HF 265

1st Unofficial Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 12/26/2012 11:27pm

1.1A bill for an act

1.2relating to disposition of items on death; clarifying certain references; providing
1.3for collection of certain property by affidavit; modifying provisions governing
1.4final disposition of remains; correcting an erroneous reference and making other
1.5corrections and clarifications;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
1.6149A.80, subdivisions 1, 2; 524.1-304; 524.3-413; 524.3-1201; 524.3-1203,
1.7subdivision 5.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9ARTICLE 1

1.10UNIFORM PROBATE CODE AMENDMENTS

1.11    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 524.1-304, is amended to read:
1.12524.1-304 PRACTICE IN COURT.
1.13(a) Unless inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or chapter 525, pleadings,
1.14practice, procedure and forms in all probate proceedings shall be governed insofar as
1.15practicable by Rules of Civil Procedure provided for in section 487.23 and adopted
1.16pursuant thereto.
1.17(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), and in addition to its general powers, the court
1.18shall have power to correct, modify, vacate, or amend its records, orders, and decrees:
1.19(1) at any time, for the correction of clerical error or pursuant to the provisions of
1.20section 524.3-413;
1.21(2) within the time for taking an appeal, for the correction of judicial error;
1.22(3) within two years after petitioner's discovery thereof, for fraud, whether intrinsic
1.23or extrinsic, or misrepresentation unless petitioner be a party to such fraud; or
1.24(4) within two years after the date of filing of any record, order, or decree, for
1.25excusable neglect, inadvertence, or mistake.
2.1In any case, the petitioner must proceed with due diligence and may be barred by
2.2laches or the court may deny relief where it appears that the granting thereof would be
2.3inequitable in view of all the facts and circumstances appearing.

2.4    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 524.3-413, is amended to read:
2.5524.3-413 FORMAL TESTACY PROCEEDINGS; VACATION OF ORDER
2.6FOR OTHER CAUSE AND MODIFICATION OF ORDERS, JUDGMENTS, AND
2.7DECREES.
2.8For good cause shown, an order, judgment or decree in a formal proceeding may
2.9be modified or vacated within the time limits and upon the grounds stated in section
2.10525.02 524.1-304, except that the same may be modified to include omitted property or to
2.11correct a description at any time, as hereinafter provided.
2.12Whenever real or personal property or any interest therein has been omitted from
2.13probate proceedings, from a deed or transfer of distribution, a decree of distribution, or an
2.14order for distribution, or has been incorrectly described therein, any person interested in
2.15the estate or claiming an interest in such property may petition the probate court of the
2.16county in which such proceedings were had for a decree to determine its descent and to
2.17assign it to the persons entitled thereto, or to amend the deed or transfer of distribution,
2.18decree of distribution, or order of distribution to include such omitted property, or to
2.19correct the description, with or without notice. No order or decree of omitted property
2.20shall be entered under this section until any inheritance taxes due are paid or the court
2.21finds there are no taxes due.

