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Bush puts signature to probate reform legislation
Thursday, October 28, 2004
President Bush signed the American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004 into law on Wednesday.
S.1721 seeks to stem the growing fractionation of Indian lands by establishing a uniform probate code for all of Indian Country. Currently, probates are decided by state law.
The bill encourages the writing of wills and allows landowners more flexibility to designate who will inherit their property. Lineal descendants who may or may not qualify for tribal membership can now be included.
Tribal leaders and Interior Department officials praised the bill, saying it is one step in bringing the problem under control.
Get the Bill:
S.1721
Relevant Links:
Indian Land Tenure Foundation -
http://www.indianlandtenure.orgIndian
Land Working Group -
http://www.ilwg.netIndian
Trust: Cobell v. Norton -
http://www.indiantrust.com
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Probate reform bill ready for Bush's
signature (10/07)
BIA takes on land
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House funding bill rejects administration's
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Swimmer to retain
control of Indian appraisals (04/06)
Ariz. tribe to receive land consolidation funds
(02/06)
Probate reform bill heads to
Senate for vote (01/29)
Tribes back
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Panel debating reform bill a third time
(10/15)
Tribes focus
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On fractionation, little progress in
decades (05/09)
Indian land
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Congress tackles trust land reform bill
(5/6)
Bush land program
called inadequate (5/6)
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