Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 71.djvu/172

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PUBLIC LAW 86-66-JtINE 17, 1967

[71

STAT.

TITLE X V — M I N O R S, I N C O M P E T E N T S, AND OTHER WARDS COMMITMENT

ACTIONS

SEC. 1501. The Administrator may incur necessary court costs and other expenses incident to proceedings for the commitment of mentally incompetent veterans to a Veterans' Administration hospital or domiciliary when necessary for treatment or domiciliary purposes. P A Y M E N T S TO A N D SUPERVISION OF GUARDIANS

SEC. 1502. (a) Where any payment of benefits under any law administered by the Veterans' Administration is to be made to a minor, other than a person in the active military, naval, or air service, or to a person mentally incompetent, or under other legal disability adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, such payment may be made to the person who is constituted guardian, curator, or conservator by the laws of the State of residence of the claimant, or who is otherwise legally vested with the care of the claimant or his estate. Where in the opinion of the Administrator any guardian, curator, conservator, or other person is acting as fiduciary in such a number of cases as to make it impracticable to conserve properly the estates or to supervise the persons of the wards, the Administrator may refuse to make future payments in such cases as he may deem proper. Before receipt of notice by the Veterans' Administration that any such person is under such other legal disability adjudged by some court of competent jurisdiction, payment may be made to such person direct. Where no guardian, curator, or conservator of the person under a legal disability has been appointed under the laws of the State of residence of the claimant, the Administrator shall determine the person who is otherwise legally vested with the care of the claimant or his estate. (b) Whenever it appears that any guardian, curator, conservator, or other person, in the opinion of the Administrator, is not properly executing or has not properly executed the duties of his trust or has collected or paid, or is attempting to collect or pay, fees, commissions, or allowances that are inequitable or in excess of those allowed by law for the duties performed or expenses incurred, or has failed to make such payments as may be necessary for the benefit of the ward or the dependents of the ward, then the Administrator may appear, by his duly authorized attorney, in the court which has appointed such fiduciary, or in any court having original, concurrent, or appellate jurisdiction over said cause, and make jjroper presentation of such matters. The Administrator, in his discretion, may suspend payments to any such guardian, curator, conservator, or other person who shall neglect or refuse, after reasonable notice, to render an account to the Administrator from time to time showing the application of such payments for the benefit of such incompetent or minor beneficiary, or who shall neglect or refuse to administer the estate according to law. The Administrator may appear or intervene by his duly authorized attorney in any court as an interested party in any litigation instituted by himself or otherwise, directly affecting money paid to such fiduciary under this section. (c) Authority is hereby granted for the payment of any court or other expenses incident to any investigation or court proceeding for the appointment of any guardian, curator, conservator, or other person legally vested with the care of the claimant or his estate or the removal of si;ch fiduciary and appointment of another, and of expenses in connection with the administration of such estates by such fiduciaries, or

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