Title 25, IndiansRelease 119-110

§5903 Establishment of Realty Ombudsman Position

Title 25 › CHAPTER 51 — TRIBAL TRUST LAND HOMEOWNERSHIP › § 5903

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director must create a Realty Ombudsman job inside the Bureau’s Division of Real Estate Services. The Ombudsman will report directly to the Secretary of the Interior. The Ombudsman must make sure Bureau offices meet the review and processing deadlines in section 5902(a) and follow the notices required under subsections (a) and (b) of section 5902. The Ombudsman will be the Bureau’s contact with other federal agencies and help with their questions about mortgages on Indian land. The Ombudsman will also take questions and complaints from Tribes, tribal members, and lenders about four types of documents (residential leasehold mortgages, business leasehold mortgages, land mortgages, and right‑of‑way documents) and work to resolve them.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §5903

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Director shall establish within the Division of Real Estate Services of the Bureau the position of Realty Ombudsman, who shall report directly to the Secretary of the Interior.

(b)Functions

The Realty Ombudsman shall—

(1)ensure that the applicable Bureau offices are meeting the mortgage review and processing deadlines established by section 5902(a) of this title;

(2)ensure that the applicable Bureau offices comply with the notices required under subsections (a) and (b) of section 5902 of this title;

(3)serve as a liaison to other Federal agencies, including by—

(A)ensuring the Bureau is responsive to all of the inquiries from the relevant Federal agencies; and

(B)helping to facilitate communications between the relevant Federal agencies and the Bureau on matters relating to mortgages on Indian land;

(4)receive inquiries, questions, and complaints directly from Indian Tribes, members of Indian Tribes, and lenders in regard to executed residential leasehold mortgages, business leasehold mortgages, land mortgages, or right-of-way documents; and

(5)serve as the intermediary between the Indian Tribes, members of Indian Tribes, and lenders and the Bureau in responding to inquiries and questions and resolving complaints.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 5903

Title 25, Indians

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110