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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 956. Claims against allotments
(a) Assignment, sale, hypothecation, attachment or levy void unless
approved
Equalization allotments made pursuant to this subchapter shall
not be subject to assignment, sale, or hypothecation or to any
attachment or levy for claims or debts created before or after
September 21, 1959, without the written approval of the Secretary,
and any such assignment, sale, hypothecation, attachment, or levy
that has not been so approved by the Secretary shall be absolutely
null and void.
(b) Liens and lis pendens; legal services
No equalization allotment made pursuant to this subchapter, and
no basic allotment made prior to this Act, shall be subject to an
equitable charging lien or other charge or lien or enforced sale
for any advantage or benefit which the allottee has received or
will receive under or as a consequence of enactment of this
subchapter, nor shall any lis pendens heretofore or hereafter filed
upon such lands while in a restricted status be of any effect or
constitute notice of any action. Whoever directly or indirectly
accepts or receives any money or other form of compensation for
legal services in connection with such restricted lands from any
person who has not expressly employed him as his attorney shall be
liable, in a civil action brought by the payor or his heirs or
devisees or by the United States on his behalf, for twice the
amount so accepted or received unless, prior to the time of
acceptance or receipt of said compensation, the right to such
compensation has been determined and the amount thereof fixed by a
formal order of the Federal court having jurisdiction to make such
order. Nothing herein provided shall be construed to prevent any
attorney from petitioning the Federal court having jurisdiction to
fix and determine the fees to which he is entitled and to pursue
and enforce payment thereof in any lawful manner after the court
has made such order.
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