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Title 38 — Veterans’ Benefits

Part VI · Chapter 85 — Disposition of Deceased Veterans’ Personal Property

§ 8521. Presumption of contract for disposition of personalty

Statutory text

The fact of death of a veteran (admitted as such), or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b) of this title, in a facility or hospital, while being furnished care or treatment therein by the Department, leaving no spouse, next of kin, or heirs, shall give rise to a conclusive presumption of a valid contract for the disposition in accordance with this subchapter, but subject to its conditions, of all property described in section 8520 of this title owned by said decedent at death and as to which such person dies intestate.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Pub. L. 85–857 · 72 Stat. 1105

    Enacted · 38 U.S.C. § 8521

    Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1260, § 5221

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1260, § 5221

  2. Veterans Medical Technical and Conforming Amendments of 1976

    Pub. L. 94–581 title II § 208(c) · 90 Stat. 2842

    Inserted · 38 U.S.C. § 8521

    Pub. L. 94–581 inserted “, or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of section 613(b) of this title,” after “(admitted as such)”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 94–581 inserted “, or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of section 613(b) of this title,” after “(admitted as such)”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (c) Section 5221 is amended by inserting a comma and “or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of section 613(b) of this title,” after “(admit ted as such)”.

    Effective date note
    Amendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.

  3. Pub. L. 99–576 title VII § 701(100) · 100 Stat. 3248

    Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 8521

    Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “such person” for “he”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “such person” for “he”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (100) Section 5221 is amended by striking out “he” and inserting in lieu thereof “such person”.

  4. Department of Veterans Affairs Health-Care Personnel Act of 1991

    Pub. L. 102–40 title IV § 402(b)(1) · 105 Stat. 187

    Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 8521

    Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5221 of this title as this section and substituted “8520” for “5220”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5221 of this title as this section and substituted “8520” for “5220”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) Each section contained in any of chapters 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 71, 72, 76, 78 (as redesignated by subsection (a)), 81, 83, and 85 is redesignated so that the first two digits of the section number of that section are the same as the chapter number of the chapter containing that section.

  5. Pub. L. 102–83 · 105 Stat. 378

    1. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 8521

      Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “1713(b)” for “613(b)”

    2. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 8521

      Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”

    Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “1713(b)” for “613(b)” and “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

  6. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001

    Pub. L. 107–135 title II § 208(e)(9) · 115 Stat. 2446

    Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 8521

    Pub. L. 107–135 substituted “the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b)” for “the last sentence of section 1713(b)”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 107–135 substituted “the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b)” for “the last sentence of section 1713(b)”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (9) Sections 8502(b), 8520(a), and 8521 are amended by striking “the last sentence of section 1713(b)” and inserting “the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b)”.

4 of 7 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 3 partial

Editorial Notes

Amendments1976–2002 · 4 rounds

2002

Pub. L. 107–135 substituted “the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b)” for “the last sentence of section 1713(b)”.

1991

Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5221 of this title as this section and substituted “8520” for “5220”.

Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “1713(b)” for “613(b)” and “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1986

Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “such person” for “he”.

1976

Pub. L. 94–581 inserted “, or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of section 613(b) of this title,” after “(admitted as such)”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective , see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.

Credits

1958–2002 · 6 acts
  1. 1958Pub. L. 85–857, , 72 Stat. 1260, § 5221
  2. 1976Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 208(c), , 90 Stat. 2860
  3. 1986Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(100), , 100 Stat. 3300
  4. 1991renumbered § 8521 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), , 105 Stat. 238, 239
  5. 1991Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), 5(c)(1), , 105 Stat. 404, 406
  6. 2002Pub. L. 107–135, title II, § 208(e)(9), , 115 Stat. 2464.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 85–857, , 72 Stat. 1260, § 5221; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 208(c), , 90 Stat. 2860; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(100), , 100 Stat. 3300; renumbered § 8521 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), , 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), 5(c)(1), , 105 Stat. 404, 406; Pub. L. 107–135, title II, § 208(e)(9), , 115 Stat. 2464.)

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