Class Synopsis

Federal Indian Probates and Estate Administration I

This class will include pending legislation before congress and how it will impact the probate process.  It will also include recent legislation, including the ILCA amendments.

INTRODUCTION

• Announcements/Schedule
• Introductions

COURSE OBJECTIVE: To enhance the ability of Federal and tribal employees to administer the trust/restricted estates of members of federally-acknowledged Indian Tribes.

Background

Individually-Owned Indian Lands (Trust/Restricted).

General Allotment Act

• 2. Other Authorities
• 2. General Probate Authority

Statutory: Act of June 25, 1910 (25 U.S.C. 37)

Regulatory: 43 CFR Subpart D (4.200-4.357)

Role of the BIA

1. Organization

• 2. Definition of Estate Administration
• 3. Delegation of Authority
• 4. Who works for whom
• 4. Role of the OHA
• 1. Organization
• 2. Probate (Definition)
• 3. Role of the Land Titles and Records Office

2. Definitions

• 1. Family/Heirship
• 2. Testate/Intestate. Testator/Testatrix
• 3. Scrivener/Notary/Acknowledgements
• 4. Tenancy in Common/Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship.
• 5. Life Estate (Life Tenant)/Remainder (Remainderman)
• 6. Basic Principles.

3. Procedures (43 CFR Subpart D; 54 BIAM, Supplement 8) Statute - Regulations - Manual

• 1. Notice of Death
• 1. Establishing That Death Has Occurred
• (1) When
• (2) Where (Residence/Domicile)
• (3) The Death Certificate
• 2. Identifying the Decedent
• 3. Notifying Interested Parties (Who Are They?)
• 2. Data Collection: Form OHA-7 "Data for Heirship Finding and Family History" (Data categories underlined below)
• 1. The Family
• (1) Sources
• (2) Methods
• (3) Tribal Affiliation of Probable Heirs
• (4) Social Security Numbers
• (5) Current addresses
• (6) Considerations
• (7) Database (Computer Software)
• 2. Nationality or Citizenship and Indian Status Affecting Character of Land Title
• 3. Real Property
• (1) Trust/Restricted Fee vs Fee Simple
• (2) Simple Land Descriptions: Aliquot Part
• (3) The ITI Report (Individual Tribal Interest)
• (4) Reading the BIAINV or Preparing Inventory
• (5) Value Estimates and Appraisals
• (6) Escheatable Interests
• (7) Encumbrances
• (8) ILCA Considerations
• 4. Personal Property
• (1) Trust Funds (IIM)
• (2) Inheritance Laws: Real vs. Personal Property
• (3) Intestate: Follows What Law?
• 5. Wills and Codicils
• (1) Witnesses
• (2) Beneficiaries and Their Tribal Affiliations
• (3) The Scrivener
• (4) Scrivener's Initial Interview Checklist
• (5) Scrivener's Notes
• 6. Creditors and Claims
• (1) "Affidavit in Support of Claim"
• 7. Conflicts in Data ("Best Evidence Rule")
• 8. "Check List for Data Sheet and Property Inventory"
• 3. Attending a Probate Hearing
• 1. Your role: JUST THE FACTS!
• 2. Opportunity for Data Collection
• 3. Timeliness of Evidence
• 4. Requests for Rehearing - 43 CFR 4.304
• 5. Tribal Codes and Individual ID Numbers
• 6. Payment of Claims & Closing Estate (Distribution of the Estate Account)
• 1. Specific Devise
• 2. Recording/Posting
• (1) Role of Land Titles and Records Office
• (2) Historic and Present Role of BIA Agency
• 3. Dealing with Uncertainties
• 7. Appeals to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA)
• 1. Scope of Appeals
• (1) Appeal from an Order of the ALJ on a Petition for Rehearing.
• (2) Petition for Reopening
• (3) Appeal from a Decision of the ALJ Regarding Tribal Purchase of Interests
• in Deceased Indians Trust Estate.
• 2. BIA Always Considered Interested Party - 43 CFR 4.311©
• 3. IBIA May Also Review Case Involving "Manifest Injustice or Error." - 43 CFR 4.318
  4. Published IBIA Decision
• 8. Omitted Property (Administrative Modifications) - 43 CFR 4.272; 25 CFR
• 150.7 (b)(2)
• 9. Improperly Included Property (Judicial Modifications) - 43 CFR 4.273; 25 CFR 150.7(b)(2)
• 10. Administrative Corrections - 25 CFR 150.7(b)(3)

4. Special Considerations and Concerns

• 1. Establishing Priorities
• 2. Finding Missing Persons
• 1. Problems
• 2. Sources
• 3. Methods
• 4. The Private Investigator
• 3. Presumption of Death
• 4. Special Tribal Options to Purchase
• 5. Renunciation of Interest Options (By Non-Indians, etc).
• 1. All or Specific Property
• 2. All or Portion of Future Income
• 3. Surface vs. Sub-surface
• 6. The Compromise Settlement
• 7. Summary Distributions
• 8. Knowledge of Inheritance Laws
• 1. Federal Law
• (1) General (25 U.S.C.A. 371, 464, etc.)
• (2) Special, by Tribe
• 2. State Law (Personalty; Realty)
• (1) "Half-Blood Realtives"
• 3. Tribal Law (Indian-Custom Marriages, Divorces, etc.)
• 9. "Agency Record of Probate Status"
• 10. Leaving a Paper Trail
• 11. Powers of Attorney
• 12. Freedom of Information Act (43 CFR 2.11-2.22) and Privacy Act (43 CFR 2.45-2.79)13. File Dispositon Schedule
• 1. LTRO Probate File (Official)
• 2. BIA Agency Probate File (Reference)
• 14. The BIA "Probate Backlog"
• 1. Methods of Approach
• 2. Accountability
• 15. Workload Analysis

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