§1506 Condemnation and Sale of Lands in Escheat Proceedings

Summary

If a court finds the land was held in violation of this chapter, it must condemn the land and order it sold. After paying the case costs, the sale money goes to the court clerk and is kept for one year. During that year the non‑U.S. owner or their heirs can claim it. If no one claims it within one year, the clerk must pay the money into the Territory’s treasury for the Territory’s available school fund. Before the final judgment, the defendant can show they fixed the problem by becoming a genuine U.S. resident, by declaring intent to become a U.S. citizen, or by doing some other act that the chapter says lets them own land. If the court accepts that, the case is dismissed when the defendant pays costs and a reasonable lawyer’s fee set by the court.