payments to and supervision of guardians

payments to and supervision of guardians Sec. 1502. (a) Where any payment of benefits under any law administered by the Veterans’ Administration is to be made to a minor, other than a person in the active military, naval, or air service, or to a person mentally incompetent, or under other legal disability adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, such payment may be made to the person who is constituted guardian, curator, or conservator by the laws of the State of residence of the claimant, or who is otherwise legally vested with the care of the claimant or his estate. Where in the opinion of the Administrator any guardian, curator, conservator, or other person is acting as fiduciary in such a number of cases as to make it impracticable to conserve properly the estates or to supervise the persons of the wards, the Administrator may refuse to make future payments in such cases as he may deem proper. Before receipt of notice by the Veterans’ Administration that any such person is under such other legal disability adjudged by some court of competent jurisdiction, payment may be made to such person direct. Where no guardian, curator, or conservator of the person under a legal disability has been appointed under the laws of the State of residence of the claimant, the Administrator shall determine the person who is otherwise legally vested with the care of the claimant or his estate. (b) Whenever it appears that any guardian, curator, conservator, or other person, in the opinion of the Administrator, is not properly executing or has not properly executed the duties of his trust or has collected or paid, or is attempting to collect or pay, fees, commissions, or allowances that are inequitable or in excess of those allowed by law for the duties performed or expenses incurred, or has failed to make such payments as may be necessary for the benefit of the ward or the dependents of the ward, then the Administrator may appear, by his duly authorized attorney, in the court which has appointed such fiduciary, or in any court having original, concurrent, or appellate jurisdiction over said cause, and make proper presentation of such matters. The Administrator, in his discretion, may suspend payments to any such guardian, curator, conservator, or other person who shall neglect or refuse, after reasonable notice, to render an account, to the Administrator from time to time showing the application of such payments for the benefit of such incompetent or minor beneficiary, or who shall neglect or refuse to administer the estate according to law. The Administrator may appear or intervene by his duly authorized attorney in any court as an interested party in any litigation instituted by himself or otherwise, directly affecting money paid to such fiduciary under this section. (c) Authority is hereby granted for the payment of any court or other expenses incident to any investigation or court proceeding for the appointment of any guardian, curator, conservator, or other person legally vested with the care of the claimant or his estate or the removal of such fiduciary and appointment of another, and of expenses in connection with the administration of such estates by such fiduciaries, or 71 Stat. 137in connection with any other court, proceeding hereby authorized, when such payment is authorized by the, Administrator. (d) All or any part of any benefits the payment of which is suspended or withheld under this section may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be paid temporarily to the person having custody and control of the incompetent or minor beneficiary, to be. used solely for the benefit of such beneficiary, or, in the case of an incompetent veteran, may be apportioned to the dependent or dependents, if any, of such veteran. Any part not so paid and any funds of a mentally incompetent or insane veteran not paid to the chief officer of the institution in which such veteran is an inmate nor apportioned to his dependent or dependents may be ordered held in the Treasury to the credit of such beneficiary. All funds so held shall be disbursed under the order and in the discretion of the Administrator for the benefit of such beneficiary or his dependents. Any balance remaining in such fund to the credit of any beneficiary may be paid to him if he recovers and is found competent, or, if a minor, attains majority, or otherwise to his guardian, curator, or conservator, or, in the event of his death, to his personal representative, except as otherwise provided by law; however, payment will not be made to his personal representative if, under the law of his last legal residence, his estate would escheat to the State. Any funds in the hands of a guardian, curator, conservator, or person legally vested with the care of the beneficiary or his estate, derived from benefits payable under laws administered by the Veterans’ Administration, which under the law of the State wherein the beneficiary had his last legal residence would escheat to the State, shall escheat to the United States and shall be returned by such guardian, curator, conservator, or person legally vested with the care of the beneficiary’ or his estate, or by the personal representative of the deceased beneficiary, less legal expenses of any administration necessary to determine that an escheat is in order, to the Veterans’ Administration, and shall be deposited to the credit of the applicable current appropriation. (e) In the case of any incompetent veteran having no guardian, payment of compensation, pension, or retirement, pay may be made in the discretion of the Administrator to the wife of such veteran for the use of the veteran and his dependents. (f) Payment of death benefits to a widow for herself and child or children, if any, may be made directly to such widow, notwithstanding she may be a minor.