§372a Heirs by adoption

Summary

People who were adopted will not be treated as heirs in probate cases handled by the Secretary of the Interior unless the adoption meets certain conditions. One clear condition is that the adoption was already recognized by the Department of the Interior before the law took effect or was recognized when settling the estate of an Indian who died before the law took effect. An adoption made by Indian custom before the law took effect can be made valid if it is recorded with the local superintendent, both the adoptive parent and the adopted child are still alive, the adoptive parent asks for the recording, and either the adopted child (if an adult) asks too or the superintendent approves for a minor.