Title 46 — ShippingRelease 119-73
§10710 Unclaimed money, property, and wages
Title 46 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Vessels and Seamen › Part Part G— - Merchant Seamen Protection and Relief › Chapter CHAPTER 107— - EFFECTS OF DECEASED SEAMEN › § 10710
Summary
If a U.S. district court holds a dead seaman’s money, property, or wages for 6 years with no proved claim, it may accept or refuse claims. If no claim is likely, the court must sell the property and deposit the funds into a Treasury trust fund for unclaimed moneys.
Full Legal Text
Title 46, §10710
Shipping — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)When a claim for the money, property, or wages of a deceased seaman held by a district court of the United States has not been substantiated within 6 years after their receipt by the court, the court, if a subsequent claim is made, may allow or refuse the claim.
(b)If, after money, property, and wages have been held by the court for 6 years, it appears to the court that no claim will have to be satisfied, the property shall be sold. The money and wages and the proceeds from the sale shall be deposited in the Treasury trust fund receipt account “Unclaimed Moneys of Individuals Whose Whereabouts are Unknown”.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised sectionSource section (U.S. Code) 1071046:628 section 10710 provides that if no claim is made to a deceased seaman’s property and wages within six years, the court shall sell the property and deposit the proceeds into the Treasury trust fund receipt account “Unclaimed Moneys of Individuals Whose Whereabouts are Unknown”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
46 U.S.C. § 10710
Title 46 — Shipping
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73