Title 25IndiansRelease 119-73not60

§352a Cancellation of Patents in Fee Simple for Allotments Held in Trust

Title 25 › Chapter 9— ALLOTMENT OF INDIAN LANDS › § 352a

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

May cancel a full-ownership land patent given to an Indian allottee or their heirs if the patent was issued before the trust period ended (or before any presidential extension ended) and if it was issued without the allottee’s or heirs’ consent or request. The Secretary cannot cancel the patent if the land was mortgaged or sold. If the patent is canceled, the land goes back to the same legal status as if the full-ownership patent had never been issued.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §352a

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to cancel any patent in fee simple issued to an Indian allottee or to his heirs before the end of the period of trust described in the original or trust patent issued to such allottee, or before the expiration of any extension of such period of trust by the President, where such patent in fee simple was issued without the consent or an application therefor by the allottee or by his heirs: Provided, That the patentee has not mortgaged or sold any part of the land described in such patent: Provided also, That upon cancellation of such patent in fee simple the land shall have the same status as though such fee patent had never been issued.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 352a

Title 25Indians

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60