FACT SHEET 10

May 2004

SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS 

FOR RRA FORMS 

Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA) 

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This Fact Sheet explains the signature requirements for RRA certification, reporting, and

declaration forms, and irrevocable elections.

CERTIFICATION, REPORTING, AND DECLARATION FORMS

Signatures are required to legally validate information submitted by landholders on these

forms. If an RRA form is not signed by all the proper parties, a landholder's land could be

declared ineligible to receive Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) irrigation water. All RRA

forms require original signatures. However, multidistrict landholders may submit the

original form(s) with original signatures to one district and provide copies of the signed

form(s) to the remaining districts. The district name where the original form(s) is filed

should be circled in the Landholding Summary section of the standard form on both the

original and copies.

FORM 7-2180--Certification of Individual's Landholdings 

FORM 7-2190--Report of Individual’s Landholdings

FORM 7-2180EZ--"EZ" Certification of Individual’s Landholdings

FORM 7-2190EZ--"EZ" Report of Individual’s Landholdings

The landholder whose landholding is being identified must sign the RRA form. In the case

of a married couple, both spouses must sign the RRA form, even if the land is not held

jointly. Both signatures are required because this RRA form is a declaration that all

nonexempt irrigable and irrigation acreage of both spouses (and any dependents) has been

identified. If land is not held jointly by the spouses, the landholder can add the phrase "the

land is the sole and separate property of" above his/her signature. However, BOTH the

husband and wife still must sign the form.

Married couples also have the option of using a Spousal Signature Authorization to authorize

one spouse to sign for the couple and dependents. A copy of the Spousal Signature

Authorization must be filed with each district to which the RRA form is submitted and must

be in full force and effect prior to the execution date of the RRA form. The completed

Spousal Signature Authorization must be kept on file with the couple’s RRA form(s). 

The Spousal Signature Authorization cannot be used to authorize someone other than the

spouse to sign the couple's RRA form. However, in general, if permitted by State law, a 

power of attorney document may be used to specify who may sign an RRA landholder form. 
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If a power of attorney is used, a copy of the authorizing document must be filed with each

district to which the RRA form is submitted and kept on file with the landholder’s RRA

form(s). The power of attorney must either provide for overall rights for the person to act on

behalf of the landholder or specifically address the right to sign RRA forms for the

landholder. 

FORM 7-2181--Certification of Entity’s Landholdings

FORM 7-2191--Report of Entity’s Landholdings

If the entity is a partnership, joint tenancy, or tenancy-in-common, all partners, joint tenants, 

or co-tenants must sign the RRA form. The only exception is if a particular individual(s)

has(have) been authorized in a written Entity Signature Authorization to sign for all the part

owners. 

A copy of the Entity Signature Authorization must be filed with each district to which the

RRA form is submitted and must be in full force and effect prior to the execution date of the 

RRA form. The completed Entity Signature Authorization must be kept on file with the 

entity’s RRA form(s). 

If the entity is a corporation, the documents establishing the corporation should specify the

officers who are authorized to carry out business activities, such as signatory authority, for 

the corporation.

FORM 7-2184--Certification of Religious or Charitable Organization's Landholdings

FORM 7-2194--Report of Religious or Charitable Organization's Landholdings

RRA forms submitted for a religious or charitable organization must be signed by an officer 

or authorized agent from the part of the organization that is submitting the form.

FORM 7-21PE--Declaration of Public Entity’s Landholdings

RRA forms submitted for a public entity must be signed by an official or authorized agent 

of the public entity.

FORM 7-21TRUST--Declaration of Trust's or Estate's Landholdings

Trustees must sign RRA forms submitted for trusts. Executors or administrators must sign

RRA forms submitted for estates. In the event that a trust or estate has more than one

trustee, executor, or administrator at the time the form is completed, all trustees, executors, 

or administrators must sign the RRA form unless the trust or documentation establishing

the estate provides for one person to sign for the trust or estate. A copy of the authorizing

provision must be filed with each district to which the RRA form is submitted and kept on file

with the trust’s or estate’s RRA form(s).
FACT SHEET 10 (continued)

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FORM 7-21FARMOP--Declaration of Farm Operator Information

If the farm operator is an entity and that entity is a partnership, joint tenancy, or tenancy-incommon, all partners, joint tenants, or co-tenants must sign the RRA form. The only

exception is if a particular individual(s) has(have) been authorized in a written Entity

Signature Authorization to sign for all the part owners. A copy of the Entity Signature

Authorization must be filed with each district to which the RRA form is submitted and must

be in full force and effect prior to the execution date of the RRA form. The completed Entity

Signature Authorization must be kept on file with the farm operator’s RRA form(s).

FORM 7-21VERIFY--Verification of Landholdings

FORM 7-21XS--Designation of Excess Land

FORM 7-21FC-Selection of Full-Cost Land

For INDIVIDUALS, the same rules apply as stated for Forms 7-2180, 7-2190, 7-2180EZ, 

and 7-2190EZ. For ENTITIES, RELIGIOUS OR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC

ENTITIES, AND TRUSTS OR ESTATES, the same rules apply as stated for Forms 7-2181,

7-2191, 7-2184, 7-2194, 7-21PE, and 7-21TRUST, as applicable.

GENERAL NOTES ON SIGNING RRA FORMS

1. A Spousal Signature Authorization or an Entity Signature Authorization can be 

used on a prospective basis only. Consequently, neither can be used to correct signature

problems that occurred in the past.

2. A Spousal Signature Authorization or Entity Signature Authorization cannot be 

used to authorize district personnel to sign RRA forms for landholders. 

3. Both Spousal Signature Authorizations and Entity Signature Authorizations must 

be notarized.

IRREVOCABLE ELECTIONS

For INDIVIDUALS, both the landholder and spouse (if applicable) must sign the irrevocable

election. For PARTNERSHIPS, JOINT TENANCIES, or TENANCIES-IN-COMMON, each

partner, joint tenant, or co-tenant must sign the irrevocable election. The only exception is

when a power of attorney document has been employed. In such cases, a copy of the power

of attorney document must accompany the irrevocable election. For entities that are

CORPORATIONS, an authorized official of the corporation must sign the irrevocable election

and a copy of the corporate resolution authorizing the irrevocable election must accompany

the irrevocable election. 
Mission of the Bureau of Reclamation: To manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound

manner in the interest of the American public.

The Department of the Interior has established a 24-hour toll-free telephone number (1-800-424-5081) for anyone wishing to report suspected violations

of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA). Anyone reporting suspected violations will be protected under Federal privacy laws.

Distributed by the Bureau of Reclamation, United States Department of the Interior.

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Individuals who are making an irrevocable election and have identified wholly-owned

corporations on their irrevocable election must sign on their own behalf as individuals 

and sign again as an officer(s) of the corporation acting on behalf of the corporation. In 

such cases, a copy of the corporate resolution authorizing the irrevocable election must

accompany the irrevocable election.

L Neither the Spousal Signature Authorization nor the Entity Signature Authorization

may be used to satisfy the irrevocable election signature requirements.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

For questions about: See Fact Sheet:

What RRA form(s) should be filed by a:

 Qualified Recipient

 Limited Recipient

 Prior Law Recipient

5

7

9

What are the exceptions to the RRA forms

requirements

1

How to determine your RRA status 2

Irrevocable elections 3

If you have questions concerning signature requirements for other RRA related documents

or need copies of RRA forms, Spousal Signature Authorizations, Entity Signature

Authorizations, or irrevocable elections, contact your district or the appropriate Reclamation

office. Also visit www.usbr.gov/rra for more information.