2017 US Code
Title 10 - Armed Forces
Subtitle C - Navy and Marine Corps
Part II - Personnel
Chapter 577 - Death Benefits; Care of the Dead
Sec. 6522 - Disposition of effects

(a) If money or other personal property of a deceased member of the naval service is in the custody of the Department of the Navy, the Secretary of the Navy shall keep it in safe custody and make a diligent effort to determine and locate the heirs or next of kin of the deceased member. Property remaining unclaimed two years after the death of the member shall be sold, and the proceeds, together with any of his money held in custody, shall be covered into the Treasury.

(b) Within five years after the date the money and proceeds are covered into the Treasury, any claim that is presented therefor supported by competent proof shall be certified to Congress for consideration.

(c) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 419.)

In subsection (a) the word "shall" is substituted for the words "authorized and directed"; the word "effort" is substituted for the word "inquiry"; the words "determine and locate" are substituted for the words "ascertain the whereabouts"; the words "personal property" are substituted for the words "all articles of value, papers, keepsakes, and other similar effects". The phrase "to the credit of the Navy pension fund" is omitted since this fund was abolished by §9 of the Act of June 26, 1934, ch. 756, 48 Stat. 1229. The application of this section is confined to the money and other personal property of the deceased member in the custody of the Department of the Navy to make it clear that disposition is made only of property held by the Department of the Navy and not of property which may be under other custody, over which the Department of the Navy would have no control.

In subsection (b) the word "covered" is substituted for the word "deposited".