---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1983"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1983"
heading: "Settlements for minors or incompetents"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1983"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 19 — Insurance"
  - "Subchapter IV — General"
---

# §1983. Settlements for minors or incompetents


When an optional mode of settlement of National Service Life [Insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) or United States Government life [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) heretofore or hereafter matured is available to a beneficiary who is a minor or incompetent, such option may be exercised by such beneficiary’s fiduciary, person qualified under the Act of February 25, 1933 ([25 U.S.C. 14](/usc/25/14.md)), or person recognized by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) as having custody of the person or the estate of such beneficiary, and the obligation of the United States under the [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) contract shall be fully satisfied by payment of benefits in accordance with the mode of settlement so selected.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1165, § 783; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(45), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3294; Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(b)(19), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 284; renumbered § 1983 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 783 of this title as this section and substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–54 substituted “the Act of February 25, 1933 (25 U.S.C. 14)” for “section 14 of title 25”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “such beneficiary’s” for “his”.