38 USC § 5501 - Commitment actions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s5501"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 5501 - Commitment actions"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "5501"
section_name: "Commitment actions"
chapter_number: 55
chapter_name: "MINORS, INCOMPETENTS, AND OTHER WARDS"
part_number: "IV"
part_name: "GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS"
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. 1232, § 3201; renumbered § 5501, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405.)"
---


# § 5501. Commitment actions

The Secretary may incur necessary court costs and other expenses incident to proceedings for the commitment of mentally incompetent veterans to a Department hospital or domiciliary when necessary for treatment or domiciliary purposes.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1232, § 3201; renumbered § 5501, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991— renumbered  as this section.

, (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

, (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.