata, neighboring provisions, or embedded records outside this collection's scope. This page displays the selected federal record. Historical editions and unverified snapshots are not a statement of current law.
Authority boundary: historical or unconfirmed source not current law verified.
Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:uscode2024_fba6276634eb5b55df7e1823 Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code-2024/title-25/section-372-untitled-legal-text--4bf5eedb5b.md Pages: Not recorded – Not recorded Passage SHA-256: 6616667a19f771628a9bccf15790449c101321a26f64eb6c9427fb1734bbf755 Retained source evidence SHA-256: 32478fa34685e1788ac30ba3e82d6b4c3339609be2d0dbc32d1243b8d65e214a
Page 105
TITLE 25—INDIANS
§ 372–1
of money paid to any of the Sac and Fox of the Mis-
souri Indians who were not enrolled as members of said
tribe on January first, eighteen hundred and ninety;
but this shall not be held to impair or otherwise affect
the rights or equities of any person whose claim to
membership in said tribe is now pending and being in-
vestigated,’’ was repealed by a provision of the Indian
Appropriation Act of Mar. 2, 1895, ch. 188, § 1, 28 Stat.
902.
§ 372.
Ascertainment
of
heirs
of
deceased
allottees; settlement of estates; sale of lands;
deposit of Indian moneys
When any Indian to whom an allotment of
land has been made, or may hereafter be made,
dies before the expiration of the trust period and
before the issuance of a fee simple patent, with-
out having made a will disposing of said allot-
ment as hereinafter provided, the Secretary of
the Interior, upon notice and hearing, under the
Indian Land Consolidation Act [25 U.S.C. 2201 et
seq.] or a tribal probate code approved under
such Act and pursuant to such rules as he may
prescribe, shall ascertain the legal heirs of such
decedent, and his decisions shall be subject to
judicial review to the same extent as determina-
tions rendered under section 373 of this title. If
the Secretary of the Interior decides the heir or
heirs of such decedent competent to manage
their own affairs, he shall issue to such heir or
heirs a patent in fee for the allotment of such
decedent; if he shall decide one or more of the
heirs to be incompetent, he may, in his discre-
tion, cause such lands to be sold: Provided, That
if the Secretary of the Interior shall find that
the lands of the decedent are capable of parti-
tion to the advantage of the heirs, he may cause
the shares of such as are competent, upon their
petition, to be set aside and patents in fee to be
issued to them therefor. All sales of lands allot-
ted to Indians authorized by this or any other
Act shall be made under such rules and regula-
tions and upon such terms as the Secretary of
the Interior may prescribe, and he shall require
a deposit of 10 per centum of the purchase price
at the time of the sale. Should the purchaser fail
to comply with the terms of sale prescribed by
the Secretary of the Interior, the amount so
paid shall be forfeited; in case the balance of the
purchase price is to be paid on such deferred
payments, all payments made, together with all
interest paid on such deferred installments,
shall be so forfeited for failure to comply with
the terms of the sale. All forfeitures shall inure
to the benefit of the allottee or his heirs. Upon
payment of the purchase price in full, the Sec-
retary of the Interior shall cause to be issued to
the purchaser patent in fee for such land: Pro-
vided, That the proceeds of the sale of inherited
lands shall be paid to such heir or heirs as may
be competent and held in trust subject to use
and expenditure during the trust period for such
heir or heirs as may be incompetent as their re-
spective interests shall appear: Provided further,
That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized,
in his discretion, to issue a certificate of com-
petency, upon application therefor, to any In-
dian, or in case of his death to his heirs, to
whom a patent in fee containing restrictions on
alienation has been or may hereafter be issued,
and such certificate shall have the effect of re-
moving the restrictions on alienation contained
in such patent: Provided further, That any United
States Indian agent, superintendent, or other
disbursing agent of the Indian Service may de-
posit Indian moneys, individual or tribal, com-
ing into his hands as custodian, in such bank or
banks as he may select: Provided, That the bank
or banks so selected by him shall first execute
to the said disbursing agent a bond, with ap-
proved surety, in such amount as will properly
safeguard the funds to be deposited. Such bonds
shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary
of the Interior.