2.22    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 524.3-1201, is amended to read:
2.23524.3-1201 COLLECTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY BY AFFIDAVIT.
2.24(a) Thirty days after the death of a decedent, (i) any person indebted to the
2.25decedent, (ii) any person having possession of tangible personal property or an instrument
2.26evidencing a debt, obligation, stock, or chose in action belonging to the decedent, or (iii)
2.27any safe deposit company, as defined in section 55.01, controlling the right of access to
2.28decedent's safe deposit box shall make payment of the indebtedness or deliver the tangible
2.29personal property or an instrument evidencing a debt, obligation, stock, or chose in
2.30action or deliver the entire contents of the safe deposit box to a person claiming to be the
2.31successor of the decedent, or a state or county agency with a claim authorized by section
2.32256B.15 , upon being presented a certified death record of the decedent and an affidavit, in
2.33duplicate, made by or on behalf of the successor stating that:
3.1(1) the value of the entire probate estate, determined as of the date of death,
3.2wherever located, including specifically any contents of a safe deposit box, less liens and
3.3encumbrances, does not exceed $20,000 $50,000;
3.4(2) 30 days have elapsed since the death of the decedent or, in the event the property
3.5to be delivered is the contents of a safe deposit box, 30 days have elapsed since the filing
3.6of an inventory of the contents of the box pursuant to section 55.10, paragraph (h);
3.7(3) no application or petition for the appointment of a personal representative is
3.8pending or has been granted in any jurisdiction;
3.9(4) if presented, by a state or county agency with a claim authorized by section
3.10256B.15 , to a financial institution with a multiple-party account in which the decedent
3.11had an interest at the time of death, the amount of the affiant's claim and a good faith
3.12estimate of the extent to which the decedent was the source of funds or beneficial owner
3.13of the account; and
3.14(5) the claiming successor is entitled to payment or delivery of the property.
3.15(b) A transfer agent of any security shall change the registered ownership on
3.16the books of a corporation from the decedent to the successor or successors upon the
3.17presentation of an affidavit as provided in subsection (a).
3.18(c) The claiming successor or state or county agency shall disburse the proceeds
3.19collected under this section to any person with a superior claim under section 524.2-403
3.20or 524.3-805.
3.21(d) A motor vehicle registrar shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the
3.22successor upon the presentation of an affidavit as provided in subsection (a).
3.23(e) The person controlling access to decedent's safe deposit box need not open the
3.24box or deliver the contents of the box if:
3.25(1) the person has received notice of a written or oral objection from any person or
3.26has reason to believe that there would be an objection; or
3.27(2) the lessee's key or combination is not available.

3.28    Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 524.3-1203, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.29    Subd. 5. Exhaustion of estate. In any summary, special, or other administration
3.30in which it appears that the estate will not be exhausted in payment of the priority items
3.31enumerated in subdivisions 1 to 4, the estate may nevertheless be summarily closed
3.32without further notice, and the property assigned to the proper persons, if the gross probate
3.33estate, exclusive of any exempt homestead as defined in section 524.2-402, and any
3.34exempt property as defined in section 524.2-403, does not exceed the value of $100,000.
3.35If the closing and distribution of assets is made pursuant to the terms of a will, no decree
4.1shall issue until a hearing has been held for formal probate of the will as provided in
4.2sections 524.3-401 to 524.3-413.
4.3No summary closing of an estate shall be made to any distributee under this
4.4subdivision, unless a showing is made by the personal representative or the petitioner, that
4.5all property selected by and allowances to the spouse and children as provided in section
4.6524.2-403 and the expenses and claims provided in section 524.3-805 have been paid,
4.7and provided, further, that a bond shall be filed by the personal representative or the
4.8petitioner, conditioned upon the fact that all such obligations have been paid and that all
4.9the facts shown on the petition are true, with sufficient surety approved by the court in
4.10an amount as may be fixed by the court to cover potential improper distributions. If a
4.11personal representative is appointed, the representative's bond shall be sufficient for such
4.12purpose unless an additional bond is ordered, and the sureties on the bond shall have the
4.13same obligations and liabilities as provided for sureties on a distribution bond.
4.14In the event that an improper distribution or disbursement is made in a summary
4.15closing, in that not all of said obligations have been paid or that other facts as shown by
4.16the personal representative or the petitioner, are not true, resulting in damage to any
4.17party, the court may vacate its summary decree or closing order, and the petitioner or
4.18the personal representative, together with the surety, shall be liable for damages to any
4.19party determined to be injured thereby as herein provided. The personal representative,
4.20petitioner, or the surety, may seek reimbursement for damages so paid or incurred from
4.21any distributee or recipient of assets under summary decree or order, who shall be required
4.22to make a contribution to cover such damages upon a pro rata basis or as may be equitable
4.23to the extent of assets so received. The court is hereby granted complete and plenary
4.24jurisdiction of any and all such proceedings and may enter such orders and judgments as
4.25may be required to effectuate the purposes of this subdivision.
4.26Any judgment rendered for damages or the recovery of assets in such proceedings
4.27shall be upon petition and only after hearing held thereon on 14 days' notice of hearing and
4.28a copy of petition served personally upon the personal representative and the surety and
4.29upon any distributee or recipient of assets where applicable. Any action for the recovery
4.30of money or damages under this subdivision is subject to the time and other limitations
4.31imposed by section 525.02 524.1-304.

