Tribes are asking the Interior Department for a year-long extension in order to develop probate codes under the American Indian Probate Reform Act.

According to The Glacier Reporter, tribes face a June 20 deadline to develop their own rules and standards for distribution of Indian estates. Otherwise, they will have to accept Interior's probate code.

Members of the Intertribal Monitoring Association say more time is needed. Special Trustee Ross Swimmer indicated an extension to June 2007 would be granted, the paper reported.

Get the Story:
Tribe would like to see constitutional review create probate code (The Glacier Reporter 4/5)

Indian Trust Reform Act:
S.1439 | H.R.4322

Relevant Documents:
Trust Reform and Cobell Settlement Workgroup Principles for Legislation (June 2005)

Relevant Links:
National Congress of American Indians - http://www.ncai.org
Intertribal Trust Fund Monitoring Association - http://www.itmatrustfunds.org
Indian Land Working Group - http://www.ilwg.net
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Senate Indian Affairs Committee - http://indian.senate.gov

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