30 U.S.C. § 40 : US Code - Section 40: Verification of affidavits

Search 30 U.S.C. § 40 : US Code - Section 40: Verification of affidavits

All affidavits required to be made under sections 21, 22 to 24,
26 to 28, 29, 30, 33 to 48, 50 to 52, 71 to 76 of this title, and
section 661 of title 43 may be verified before any officer
authorized to administer oaths within the land district where the
claims may be situated, and all testimony and proofs may be taken
before any such officer, and, when duly certified by the officer
taking the same, shall have the same force and effect as if taken
before the register of the land office. In cases of contest as to
the mineral or agricultural character of land, the testimony and
proofs may be taken as herein provided on personal notice of at
least ten days to the opposing party; or if such party cannot be
found, then by publication of at least once a week for thirty days
in a newspaper, to be designated by the register of the land office
as published nearest to the location of such land; and the register
shall require proof that such notice has been given.