1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to property; enacting the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act;
1.3 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 524; repealing 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 501B.86; 525.532.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [524.2-1101] SHORT TITLE.
1.7 	Sections 524.2-1101 to 524.2-1116 may be cited as the "Uniform Disclaimer of 
1.8 	Property Interests Act."

1.9 	Sec. 2. [524.2-1102] DEFINITIONS.
1.10 	As used in sections 524.2-1101 to 524.2-1116:
1.11 	(1) "benefactor means the creator of the interest that is subject to a disclaimer;
1.12 	(2) "beneficiary designation" means an instrument, other than an instrument creating 
1.13 	or amending a trust, naming the beneficiary of:
1.14 	(i) an annuity or insurance policy;
1.15 	(ii) an account with a designation for payment on death;
1.16 	(iii) a security registered in beneficiary form;
1.17 	(iv) a pension, profit-sharing, retirement, or other employment-related benefit plan; 
1.18 	or
1.19 	(v) any other nonprobate transfer at death;
1.20 	(3) "disclaimant" means the person to whom a disclaimed interest or power would 
1.21 	have passed had the disclaimer not been made;
1.22 	(4) "disclaimed interest" or "power" means the portion of the interest that would 
1.23 	have passed to the disclaimant had the disclaimer not been made;
2.1 	(5) "disclaimer" means the refusal to accept an interest in or power over property;
2.2 	(6) "fiduciary" means a personal representative, trustee of a trust, agent acting under 
2.3 	a power of attorney, conservator, or other person authorized to act as a fiduciary with 
2.4 	respect to the property of another person;
2.5 	(7) "future interest" means an interest that takes effect in possession or enjoyment, if 
2.6 	at all, later than the time of its creation;
2.7 	(8) "holder" means a person who has an interest in or power over property;
2.8 	(9) "insolvent" means that the sum of a person's debts is greater than all of the 
2.9 	person's assets at fair valuation. A person is presumed to be "insolvent" if the person is 
2.10 	generally not paying debts as they become due. Assets do not include property that has 
2.11 	been transferred, concealed, or removed, with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud creditors, 
2.12 	or has been transferred in a manner making the transfer voidable. Debts do not include 
2.13 	an obligation to the extent it is secured by a valid lien or property of the debtor not 
2.14 	included as an asset;
2.15 	(10) "jointly held property" means property held in the names of two or more 
2.16 	persons under an arrangement in which all holders have concurrent interests and under 
2.17 	which the last surviving holder is entitled to the whole of the property;
2.18 	(11) "person" means an individual, living, deceased, or unborn, ascertained 
2.19 	or unascertained, whether entitled to an interest by right of intestacy or otherwise, 
2.20 	corporation, business trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint 
2.21 	venture, government, government subdivision, agency or instrumentality, public 
2.22 	corporation, or other commercial entity;
2.23 	(12) "time of distribution" means the time when a disclaimed interest would have 
2.24 	taken effect in possession or enjoyment;
2.25 	(13) "state" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
2.26 	Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory of 
2.27 	insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes an 
2.28 	Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan native village, recognized by federal law or formally 
2.29 	acknowledged by a state; and
2.30 	(14) "trust" means:
2.31 	(i) an express trust charitable or noncharitable, with additions thereto, whenever 
2.32 	and however created; and
2.33 	(ii) a trust created pursuant to a statute, judgment, or decree which requires the trust 
2.34 	be administered in the manner of an express trust.

2.35 	Sec. 3. [524.2-1103] SCOPE.
3.1 	Sections 524.2-1101 to 524.2-1116 apply to disclaimers of any interest in or power 
3.2 	over property, whenever created. Except as provided in section 524.2-1116, sections 
3.3 	524.2-1101 to 524.2-1116 are the exclusive means by which a disclaimer may be made 
3.4 	under Minnesota law regardless of whether it is qualified under section 2518 of the 
3.5 	Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in effect on January 1, 2010.

3.6 	Sec. 4. [524.2-1104] TAX-QUALIFIED DISCLAIMER.
3.7 	Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, other than section 524.2-1106, 
3.8 	if, as a result of a disclaimer or transfer, the disclaimed or transferred interest is treated 
3.9 	pursuant to the provisions of section 2518 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in 
3.10 	effect on January 1, 2010, as never having been transferred to the disclaimant, then the 
3.11 	disclaimer or transfer is effective as a disclaimer under sections 524.2-1101 to 524.2-1116.

3.12 	Sec. 5. [524.2-1105] WHEN DISCLAIMER IS PERMITTED.
3.13 	A disclaimer may be made at any time unless it is barred under section 524.2-1106.

3.14 	Sec. 6. [524.2-1106] WHEN DISCLAIMER IS BARRED OR LIMITED.
3.15 	(a) A disclaimer is barred by a written waiver of the right to disclaim.
3.16 	(b) A disclaimer of an interest in property is barred if any of the following events 
3.17 	occur before the disclaimer becomes effective:
3.18 	(1) the disclaimant accepts the portion of the interest sought to be disclaimed;
3.19 	(2) the disclaimant voluntarily assigns, conveys, encumbers, pledges, or transfers the 
3.20 	portion of the interest sought to be disclaimed or contracts to do so;
3.21 	(3) the portion of the interest sought to be disclaimed is sold pursuant to a judicial 
3.22 	sale; or
3.23 	(4) the disclaimant is insolvent when the disclaimer becomes irrevocable.
3.24 	(c) A disclaimer, in whole or in part, of the future exercise of a power held in a 
3.25 	fiduciary capacity is not barred by its previous exercise.
3.26 	(d) A disclaimer, in whole or in part, of the future exercise of a power not held in a 
3.27 	fiduciary capacity is not barred by its previous exercise unless the power is exercisable in 
3.28 	favor of the disclaimant.
3.29 	(e) A disclaimer of an interest in, or a power over, property which is barred by 
3.30 	this section is ineffective.

