Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › Chapter CHAPTER 37— - CLAIMS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - CLAIMS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT › § 3713
The federal government must be paid first when someone who owes it can’t pay all their debts and either gives up property to pay debts, has property seized, commits an act of bankruptcy, or a deceased person’s estate is too small to pay all debts. This does not apply under title 11. A person handling someone’s affairs or an estate (except a trustee under title 11) who pays other creditors before paying the government is responsible, up to the amount they paid, for any unpaid government claims.
Full Legal Text
Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
31 U.S.C. § 3713
Title 31 — Money and Finance
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73