An Act to provide for the appointment of conservators to conserve the assets and provide for the personal welfare of persons of advanced age, mental weakness, not amounting to unsoundness of mind, or physical incapacity
PL 82-196 (S.11), enacted 10/24/1951

608 
PUBLIC LAW 196—OCT. 24, 1951 
[65 STAT. 
October 24,1951 
[S.lll 
Public Law 196 
CHAPTER 545 
AN ACT 
To provide for the appointment of conservators to conserve the assets and provide 
for the personal welfare of persons of advanced age, mental weakness, not 
amounting to unsoundness of mind, or physical incapacity. 
District of Colum-
bia. 
Appointment of con-
servators for certain 
adults. 
Filing of petition. 
Powers and duties 
of conservator. 
Application for dis-
charge of conservator. 
Powers of court. 
Temporary conser-
vator. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That if an adult 
person residing in or having property in the District of Columbia is 
unable, by reason of advanced age, mental weakness (not amounting 
to unsoundness of mind), or physical incapacity properly to care for 
his property, the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia may, upon his petition or the sworn petition of one or more 
of his relatives or any other person or persons, appoint some fit person 
to be conservator of his property: 
SEO. 2. Upon the filing of such petition, the court shall fix a time 
and place for a hearing thereon; and shall cause at least fourteen days' 
notice thereof to be given to the person for whom a conservator is 
sought to be appointed, if he is not the petitioner, and to such other 
persons as the court shall direct. The petition shall include, among 
other things— 
(1) the reasons for the appointment of a conservator; 
(2) the name and address of the person for whom the conserv-
ator is sought; 
(3) the date and place of his birth, if known; and 
(4) the names and addresses of the nearest known heirs at law, 
or the next of kin, if any. 
The court in its discretion may appoint some disinterested person to 
act as guardian ad litem in any proceeding hereunder. Upon a finding 
that the person for whom the conservator is sought is incapable of 
caring for his property, the court shall appoint a conservator who 
shall have the charge and management of the property of such person 
subject to the direction of the court. 
SEC. 3. Such conservator before entering upon the discharge of his 
duties shall execute an undertaking with surety to be approved by the 
court in such maximum amount as the court may order, conditioned 
on the faithful performance of his duties as such conservator; and he 
shall have control of the estate, real and personal, of the person for 
whom he has been appointed conservator, with power to collect all 
debts due such person, and upon authority of the court to adjust and 
settle all accounts owing by him, and to sue and be sued in his repre-
sentative capacity. He shall apply such part of the annual income 
and such part of the principal of the estate of such person as the court 
may authorize to the support of such person and the maintenance and 
education of his family and children; and shall in all other respects 
perform the same duties and have the same rights and powers with 
respect to the property of such person as have guardians of the estates 
of infants. 
SEC, 4. When any person for whom a conservator has been appointed 
under the provisions of this Act shall become competent to manage his 
property, he may apply to such court to have such conservator dis-
charged and to be restored to the care and control of his property. If 
the court finds him to be competent, an order shall be entered restoring 
the care and control of his property to such person. The court shall 
have the same powers with respect to the property of any person for 
whom a conservator has been appointed as it has with respect to the 
property of infants under guardianships. 
SEC. 5. Upon filing of a petition as provided by this Act the court 
may, with or without notice or hearing, appoint a temporary censer-
65 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 198—OCT, 24, 1951 
609 
vator of the estate of any person hereunder, if it deems such action 
necessary for the protection of such estate, subject to the provisions 
for an undertaking contained in section 3 hereof. Such temporary 
conservator shall serve only until such time as a permanent conser-
vator can be appointed or until sooner discharged. 
SEC. 6. The court, in its discretion, may at any time order that the 
conservator or some other person shall be responsible for the personal 
welfare of the person whose property is under conservatorship. 
In 
such event the conservator or such other person, subject to the direction 
and control of the Civil Division of the court, shall have the same 
powers and duties with respect to the personal welfare of the said per-
son as have the guardians of the persons of infants under guardian-
ships. 
SEO. 7. Lis pendens: Upon the filing of a petition hereunder, a 
certified copy of such petition may be filed for record in the office of the 
Recorder of Deeds of the District of Columbia. If a conservator be 
appointed on such petition, all contracts, except for necessaries, and 
all transfers of real and personal property made by the ward after such 
filing and before the termination of the conservatorship shall be void. 
Approved October 24, 1951. 
Responsibility for 
personal welfare. 
Certified copy of 
petition. 
Public Law 197 
CHAPTER 546 
AN ACT 
To amend title 18, United States Code, entitled "Crimes and Criminal Pro-
cedure," to empower the courts to remit or mitigate forfeitures under the 
Indian liquor laws. 
October 24, 1951 
[H. R. 1087] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the analysis of 
chapter 229 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting at 
the end thereof "3619. Disposition of conveyances seized for violation 
of the Indian liquor laws." 
SEO. 2. Title 18, United States Code, is further amended by inserting 
immediately following section 3618 thereof a new section to be desig-
nated "section 3619'- and to read as follows: 
"§ 3619. Disposition of conveyances seized for violation of the Indian 
liquor laws 
"The provisions of section 3617 of this title shall apply to any con-
veyances seized, proceeded against by libel, or forfeited under the 
provisions of section 3113 or 3618 of this title for having been used 
in introducing or attempting to introduce intoxicants into the Indian 
country or into other places where such introduction is prohibited by 
treaty or enactment of Congress." 
Approved October 24, 1951. 
Title 18, U. S. Code, 
amendment. 
62 Stat. 839. 
Public Law 198 
CHAPTER 551 
AN ACT 
To provide for the acquisition of land and the construction thereon of buildings 
and appurtenances essential for forest fire control operations of the Forest 
Service, United States Department of Agriculture, at or near Missoula, Montana, 
and for other purposes. 
October 24, 1951 
[H. R. 1628] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Secretary 
Forest fire control 
headquarters.