(June 25, 1910, ch. 431, § 1, 36 Stat. 855; Mar. 3,
1928, ch. 122, 45 Stat. 161; Apr. 30, 1934, ch. 169, 48
Stat. 647; Pub. L. 101–301, § 12(c), May 24, 1990, 104
Stat. 211; Pub. L. 106–462, title I, § 106(b)(1), Nov.
7, 2000, 114 Stat. 2007.)
Editorial Notes
REFERENCES IN TEXT
The Indian Land Consolidation Act, referred to in
text, is title II of Pub. L. 97–459, Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat.
2517, which is classified generally to chapter 24 (§ 2201 et
seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this
Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under sec-
tion 2201 of this title and Tables.
This Act, referred to in text, is act June 25, 1910, ch.
431, 36 Stat. 855, which enacted sections 47, 93, 151, 202,
337, 344a, 351, 352, 353, 372, 403, 406, 407, and 408 of this
title, section 6a–1 of former Title 41, Public Contracts,
and section 148 of Title 43, Public Lands, and amended
sections 191, 312, 331, 333, and 336 of this title and sec-
tions 104 and 107 of former Title 18, Criminal Code and
Criminal Procedure. Sections 104 and 107 of former
Title 18 were repealed and restated as sections 1853 and
1856 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, by act
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 683. Section 6a–1 of former
Title 41 was repealed and restated as section 6102(e) of
Title 41, Public Contracts, by Pub. L. 111–350, §§ 3, 7(b),
Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3677, 3855. For complete classifica-
tion of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
AMENDMENTS
2000—Pub. L. 106–462 substituted ‘‘under the Indian
Land Consolidation Act or a tribal probate code ap-
proved under such Act and pursuant to such rules’’ for
‘‘under such rules’’ in first sentence.
1990—Pub. L. 101–301 substituted ‘‘his decisions shall
be subject to judicial review to the same extent as de-
terminations rendered under section 373 of this title’’
for ‘‘his decision thereon shall be final and conclusive’’.
1934—Act Apr. 30, 1934, substituted ‘‘, all payments
made, together with all interest paid on such deferred
installments, shall be so forfeited’’ for ‘‘a further
amount, not exceeding 15 per centum of the purchase
price together with all interest paid on such deferred
installments may be so forfeited’’, inserted ‘‘allottee or
his’’ in sentence beginning ‘‘All forfeitures shall inure’’
and struck out ‘‘hereafter’’ from last proviso.
1928—Act Mar. 3, 1928, inserted in introductory text
‘‘or may hereafter be made,’’ after ‘‘has been made,’’,
‘‘together with all interest paid on such deferred in-
stallments’’ after ‘‘purchase price’’, ‘‘or may hereafter
be’’ after ‘‘restrictions on alienation has been’’, and
‘‘hereafter’’ in last proviso, and substituted ‘‘by this or
any other Act’’ for ‘‘by any Act’’.
§ 372–1. Repealed. Pub. L. 101–301, § 12(a), May 24,
1990, 104 Stat. 211
Section, Pub. L. 90–28, title I, June 24, 1967, 81 Stat.
