ARTICLE II Uniform Probate Code
INTESTACY, WILLS, AND DONATIVE TRANSFERS
The following free-standing Acts are associated with Article II:
Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act (1999/2006)
Article II, Part 11 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act (1999/2006).
Uniform International Wills Act (1977)
Article II, Part 10 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform International Wills Act (1977).
Uniform Simultaneous Death Act (1991/1993)
Article II, Sections 1-107, 2-104 and 2-702 have also been adopted as the free-standing
INTESTACY, WILLS, AND DONATIVE TRANSFERS
The following free-standing Acts are associated with Article II:
Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act (1999/2006)
Article II, Part 11 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act (1999/2006).
Uniform International Wills Act (1977)
Article II, Part 10 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform International Wills Act (1977).
Uniform Simultaneous Death Act (1991/1993)
Article II, Sections 1-107, 2-104 and 2-702 have also been adopted as the free-standing
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Uniform Simultaneous Death Act (1991/1993).
Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities (1986/1990)
Article II, Part 9, Subpart 1 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities (1986/1990).
Uniform Testamentary Additions to Trusts Act (1991)
Article II, Section 2-511 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform Testamentary Additions to Trusts Act (1991).
PREFATORY NOTE
The Uniform Probate Code was originally promulgated in 1969.
1990 Revisions. In 1990, Article II underwent significant revision. The 1990 revisions were the culmination of a systematic study of the Code conducted by the Joint Editorial Board for the Uniform Probate Code (now named the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Trust and Estate Acts) and a special Drafting Committee to Revise Article II. The 1990 revisions concentrated on Article II, which is the article that covers the substantive law of intestate succession; spouse’s elective share; omitted spouse and children; probate exemptions and allowances; execution and revocation of wills; will contracts; rules of construction; disclaimers; the effect of homicide and divorce on succession rights; and the rule against perpetuities and honorary trusts.
Themes of the 1990 Revisions. In the twenty or so years between the original promulgation of the Code and 1990, several developments occurred that prompted the systematic round of review. Four themes were sounded: (1) the decline of formalism in favor of intent- serving policies; (2) the recognition that will substitutes and other inter-vivos transfers have so proliferated that they now constitute a major, if not the major, form of wealth transmission; (3) the advent of the multiple-marriage society, resulting in a significant fraction of the population being married more than once and having stepchildren and children by previous marriages and (4) the acceptance of a partnership or marital-sharing theory of marriage.
The 1990 revisions responded to these themes. The multiple-marriage society and the partnership/marital-sharing theory were reflected in the revised elective-share provisions of Part 2. As the General Comment to Part 2 explained, the revised elective share granted the surviving spouse a right of election that implemented the partnership/marital-sharing theory of marriage.
The children-of-previous-marriages and stepchildren phenomena were reflected most prominently in the revised rules on the spouse’s share in intestacy.
The proliferation of will substitutes and other inter-vivos transfers was recognized, mainly, in measures tending to bring the law of probate and nonprobate transfers into greater unison. One aspect of this tendency was reflected in the restructuring of the rules of
Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities (1986/1990)
Article II, Part 9, Subpart 1 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities (1986/1990).
Uniform Testamentary Additions to Trusts Act (1991)
Article II, Section 2-511 has also been adopted as the free-standing Uniform Testamentary Additions to Trusts Act (1991).
PREFATORY NOTE
The Uniform Probate Code was originally promulgated in 1969.
1990 Revisions. In 1990, Article II underwent significant revision. The 1990 revisions were the culmination of a systematic study of the Code conducted by the Joint Editorial Board for the Uniform Probate Code (now named the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Trust and Estate Acts) and a special Drafting Committee to Revise Article II. The 1990 revisions concentrated on Article II, which is the article that covers the substantive law of intestate succession; spouse’s elective share; omitted spouse and children; probate exemptions and allowances; execution and revocation of wills; will contracts; rules of construction; disclaimers; the effect of homicide and divorce on succession rights; and the rule against perpetuities and honorary trusts.
Themes of the 1990 Revisions. In the twenty or so years between the original promulgation of the Code and 1990, several developments occurred that prompted the systematic round of review. Four themes were sounded: (1) the decline of formalism in favor of intent- serving policies; (2) the recognition that will substitutes and other inter-vivos transfers have so proliferated that they now constitute a major, if not the major, form of wealth transmission; (3) the advent of the multiple-marriage society, resulting in a significant fraction of the population being married more than once and having stepchildren and children by previous marriages and (4) the acceptance of a partnership or marital-sharing theory of marriage.
The 1990 revisions responded to these themes. The multiple-marriage society and the partnership/marital-sharing theory were reflected in the revised elective-share provisions of Part 2. As the General Comment to Part 2 explained, the revised elective share granted the surviving spouse a right of election that implemented the partnership/marital-sharing theory of marriage.
The children-of-previous-marriages and stepchildren phenomena were reflected most prominently in the revised rules on the spouse’s share in intestacy.
