PRIA Logo™
Title 48 — Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-73not60

§1505 Proceedings for Escheat of Improperly Held Lands

Title 48 › Chapter 11— ALIEN OWNERS OF LAND › § 1505

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General must file a lawsuit in the territory’s district court when he learns land in a U.S. Territory is being held against this law. The suit asks the court to take the land for the United States. Before filing, the Attorney General must give 90 days' notice by registered letter or in person to the owner, the person who last reported the land for taxes, their agent, and any known interested parties. If those notices cannot be given, the notice must be published in a newspaper in the county where the land is, or in the nearest county if none exists.

Full Legal Text

Title 48, §1505

Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It shall be the duty of the Attorney General of the United States, when he shall be informed or have reason to believe that lands in any of the Territories of the United States are being held contrary to the provisions of this chapter, to institute or cause to be instituted suit in behalf of the United States in the district court of the Territory in the district where such land or a part thereof may be situated, praying for the escheat of the same on behalf of the United States to the United States. Before any such suit is instituted the Attorney General shall give or cause to be given ninety days’ notice by registered letter of his intention to sue, or by personal notice directed to or delivered to the owner of said land, or the person who last rendered the same for taxation, or his agent, and to all other persons having an interest in such lands of which he may have actual or constructive notice. In the event personal notice cannot be obtained in some one of the modes above provided, then said notice shall be given by publication in some newspaper published in the county where the land is situate, and if no newspaper is published in said county then the said notice shall be published in some newspaper nearest said county.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 75 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

48 U.S.C. § 1505

Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60