2A:15-93. Payment of enemy property to United States attorney general

When an action mentioned in section 2A:15-92 of this title, or a proceeding in any such action, is brought for the purpose of directing, approving or authorizing the payment of any money or the delivery, transfer or conveyance of any property to a person mentioned in that section or to his heirs, devisees, grantees, next of kin, issue, legatees, and personal representatives, or any other defendant, or for the purpose of adjudging that he is or they are entitled to any moneys or property or an interest therein, and it appears to be in the public interest that such payment, delivery, transfer or conveyance should be withheld, the court in which the action is pending may direct by its judgment or order that such money be paid or such property be delivered, transferred or conveyed to the attorney general of the United States, if he will receive the same. Upon such payment or delivery, transfer or conveyance, any fiduciary, or officer or other person in possession or having custody or control of said moneys or property, or any other person adjudged by the court to be liable for the payment of any money or the delivery of any property to such defendant, shall take therefor the receipt of the attorney general. If the attorney general, within 60 days after receipt by him of a certified copy of said judgment or order, which shall be sent to him at the office of alien property by registered mail, shall not file with the clerk of the court a consent to accept and receipt for such money or property, the said fiduciary, officer or other person may, upon filing an affidavit stating the failure of the attorney general so to do, pay the said money or, if the court so orders, deliver, transfer or convey the said property to the clerk of the court, taking therefor the receipt of the said clerk.

Such receipt signed by or on behalf of the attorney general or the said clerk, as the case may be, shall be a full and sufficient discharge, of the fiduciary, officer or other person for money so paid or the property so delivered, transferred or conveyed to the attorney general or the said clerk and against any claimant thereto entitled. The receipt may be recorded in the office of the surrogate, or the clerk of the court, appointing him, in the same manner in which releases for legacies and distributive shares may be recorded.

L.1951 (1st SS), c.344.