Frequently Asked Questions

In a Class Action, one or more people called "Class Representatives" sue on behalf of themselves and other people who have similar claims and allegations. All of these people are Plaintiffs.

IIM accounts primarily contain money collected by the federal government from farming and grazing leases, timber sales, mining, oil and gas production, and other activities on trust land, as well as certain per capita distributions. The funds in IIM accounts are held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of individual Indians.

If you have verified with the Claims Administrator helpline (1-800-961-6109) that the estate you are an heir to is in the Interior's contact data as an eligible Class Member, the Claims Administrator may issue payments for the estate once acceptable documentation directing distribution of the estate has been received. The Court has ordered that documents such as the following are acceptable:

1. A state or tribal probate order identifying the heirs to the estate;
2. Documentation showing the appointment of an Executor, Administrator, or Personal Representative of the Estate;
3. A last will and testament that has been approved through a probate order;
4.  A small estate document from an approved state where the estate is in accordance with that state's small estate procedures;
5. A federal probate order that directs distribution of trust funds or trust lands.

A copy of a tribal, or state, or federal probate order is needed to establish whether the Claims Administrator can pay the heir(s) directly for the estate's Settlement award. If you do not have a tribal or state probate order but a personal representative or executor has been named for the estate, we can disburse funds to the representative or executor and they will be responsible for distributing the funds according to the wishes of the deceased Class Member.

You may send documents to:

By Regular Mail:

Indian Trust Settlement
P.O. Box 9577
Dublin, OH 43017-4877   

 
By Certified or Overnight Mail:

Indian Trust Settlement
5151 Blazer Parkway Suite A
Dublin, Ohio 43017

Please note the July 1, 2013 deadline does not apply to documentation used to determine distribution of deceased Class Members' awards. Heirs to estates of eligible Class Members may continue to submit documentation to direct the distribution of estate awards.

The Special Master's July 16, 2013 and April 17, 2015 orders authorize the Claims Administrator to use small estate procedures from specific states to distribute settlement funds to estates and heirs of deceased Class Members when no state or tribal court order, no probated will, and no legally-appointed executor or administrator exists.

The orders authorize the use of small estate procedures for Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

According to the current court order, for deceased members of the Historical and Trust Classes, payment shall be made to the personal representative, administrator, or to individual heirs identified in a state, tribal or federal court order. Where such a distribution cannot be made, any funds that remain unpaid after September 14, 2015 shall be distributed based upon the order of the Special Master, after considering recommendations from the Claims Administrator and Class Counsel.