Us Code § 373b - Restricted estate or homestead on the public domain

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 373b — Restricted estate or homestead on the public domain, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 373b. Restricted estate or homestead on the public domain

If an Indian found to have died intestate without heirs was the holder of a restricted allotment or homestead or interest therein on the public domain, the land or interest therein and all accumulated rents, issues, and profits therefrom shall escheat to the United States, subject to all valid existing agricultural, surface, and mineral leases and the rights of any person thereunder, and the land shall become part of the public domain subject to the payment of such creditors' claims as the Secretary of the Interior may find proper to be paid from the cash on hand or income accruing to said estate: Provided, That if the Secretary determines that the land involved lies within or adjacent to an Indian community and may be advantageously used for Indian purposes, the land or interest therein shall escheat to the United States to be held in trust for such needy Indians as the Secretary of the Interior may designate, where the value of the estate does not exceed $50,000, and in case of estates exceeding said sum, such estates shall be held in trust by the United States for such Indians as the Congress may on and after November 24, 1942 designate, subject to all valid existing agricultural, surface, and mineral leases and the rights of any person thereunder 1 Provided further, That interests in all Burns public domain allotments located in Harney County, Oregon, belonging to Indians who die intestate without heirs shall be held in trust by the United States for the Burns Paiute Indian Colony of Oregon and shall be part of the Burns Paiute Indian Reservation.

(Nov. 24, 1942, ch. 640, §2, 56 Stat. 1022; Pub. L. 98–25, §§2, 3, May 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 185.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 98–25, §2, inserted proviso that interests in all Burns public domain allotments located in Harney County, Oregon, belonging to Indians who die intestate without heirs shall be held in trust by the United States for the Burns Paiute Indian Colony of Oregon and shall be part of the Burns Paiute Indian Reservation.

Pub. L. 98–25, §3, substituted "$50,000" for "$2,000".


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Non-Indian Lands in Harney County, Oregon

Pub. L. 98–25, §2, May 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 185, provided in part that no non-Indian lands in Harney County, Oregon, shall be considered Indian country as defined in section 1151 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a colon.

About This Section

25 U.S.C. § 373b is part of Title 25 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 25 U.S.C. § 373b. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 373b

What does United States Code § 373b cover?

Section 373b ("Restricted estate or homestead on the public domain") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 373b apply to my situation?

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Sources & Verification

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