
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC373a]

 
                            TITLE 25--INDIANS
 
         CHAPTER 10--DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION; HEIRS OF ALLOTTEE
 
Sec. 373a. Disposition of trust or restricted estate of 
        intestate without heirs; successor tribe; sale of land
        
    Upon final determination by the Secretary of the Interior that the 
Indian holder of a trust or restricted allotment of lands or an interest 
therein has died intestate without heirs, the lands or interest so 
owned, together with all accumulated rents, issues, and profits 
therefrom held in trust for the decedent, shall escheat to the tribe 
owning the land at the time of allotment 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 and subject 
to all valid existing agricultural, surface, and mineral leases and the 
rights of any person thereunder.
    If the tribe which owned the land at the time of allotment has been 
reorganized or reconstituted by reason of amalgamation with another 
tribe or group of Indians or of subdivision within the tribe or 
otherwise, the land shall escheat to the tribe or group which has 
succeeded to the jurisdiction of the original tribe over the area in 
question. If neither the tribe which owned the land at the time of 
allotment nor a successor tribe or group exists, the land or interest 
therein shall be held in trust for such Indians as the Secretary may 
designate within the State or States wherein the land is situated or, if 
the Secretary determines that the land cannot appropriately be used by 
or for such Indians, it shall be sold, subject to all valid existing 
agricultural, surface, and mineral leases and the rights of any person 
thereunder, and the proceeds of such sale shall be held in trust for 
such Indians as the Secretary may designate, within the State or States 
wherein the land is situated.

(Nov. 24, 1942, ch. 640, Sec. 1, 56 Stat. 1021.)

                 Sections Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 373c of this title.
