12 USC 4226 – Rights of declarants; notifications; Government accountability
(a) In general
A person who has filed a declaration that meets the requirements of sections 4221 through 4224 of this title shall have the rights stated in this section.
(b) Notice of decision not to pursue
Terms Used In 12 USC 4226
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- writing: includes printing and typewriting and reproductions of visual symbols by photographing, multigraphing, mimeographing, manifolding, or otherwise. See 1 USC 1
If, after review, the Attorney General concludes that the information contained in a declaration should not be pursued in a proceeding to recover the asset or assets, the Attorney General shall so notify the declarant in writing and shall provide a brief statement of the reasons that the declaration will not be pursued.
(c) Judgment, order, or settlement
(1) When the United States obtains a final judgment, order, or settlement transferring to the United States title to an asset or assets identified in a valid declaration filed under section 4221 1 of this title, the Attorney General shall notify the declarant in writing of the entry of the judgment, order, or settlement.
(2) A notice described in paragraph (1) shall contain—
(A) the Attorney General’s determination of the amount of the award due the declarant under section 4225(c) of this title upon recovery by the United States; and
(B) a short statement of reasons for the amount of the award.
(d) Notice of pendency of investigation or proceeding
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if the Attorney General has not provided the declarant with notice under subsection (b) or a notice of invalidity pursuant to section 4224 of this title within 1 year after the date of filing of the declaration, the Attorney General shall notify the declarant in writing that—
(A) there is a pending investigation or proceeding in the course of which the declarant’s allegations are being addressed; or
(B) the declarant’s allegations have not yet been addressed.
(2) If the Attorney General certifies that it is in the interest of the United States to give further consideration to the information provided in the declaration for an additional 90-day period, the Attorney General shall so notify the declarant in writing.
(e) Confidentiality of notices
All notices provided to a declarant under this section shall be kept confidential by the declarant in the same manner, and subject to the same penalties, as the declaration under section 4223 of this title.