38 USC § 1983 - Settlements for minors or incompetents

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s1983"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 1983 - Settlements for minors or incompetents"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "1983"
section_name: "Settlements for minors or incompetents"
chapter_number: 19
chapter_name: "INSURANCE"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "GENERAL BENEFITS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1165, § 783; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(45), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3294; Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(b)(19), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 284; renumbered § 1983 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)"
---


# § 1983. Settlements for minors or incompetents

February 25, 193325 U.S.C. 14

When an optional mode of settlement of National Service Life Insurance or United States Government life insurance heretofore or hereafter matured is available to a beneficiary who is a minor or incompetent, such option may be exercised by such beneficiary’s fiduciary, person qualified under the Act of  (), or person recognized by the Secretary as having custody of the person or the estate of such beneficiary, and the obligation of the United States under the insurance contract shall be fully satisfied by payment of benefits in accordance with the mode of settlement so selected.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1165, § 783; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(45), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3294; Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(b)(19), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 284; renumbered § 1983 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991— renumbered  as this section and substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

substituted “the Act of  ()” for “”.

1986— substituted “such beneficiary’s” for “his”.