Title 25, IndiansRelease 119-102
§178 Fees on Behalf of Indian Parties in Contests Under Public Land Laws
Title 25 › CHAPTER 5 — PROTECTION OF INDIANS › § 178
Summary
When a land entry, filing, or claim involving an Indian is contested in a way that affects whether it is legal or valid, the Indian’s fees are half the normal amount. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs must pay those half-fees, but only with the Secretary of the Interior’s approval and after land officers send a bill through the Secretary or a person the Secretary names.
Full Legal Text
Title 25, §178
Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In contests initiated by or against Indians, to an entry, filing or other claims, under the laws of Congress relating to public lands for any sufficient cause affecting the legality or validity of the entry, filing or claim, the fees to be paid by and on behalf of the Indian party in any case shall be one-half of the fees provided by law in such cases, and said fees shall be paid by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, on an account stated by the proper land officers through the Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. “Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate” substituted in text for “Commissioner of the General Land Office” on authority of section 403(d) and (e) of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, which abolished office of Commissioner of General Land Office and transferred functions of General Land Office to Secretary of the Interior or such officers and agencies of Department of the Interior as he may designate.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
25 U.S.C. § 178
Title 25, Indians
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102