---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 8302"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "8302"
heading: "Legal proceedings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/8302"
units:
  - "Part VI — Acquisition and Disposition of Property"
  - "Chapter 83 — Acceptance of Gifts and Bequests"
---

# §8302. Legal proceedings


For the purpose of acquiring title to and possession of any property which the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) is by this chapter authorized to accept, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may initiate and appear in any appropriate legal proceedings, and take such steps therein or in connection therewith as in the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)’s discretion may be desirable and appropriate to reduce said property to possession. The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may incur such expenses incident to such proceedings as the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) deems necessary or appropriate, which shall be paid as are other administrative expenses of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1). All funds received by devise, bequest, gift, or otherwise, for the purposes contemplated in this chapter, including net proceeds of sales authorized by this chapter, shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the United States to the credit of the General Post Fund.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1254, § 5102; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(90), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3299; renumbered § 8302, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; 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 5102 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing, “Secretary’s” for “Administrator’s”, and “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the Administrator” for “he” in two places, “the Administrator’s” for “his”, and “The Administrator” for “He”.