Title 25, IndiansRelease 119-102
§4 Defective Record of Deeds and Papers Legalized
Title 25 › CHAPTER 1 — BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS › § 4
Summary
Records filed with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs before July 26, 1892 are treated as if lawfully recorded, but this does not change the documents' validity or prove notice to those unaware of their contents.
Full Legal Text
Title 25, §4
Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The recording of all deeds and papers prior to July 26, 1892, in the office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs is confirmed, approved, and legalized; and said record theretofore made shall be deemed, taken, and held to be good and valid and shall have all the force and effect and be entitled to the same credit as if it had been made in pursuance of and in conformity to law. But shall have no effect whatever upon the validity or invalidity of the deed or paper so recorded, and shall be no evidence of constructive notice to any persons not actually knowing the contents.
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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
25 U.S.C. § 4
Title 25, Indians
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102