69, provided that, on and after June 24, 1967, hearing of-
ficers appointed for Indian probate work did not have
to be appointed pursuant to the Administrative Proce-
dure Act, as amended. Similar provisions were con-
tained in the following prior appropriation acts:
Cross-references
Connections may be documented source relationships, shared citations or nearby passages. Each explains its basis; a connection alone does not establish applicability to your situation.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
For the purpose of this chapter—
(1) “Indian tribe” or “tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, group, pueblo, or community for which, or for the members of which, the United States holds lands in trust;
(2) “Indian” means—
(A) any person who is a member of any Indian tribe, is eligible to become a member of any Indian tribe, or is an owner (as of October 27, 2004) of a trust or restricted interest in land;
(B) any person meeting the definition of Indian under the Indian Reorganization Act ([25 U.S.C. 479](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section479&num=0&edition=prelim)) 11 See References in Text note below. and the regulations promulgated thereunder; and
(C) with respect to the inheritance and ownership of trust or restricted land in the State of California pursuant to [section 2206 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section2206&num=0&edition=prelim), any person described in subparagraph (A) or (B) or any person who owns a trust or restricted interest in a parcel of such land in that State.22 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
(3) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior;
(4)
(i) “trust or restricted lands” means lands, title to which is held by the United States in trust for an Indian tribe or individual, or which is held by an Indian tribe or individual subject to a restriction by the United States against alienation; and (ii) “trust or restricted interest in land” or “trust or restricted interest in a parcel of land” means an interest in land, the title to which interest is held in trust by the United States for an Indian tribe or individual, or which is held by an Indian tribe or individual subject to a restriction by the United States a
Stored review status: release_metadata_unconfirmed. The source passage cites 25 U.S.C. § 2201. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
§ 2201. Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter—
(1) ‘‘Indian tribe’’ or ‘‘tribe’’ means any In-
dian tribe, band, group, pueblo, or community
for which, or for the members of which, the
United States holds lands in trust;
(2) ‘‘Indian’’ means—
(A) any person who is a member of any In-
dian tribe, is eligible to become a member of
any Indian tribe, or is an owner (as of Octo-
ber 27, 2004) of a trust or restricted interest
in land;
(B) any person meeting the definition of
Indian under the Indian Reorganization Act
(25 U.S.C. 479) 1 and the regulations promul-
gated thereunder; and
(C) with respect to the inheritance and
ownership of trust or restricted land in the
State of California pursuant to section 2206
of this title, any person described in sub-
paragraph (A) or (B) or any person who owns
a trust or restricted interest in a parcel of
such land in that State.2
(3) ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the
Interior;
(4)(i) ‘‘trust or restricted lands’’ means
lands, title to which is held by the United
States in trust for an Indian tribe or indi-
vidual, or which is held by an Indian tribe or
individual subject to a restriction by the
United States against alienation; and (ii)
‘‘trust or restricted interest in land’’ or ‘‘trust
or restricted interest in a parcel of land’’
means an interest in land, the title to which
interest is held in trust by the United States
for an Indian tribe or individual, or which is
held by an Indian tribe or individual subject to
a restriction by the United States against
alienation.2
(5) ‘‘heirs of the first or second degree’’
means parents, children, grandchildren, grand-
parents, brothers and sisters of a decedent.2
(6) ‘‘parcel of highly fractionated Indian
land’’ means a parcel of land that the Sec-
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. The source passage cites 25 U.S.C. § 2201. This identifies an authority to review, not proof of applicability.
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
When any Indian to whom an allotment of land has been made, or may hereafter be made, dies before the expiration of the trust period and before the issuance of a fee simple patent, without having made a will disposing of said allotment as hereinafter provided, the Secretary of the Interior, upon notice and hearing, under the Indian Land Consolidation Act [[25 U.S.C. 2201](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section2201&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] or a tribal probate code approved under such Act and pursuant to such rules as he may prescribe, shall ascertain the legal heirs of such decedent, and his decisions shall be subject to judicial review to the same extent as determinations rendered under [section 373 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title25-section373&num=0&edition=prelim). If the Secretary of the Interior decides the heir or heirs of such decedent competent to manage their own affairs, he shall issue to such heir or heirs a patent in fee for the allotment of such decedent; if he shall decide one or more of the heirs to be incompetent, he may, in his discretion, cause such lands to be sold: Provided, That if the Secretary of the Interior shall find that the lands of the decedent are capable of partition to the advantage of the heirs, he may cause the shares of such as are competent, upon their petition, to be set aside and patents in fee to be issued to them therefor. All sales of lands allotted to Indians authorized by this or any other Act shall be made under such rules and regulations and upon such terms as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, and he shall require a deposit of 10 per centum of the purchase price at the time of the sale. Should the purchaser fail to comply wi