---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 5501"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "5501"
heading: "Commitment actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/5501"
units:
  - "Part IV — General Administrative Provisions"
  - "Chapter 55 — Minors, Incompetents, and Other Wards"
---

# §5501. Commitment actions


The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may incur necessary court costs and other expenses incident to proceedings for the commitment of mentally incompetent [veterans](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) to a [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) hospital or domiciliary when necessary for treatment or domiciliary purposes.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1232, § 3201; renumbered § 5501, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3201 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.