§8501 Vesting of property left by decedents

Summary

Personal belongings left on a Department facility that is under U.S. control inside a State or territory must go to the people the law says. If the person who died left a will that a court in their home or the State where the facility is approved, the items go to whoever the will names. If there is no such approved will, the items go to the heirs under the law of the State or territory where the person lived. This does not apply when the United States keeps the property unless the United States gives up its claim. A U.S. officer or employee holding the items may hand them to a legally appointed executor or administrator from either court, or to the administrator from the person’s home State who asks for them. After that delivery, the United States and its workers are not responsible for the property.