WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 38, Veterans' Benefits › Chapter 85

38 U.S.C. 8502: Disposition of unclaimed personal property

Created in 1958 by Public Law 85-857. Changed by 8 later laws. No bill we track in this Congress changes it.

2 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 38 U.S.C. 101, 38 U.S.C. 8505.

This Congress

No bill we track in the 119th Congress changes this section.

    How it got here

    2002

    • Pub. L. 107–135 substituted "the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b)" for "the last sentence of section 1713(b)". (Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001) Law text · (b)

    1994

    • Pub. L. 103–446 substituted "Department of Veterans Affairs," for "Department,". · (d)

    1991

    • Pub. L. 102–40, §402(b)(1), renumbered section 5202 of this title as this section.
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–40, §402(d)(1), substituted "8501" for "5201". · (a)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §5(c)(1), substituted "1713(b)" for "613(b)". · (b)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" and "Secretary's" for "Administrator's" wherever appearing. · (b)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(3), (4), substituted "Department" for "Veterans' Administration" wherever appearing. · (b)
    • Pub. L. 102–54 amended subsec. (b) as in effect immediately before the enactment of Pub. L. 102–40 by inserting a comma in second sentence before "namely,". · (b)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" and "Secretary's" for "Administrator's" wherever appearing. · (c)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator". · (d)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(3), (4), substituted "Department" for "Veterans' Administration". · (d)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" in two places. · (e)
    • Pub. L. 102–40, §402(d)(1), substituted "8501" for "5201" in two places. · (e)
    • Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator". · (f)

    1986

    • Pub. L. 99–576, §701(94)(A), in first sentence substituted "such person's last" for "his last" in two places, inserted "has personal property situated on such facility and" before "shall have designated", substituted "to receive such property when such veteran, dependent or survivor di… · (b)
    • Pub. L. 99–576, §701(94)(B)(i)–(iv), in second sentence substituted "by such veteran, dependent, or survivor" for "by the veteran", struck out "if he has" before "failed to request", and substituted "the Administrator's" for "his" and "in writing delivered to the Veterans' Administration" for "as p… · (b)
    • Pub. L. 99–576, §701(94)(B)(v), which directed that second sentence of subsec. (b) be amended by substituting "children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings" for "child, grandchild, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother or sister", was executed by substituting the new provisi… · (b)
    • Pub. L. 99–576, §701(94)(C), struck out third sentence which read as follows: "In case two or more of those named above request the property, only one shall be entitled to possession thereof and in the order hereinbefore set forth, unless they otherwise agree in writing delivered to the Veterans' A… · (b)
    • Pub. L. 99–576, §701(94)(D), in fourth sentence substituted "the Administrator's designee may in such case deliver the property either jointly or separately in equal values, to those equally entitled thereto" for "his designee may in such case select the one to receive such possession," and "in the… · (b)
    • Pub. L. 99–576, §701(94)(E), substituted "the Administrator's" for "his". · (c)

    1982

    • Pub. L. 97–258 substituted "section 1321(a)(45) of title 31" for "section 725s(a)(45) of title 31". · (d)

    1976

    • Pub. L. 94–581 inserted "or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of section 613(b) of this title," after "(admitted as a veteran),". · (b)

    Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.