In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is proposing to renew an information collection.

Abstract: As sovereignties, federally recognized tribes have the right to establish their own probate codes. When those probate codes govern the descent and distribution of trust or restricted property, they must be approved by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior. The American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004 (AIPRA) amendments to the Indian Land Consolidation Act, 25 U.S.C. 2201 et seq., provides that any tribal probate code, any amendment to a tribal probate code, and any free-standing single heir rule are subject to the approval of the Secretary if they contain provisions governing trust lands. This statute also establishes the basic review and approval of tribal probate codes. This information collection covers tribes' submission of tribal probate codes, amendments, and free-standing single heir rules containing provisions regarding trust lands to the Secretary for approval. Submission of information is required to comply with ILCA, as amended by AIPRA, 25 U.S.C. 2201 et seq., which provides that Indian tribes must obtain Secretarial approval for all tribal probate codes, amendments, and free-standing single heir rules that govern the descent and distribution of trust or restricted lands.