4.32ARTICLE 2

4.33RIGHT TO CONTROL AND DUTY OF DISPOSITION

4.34    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 149A.80, subdivision 1, is amended to
4.35read:
5.1    Subdivision 1. Advance directives and will of decedent. A person may direct
5.2the preparation for, type, or place of that person's final disposition, as well as the type
5.3of conveyance to be used to transport the body to the place of final disposition, either
5.4by oral or written instructions. Arrangements made in advance of need with a funeral
5.5establishment must be in writing and dated, signed, and notarized witnessed. The person
5.6or persons otherwise entitled to control the final disposition under this chapter shall
5.7faithfully carry out the reasonable and otherwise lawful directions of the decedent to
5.8the extent that the decedent has provided resources for the purpose of carrying out the
5.9directions. If the instructions are contained in a will, they shall be immediately carried
5.10out, regardless of the validity of the will in other respects or of the fact that the will may
5.11not be offered for or admitted to probate until a later date, subject to other provisions of
5.12this chapter or any other law of this state. This subdivision shall be administered and
5.13construed so that the reasonable and lawful instructions of the decedent or the person
5.14entitled to control the final disposition shall be faithfully and promptly performed.

5.15    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 149A.80, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
5.16    Subd. 2. Determination of right to control and duty of disposition. The right to
5.17control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person, including the location and
5.18conditions of final disposition, unless other directions have been given by the decedent
5.19pursuant to subdivision 1, vests in, and the duty of final disposition of the body devolves
5.20upon, the following in the order of priority listed:
5.21    (1) the person or persons appointed in a dated written instrument signed by the
5.22decedent. Written instrument includes, but is not limited to, a health care directive
5.23executed under chapter 145C. If there is a dispute involving more than one written
5.24instrument, a written instrument that is witnessed or notarized prevails over a written
5.25instrument that is not witnessed or notarized. Written instrument does not include a
5.26durable or nondurable power of attorney which terminates on the death of the principal
5.27pursuant to sections 523.08 and 523.09;
5.28    (2) the spouse of the decedent;
5.29    (3) the adult child or the majority of the adult children of the decedent, provided
5.30that, in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary, a funeral director or mortician
5.31may rely on instructions given by the child or children who represent that they are the sole
5.32surviving child, or that they constitute a majority of the surviving children;
5.33    (4) the surviving parent or parents of the decedent, each having equal authority;
5.34    (5) the adult sibling or the majority of the adult siblings of the decedent, provided
5.35that, in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary, a funeral director or mortician
6.1may rely on instructions given by the sibling or siblings who represent that they are the
6.2sole surviving sibling, or that they constitute a majority of the surviving siblings;
6.3    (6) the adult grandchild or the majority of the adult grandchildren of the decedent,
6.4provided that, in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary, a funeral director or
6.5mortician may rely on instructions given by a grandchild or grandchildren who represent
6.6that they are the only grandchild or grandchildren reasonably available to control final
6.7disposition of the decedent's remains or represent a majority of grandchildren reasonably
6.8available to control final disposition of the decedent's remains;
6.9(7) the grandparent or the grandparents of the decedent, each having equal authority;
6.10(8) the adult nieces and nephews of the decedent, or a majority of them, provided
6.11that, in the absence of actual knowledge to the contrary, a funeral director or mortician
6.12may rely on instructions given by a niece, nephew, or nieces or nephews who represent
6.13that they are the only niece, nephew, or nieces or nephews reasonably available to control
6.14final disposition of the decedent's remains or represent a majority of nieces and nephews
6.15reasonably available to control final disposition of the decedent's remains;
6.16(9) the person or persons who were acting as the guardians of the person of the
6.17decedent with authority to make health care decisions for the decedent at the time of death;
6.18(10) an adult who exhibited special care and concern for the decedent;
6.19(11) the person or persons respectively in the next degree of kinship in the order
6.20named by law to inherit the estate of the decedent; and
6.21    (7) (12) the appropriate public or court authority, as required by law.
6.22    For purposes of this subdivision, the appropriate public or court authority includes
6.23the county board of the county in which the death occurred if the person dies without
6.24apparent financial means to provide for final disposition or the district court in the county
6.25in which the death occurred.

6.26    Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
6.27Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.