
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 46USC10709]

 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
                     Subtitle II--Vessels and Seamen
 
              Part G--Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief
 
                 CHAPTER 107--EFFECTS OF DECEASED SEAMEN
 
Sec. 10709. Distribution

    (a)(1) If the money, property, and wages of a seaman, including 
proceeds from the sale of property, are not more than $1,500 in value, 
the court, subject to deductions it allows for expenses and at least 60 
days after receiving the money, property, and wages, may deliver the 
money, property, and wages to a claimant proving to be--
        (A) the seaman's surviving spouse or child;
        (B) entitled to the money, property, and wages under the 
    seaman's will or under a law or at common law; or
        (C) entitled to secure probate, or take out letters of 
    administration, although no probate or letters of administration 
    have been issued.

    (2) The court is released from further liability for the money, 
property, and wages distributed under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
    (3) Instead of acting under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this 
subsection, the court may require probate or letters of administration 
to be taken out, and then deliver the money, property, and wages to the 
legal representative of the seaman.
    (b) If the money, property, and wages are more than $1,500 in value, 
the court, subject to deductions for expenses, shall deliver the money, 
property, and wages to the legal representative of the seaman.

(Pub. L. 98-89, Aug. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 574; Pub. L. 99-307, Sec. 1(15), 
May 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 446.)

                      Historical and Revision Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Revised section                Source section (U.S. Code)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10709.............................  46:627
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 10709 instructs a district court to deliver a deceased 
seaman's property and wages to the proper claimant or legal 
representative. It also discharges the court from liability.


                               Amendments

    1986--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 99-307, in text preceding cl. (A), 
substituted ``than $1,500 in value, the court,'' for ``then $1,500 in 
value, and'' and ``wages, may'' for ``wages, the court may''.
