38 USC § 8521 - Presumption of contract for disposition of personalty

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s8521"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 8521 - Presumption of contract for disposition of personalty"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "8521"
section_name: "Presumption of contract for disposition of personalty"
chapter_number: 85
chapter_name: "DISPOSITION OF DECEASED VETERANS’ PERSONAL PROPERTY"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "DEATH WHILE PATIENT OF DEPARTMENT FACILITY"
part_number: "VI"
part_name: "ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY"
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. 1260, § 5221; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 208(c), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2860; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(100), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3300; renumbered § 8521 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), 5(c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 406; Pub. L. 107–135, title II, § 208(e)(9), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2464.)"
---


# § 8521. Presumption of contract for disposition of personalty

section 1781(b) of this titlesection 8520 of this title

The fact of death of a veteran (admitted as such), or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the penultimate sentence of , in a facility or hospital, while being furnished care or treatment therein by the Department, leaving no spouse, next of kin, or heirs, shall give rise to a conclusive presumption of a valid contract for the disposition in accordance with this subchapter, but subject to its conditions, of all property described in  owned by said decedent at death and as to which such person dies intestate.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1260, § 5221; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, § 208(c), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2860; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(100), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3300; renumbered § 8521 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), 5(c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 406; Pub. L. 107–135, title II, § 208(e)(9), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2464.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2002— substituted “the penultimate sentence of section 1781(b)” for “the last sentence of section 1713(b)”.

1991— renumbered  as this section and substituted “8520” for “5220”.

substituted “1713(b)” for “613(b)” and “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1986— substituted “such person” for “he”.

1976— inserted “, or a dependent or survivor of a veteran receiving care under the last sentence of ,” after “(admitted as such)”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under .