
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC8501]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
            PART VI--ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY
 
     CHAPTER 85--DISPOSITION OF DECEASED VETERANS' PERSONAL PROPERTY
 
           SUBCHAPTER I--PROPERTY LEFT ON DEPARTMENT FACILITY
 
Sec. 8501. Vesting of property left by decedents

    (a) Personal property left by any decedent upon premises used as a 
Department facility, which premises are subject to the exclusive 
legislative jurisdiction of the United States and are within the 
exterior boundaries of any State or dependency of the United States, 
shall vest and be disposed of as provided in this subchapter, except 
that--
        (1) if such person died leaving a last will and testament 
    probated under the laws of the place of such person's domicile or 
    under the laws of the State or dependency of the United States 
    within the exterior boundaries of which such premises or a part 
    thereof may be, the personal property of such decedent situated upon 
    such premises shall vest in the person or persons entitled thereto 
    under the provisions of such last will and testament; and
        (2) if such person died leaving any such property not disposed 
    of by a last will and testament probated in accord with the 
    provisions of paragraph (1) such property shall vest in the persons 
    entitled to take such property by inheritance under and upon the 
    conditions provided by the law of the decedent's domicile. This 
    paragraph shall not apply to property to which the United States is 
    entitled except where such title is divested out of the United 
    States.

    (b) Any officer or employee of the United States in possession of 
any such property may deliver same to the executor (or the administrator 
with will annexed) who shall have qualified in either jurisdiction as 
provided in subsection (a)(1); or if none such then to the domiciliary 
administrator or to any other qualified administrator who shall demand 
such property. When delivery shall have been made to any such executor 
or administrator in accordance with this subsection, neither the United 
States nor any officer or employee thereof shall be liable therefor.

(Pub. L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1256, Sec. 5201; Pub. L. 99-
576, title VII, Sec. 701(93), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3299; renumbered 
Sec. 8501, Pub. L. 102-40, title IV, Sec. 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 
Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 
404.)


                               Amendments

    1991--Pub. L. 102-40 renumbered section 5201 of this title as this 
section.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83 substituted ``Department'' for 
``Veterans' Administration'' in introductory provisions.
    1986--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99-576 substituted ``such person's'' 
for ``his''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 8502 of this title.
