Statutes and regulations

Current law, with the source and date behind it.

13 results

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  • Lands held in adverse possession; issuance of patent; reservation of minerals; conflicting claims

    43 U.S.C. § 1068 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS › CHAPTER 25A—LANDS HELD UNDER COLOR OF TITLE

    The Secretary of the Interior (a) shall, whenever it shall be shown to his satisfaction that a tract of public land has been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse, possession by a claimant, his ancestors … , possession by a claimant, his ancestors or grantors, under claim or color of title for the period commencing not later than January 1, 1901 , to the date of application during which time they have paid

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Loss of title of United States to lands in territories through adverse possession or prescription forbidden

    48 U.S.C. § 1489 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 48—TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS › CHAPTER 10—TERRITORIAL PROVISIONS OF A GENERAL NATURE

    On and after March 27, 1934 , no prescription or statute of limitations shall run, or continue to run, against the title of the United States to lands in any territory or possession or place or territory … under the jurisdiction or control of the United States; and no title to any such lands of the United States or any right therein shall be acquired by adverse possession or prescription, or otherwise than

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Adverse claims; oath of claimants; requisites; waiver; stay of land office proceedings; judicial determination of right of possession; successful claimants’ filing of judgment roll, certificate of labor, and description of claim in land office, and acreage and fee payments; issuance of patents for entire or partial claims upon certification of land office proceedings and judgment roll; alienation of patent title

    30 U.S.C. § 30 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 30—MINERAL LANDS AND MINING › CHAPTER 2—MINERAL LANDS AND REGULATIONS IN GENERAL

    Where an adverse claim is filed during the period of publication, it shall be upon oath of the person or persons making the same, and shall show the nature, boundaries, and extent of such adverse claim … It shall be the duty of the adverse claimant, within thirty days after filing his claim, to commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction, to determine the question of the right of possession

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Definitions and rules

    26 U.S.C. § 672 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 26—INTERNAL REVENUE CODE › Subtitle A—Income Taxes › CHAPTER 1—NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter J—Estates, Trusts, Beneficiaries, and Decedents › PART I—ESTATES, TRUSTS, AND BENEFICIARIES › Subpart E—Grantors and Others Treated as Substantial Owners

    For purposes of this subpart, the term “adverse party” means any person having a substantial beneficial interest in the trust which would be adversely affected by the exercise or nonexercise of the power … which he possesses respecting the trust.

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Sep 16, 2026
  • Locators’ rights of possession and enjoyment

    30 U.S.C. § 26 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 30—MINERAL LANDS AND MINING › CHAPTER 2—MINERAL LANDS AND REGULATIONS IN GENERAL

    The locators of all mining locations made on any mineral vein, lode, or ledge, situated on the public domain, their heirs and assigns, where no adverse claim existed on the 10th day of May 1872 so long … But their right of possession to such outside parts of such veins or ledges shall be confined to such portions thereof as lie between vertical planes drawn downward as above described, through the end

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Evidence of possession and work to establish right to patent

    30 U.S.C. § 38 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 30—MINERAL LANDS AND MINING › CHAPTER 2—MINERAL LANDS AND REGULATIONS IN GENERAL

    have held and worked their claims for a period equal to the time prescribed by the statute of limitations for mining claims of the State or Territory where the same may be situated, evidence of such possession … shall be sufficient to establish a right to a patent thereto under sections 21, 22 to 24, 26 to 28, 29, 30, 33 to 48, 50 to 52, 71 to 76 of this title and section 661 of title 43 , in the absence of any adverse

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Establishment; purposes; boundaries

    16 U.S.C. § 283 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 16—CONSERVATION › CHAPTER 1—NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER XXXIV—GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

    In order to preserve in public ownership an area in the State of Texas possessing outstanding geological values together with scenic and other natural values of great significance, the Secretary of the … of the park accordingly if the owner of said sections agrees, on behalf of himself, his heirs and assigns that there will not be erected thereon any structure which, in the judgment of the Secretary, adversely

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Jul 16, 2026
  • Patents for lands in New Mexico held under color of title

    43 U.S.C. § 177 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS › CHAPTER 7—HOMESTEADS › SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

    a tract or tracts of public land, not known to be mineral, in the State of New Mexico, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, has or have been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse … possession by a citizen of the United States, his ancestors or grantors, for more than twenty years under claim or color of title, and that valuable improvements have been placed on such land, or some

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Patents for lands in New Mexico; lands contiguous to Spanish or Mexican land grants

    43 U.S.C. § 178 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS › CHAPTER 7—HOMESTEADS › SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

    public land, contiguous to a Spanish or Mexican land grant, in the State of New Mexico, not exceeding in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres, has or have been held in good faith and in peaceful, adverse … possession by a citizen of the United States, his ancestors or grantors, for more than twenty years under claim or color of title, and that valuable improvements have been placed on such land, or some

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Purchase by bona fide purchasers from grantees; removal of crops and improvements

    43 U.S.C. § 906 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS › CHAPTER 21—GRANTS IN AID OF RAILROADS AND WAGON ROADS

    In all cases where persons being citizens of the United States, or who have declared their intentions to become such, in accordance with the naturalization laws of the United States, are in possession … Nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to interfere with any adverse claim that may have attached to the lands or any part thereof.

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Sale of lands in Louisiana; preference rights; application for purchase; appraisal; payment for land

    43 U.S.C. § 993 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS › CHAPTER 23—GRANTS OF SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED LANDS

    Every such application must be accompanied with satisfactory proof that the applicant is entitled to such preference right and that the lands which he applies to purchase are not in the legal possession … of an adverse claimant or in the actual possession of a person or persons who have improved the property and who have attempted to enter same in compliance with the laws and regulations of the United

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Sale of erroneously designated water-covered areas in Arkansas

    43 U.S.C. § 992 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS › CHAPTER 23—GRANTS OF SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED LANDS

    Every such application must be accompanied with satisfactory proof that the applicant is entitled to such preference right and that the lands which he applies to purchase are not in the legal possession … of an adverse claimant.

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026
  • Sale of lands in Wisconsin

    43 U.S.C. § 994 · Federal · Statutes

    Title 43—PUBLIC LANDS › CHAPTER 23—GRANTS OF SWAMP AND OVERFLOWED LANDS

    Every such application must be accompanied with satisfactory proof that the applicant is entitled to such preference right and that the lands which he applies to purchase are not in the legal possession … of an adverse claimant under the public land laws.

    In forceofficial textSnapshot as of Apr 17, 2026

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