The proliferation of will substitutes and other inter-vivos transfers was recognized, mainly, in measures tending to bring the law of probate and nonprobate transfers into greater unison. One aspect of this tendency was reflected in the restructuring of the rules of
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construction. Rules of construction are rules that supply presumptive meaning to dispositive and
similar provisions of governing instruments. See Restatement (Third) of Property: Wills and
Other Donative Transfers § 11.3 (2003). Part 6 of the pre-1990 Code contained several rules of
construction that applied only to wills. Some of those rules of construction appropriately applied
only to wills; provisions relating to lapse, testamentary exercise of a power of appointment, and
ademption of a devise by satisfaction exemplify such rules of construction. Other rules of
construction, however, properly apply to all governing instruments, not just wills; the provision
relating to inclusion of adopted persons in class gift language exemplifies this type of rule of
construction. The 1990 revisions divided pre-1990 Part 6 into two parts – Part 6, containing
rules of construction for wills only; and Part 7, containing rules of construction for wills and
other governing instruments. A few new rules of construction were also added.
In addition to separating the rules of construction into two parts, and adding new rules of construction, the revocation-upon-divorce provision (Section 2-804) was substantially revised so that divorce not only revokes testamentary devises, but also nonprobate beneficiary designations, in favor of the former spouse. Another feature of the 1990 revisions was a new section (Section 2-503) that brought the execution formalities for wills more into line with those for nonprobate transfers.
2008 Revisions. In 2008, another round of revisions was adopted. The principal features of the 2008 revisions are summarized as follows:
Inflation Adjustments. Between 1990 and 2008, the Consumer Price Index rose by somewhat more than 50 percent. The 2008 revisions raised the dollar amounts by 50 percent in Article II Sections 2-102, 2-102A, 2-201, 2-402, 2-403, and 2-405, and added a new cost of living adjustment section — Section 1-109.
Intestacy. Part 1 on intestacy was divided into two subparts: Subpart 1 on general rules of intestacy and subpart 2 on parent-child relationships. For details, see the General Comment to Part 1.
Execution of Wills. Section 2-502 was amended to allow notarized wills as an alternative to wills that are attested by two witnesses. That amendment necessitated minor revisions to Section 2-504 on self-proved wills and to Section 3-406 on the effect of notarized wills in contested cases.
Class Gifts. Section 2-705 on class gifts was revised in a variety of ways, as explained in the revised Comment to that section.
Reformation and Modification. New Sections 2-805 and 2-806 brought the reformation and modification sections now contained in the Uniform Trust Code into the Uniform Probate Code.
Historical Note. This Prefatory Note was revised in 2008.
Legislative Note: References to spouse or marriage appear throughout Article II. States
In addition to separating the rules of construction into two parts, and adding new rules of construction, the revocation-upon-divorce provision (Section 2-804) was substantially revised so that divorce not only revokes testamentary devises, but also nonprobate beneficiary designations, in favor of the former spouse. Another feature of the 1990 revisions was a new section (Section 2-503) that brought the execution formalities for wills more into line with those for nonprobate transfers.
2008 Revisions. In 2008, another round of revisions was adopted. The principal features of the 2008 revisions are summarized as follows:
Inflation Adjustments. Between 1990 and 2008, the Consumer Price Index rose by somewhat more than 50 percent. The 2008 revisions raised the dollar amounts by 50 percent in Article II Sections 2-102, 2-102A, 2-201, 2-402, 2-403, and 2-405, and added a new cost of living adjustment section — Section 1-109.
Intestacy. Part 1 on intestacy was divided into two subparts: Subpart 1 on general rules of intestacy and subpart 2 on parent-child relationships. For details, see the General Comment to Part 1.
Execution of Wills. Section 2-502 was amended to allow notarized wills as an alternative to wills that are attested by two witnesses. That amendment necessitated minor revisions to Section 2-504 on self-proved wills and to Section 3-406 on the effect of notarized wills in contested cases.
Class Gifts. Section 2-705 on class gifts was revised in a variety of ways, as explained in the revised Comment to that section.
Reformation and Modification. New Sections 2-805 and 2-806 brought the reformation and modification sections now contained in the Uniform Trust Code into the Uniform Probate Code.
Historical Note. This Prefatory Note was revised in 2008.
Legislative Note: References to spouse or marriage appear throughout Article II. States
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that recognize civil unions, domestic partnerships, or similar relationships between unmarried
individuals should add appropriate language wherever such references or similar references
appear .
States that do not recognize such relationships between unmarried individuals, or marriages between same-sex partners, are urged to consider whether to recognize the spousal- type rights that partners acquired under the law of another jurisdiction in which the relationship was formed but who die domiciled in this state. Doing so would not be the equivalent of recognizing such relationships in this state but simply allowing those who move to and die in this state to retain the rights they previously acquired elsewhere. See Christine A. Hammerle, Note, Free Will to Will? A Case for the Recognition of Intestacy Rights for Survivors to a Same-Sex Marriage or Civil Union, 104 Mich. L. Rev. 1763 (2006).
States that do not recognize such relationships between unmarried individuals, or marriages between same-sex partners, are urged to consider whether to recognize the spousal- type rights that partners acquired under the law of another jurisdiction in which the relationship was formed but who die domiciled in this state. Doing so would not be the equivalent of recognizing such relationships in this state but simply allowing those who move to and die in this state to retain the rights they previously acquired elsewhere. See Christine A. Hammerle, Note, Free Will to Will? A Case for the Recognition of Intestacy Rights for Survivors to a Same-Sex Marriage or Civil Union, 104 Mich. L. Rev. 1763 (2006).
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