Republic Act No. 21

Section 1.
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the legitimate father, or, in his default, the mother, of any minor or incompetent person having a claim, or share in a claim, against the Government of the Philippines or of the United States, is authorized, without need of the court appointing him or her as guardian for said minor or incompetent person, to receive payment of said claim or share when the amount thereof does not exceed five hundred pesos or its equivalent in dollars, except in case said father or mother is an imbecile, insane, vagrant or vicious person, or is a habitual drunkard or a habitual criminal, or has abandoned, neglected, or refused to support said minor or incompetent person, or has caused the same to commit offenses against the law.

Section 2.
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.