Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§8508 Relinquishment of Federal jurisdiction

Title 38 › Part PART VI— - ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY › Chapter CHAPTER 85— - DISPOSITION OF DECEASED VETERANS’ PERSONAL PROPERTY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - PROPERTY LEFT ON DEPARTMENT FACILITY › § 8508

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Under the rules of this subchapter, the United States returns to the State or U.S. territory the power to handle the estates of people who die on a federal reservation where a Department facility is being run. The power is the same as if the land had never been given to the federal government. This does not take away any authority a State or territory already has, and it does not give them control over federal officials.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §8508

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Subject to the provisions of this subchapter and to the extent necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter, there is hereby relinquished to the respective State or dependency of the United States such jurisdiction pertaining to the administration of estates of decedents as may have been ceded to the United States by said State or dependency of the United States respecting the Federal reservation on which is situated any Department facility while such facility is operated by the Department; such jurisdiction with respect to any such property on any such reservation to be to the same extent as if such premises had not been ceded to the United States. Nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive any State or dependency of the United States of any jurisdiction which it now has nor to give any State, possession, or dependency of the United States authority over any Federal official as such on such premises or otherwise.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5208 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 8508

Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73