3.31 	Sec. 7. [524.2-1107] POWER TO DISCLAIM; GENERAL REQUIREMENTS; 
3.32 	WHEN IRREVOCABLE.
4.1 	(a) A person may disclaim, in whole or in part, any interest in or power over 
4.2 	property, including a power of appointment. A person may disclaim the interest or power 
4.3 	even if its creator imposed a spendthrift provision or similar restriction on transfer or a 
4.4 	restriction or limitation on the right to disclaim.
4.5 	(b) With court approval, a fiduciary may disclaim, in whole or in part, any interest in 
4.6 	or power over property, including a power of appointment when acting in a representative 
4.7 	capacity. Without court approval, a fiduciary may disclaim, in whole or in part, any interest 
4.8 	in or power over property, including a power of appointment, if and to the extent that the 
4.9 	instrument creating the fiduciary relationship explicitly grants the fiduciary the right to 
4.10 	disclaim. With court approval, a custodial parent may disclaim on behalf of a minor child 
4.11 	for whom no conservator has been appointed, in whole or in part, any interest in or power 
4.12 	over property, including a power of appointment, which the minor child is to receive.
4.13 	(c) To be effective, a disclaimer must be in writing, declare the writing as a 
4.14 	disclaimer, describe the interest or power disclaimed, and be signed by the person or 
4.15 	fiduciary making the disclaimer and acknowledged in the manner provided for deeds of 
4.16 	real estate to be recorded in this state. In addition, for a disclaimer to be effective, an 
4.17 	original of the disclaimer must be delivered or filed in the manner provided in section 
4.18 	524.2-1114.
4.19 	(d) A partial disclaimer may be expressed as a fraction, percentage, monetary 
4.20 	amount, term of years, limitation of a power, or any other interest or estate in the property.
4.21 	(e) A disclaimer becomes irrevocable when the disclaimer is delivered or filed 
4.22 	pursuant to section 524.2-1114 or it becomes effective as provided in sections 524.2-1108 
4.23 	to 524.2-1113, whichever occurs later.
4.24 	(f) A disclaimer made under sections 524.2-1101 to 524.2-1116 is not a transfer, 
4.25 	assignment, or release.

4.26 	Sec. 8. [524.2-1108] DISCLAIMER OF INTEREST IN PROPERTY.
4.27 	(a) Except for a disclaimer governed by section 524.2-1109 or 524.2-1110, the rules 
4.28 	in paragraphs (b) to (d) apply to a disclaimer of an interest in property.
4.29 	(b) The disclaimer takes effect as of the time the instrument creating the interest 
4.30 	becomes irrevocable, or, if the interest arose under the law of intestate succession, as of 
4.31 	the time of the intestate's death.
4.32 	(c) The disclaimed interest passes according to any provision in the instrument 
4.33 	creating the interest providing for the disposition of the interest, should it be disclaimed, 
4.34 	or as disclaimed interests in general.
5.1 	(d) If the instrument does not contain a provision described in paragraph (c), the 
5.2 	following rules apply:
5.3 	(1) if the disclaimant is an individual, the disclaimed interest passes as if the 
5.4 	disclaimant had died immediately before the interest was created, unless under the 
5.5 	governing instrument or other applicable law, the disclaimed interest is contingent on 
5.6 	surviving to the time of distribution, in which case the disclaimed interest passes as if 
5.7 	the disclaimant had died immediately before the time for distribution. However, if, by 
5.8 	law or under the governing instrument, the descendants of the disclaimant would share 
5.9 	in the disclaimed interest by any method of representation had the disclaimant died 
5.10 	before the time of distribution, the disclaimed interest passes only to the descendants of 
5.11 	the disclaimant who survive the time of distribution. For purposes of this paragraph, a 
5.12 	disclaimed interest is created at the death of the benefactor or such earlier time, if any, that 
5.13 	the benefactor's transfer of the interest is a completed gift for federal gift tax purposes. 
5.14 	Also for purposes of this paragraph, a disclaimed interest in an inter vivos trust and other 
5.15 	will substitutes that do not lapse with certainty under state law shall pass as if the interest 
5.16 	had been created under a will;
5.17 	(2) if the disclaimant is not an individual, the disclaimed interest passes as if the 
5.18 	disclaimant did not exist; and
5.19 	(3) upon the disclaimer of a preceding interest, a future interest held by a person 
5.20 	other than the disclaimant takes effect as if the disclaimant had died or ceased to exist 
5.21 	immediately before the time of distribution, but a future interest held by the disclaimant is 
5.22 	not accelerated in possession or enjoyment as a result of the disclaimer.

5.23 	Sec. 9. [524.2-1109] DISCLAIMER OF RIGHTS OF SURVIVORSHIP IN 
5.24 	JOINTLY HELD PROPERTY.
5.25 	(a) Upon the death of a holder of jointly held property:
5.26 	(1) if, during the deceased holder's lifetime, the deceased holder could have 
5.27 	unilaterally regained a portion of the property attributable to the deceased holder's 
5.28 	contributions without the consent of any other holder, another holder may disclaim, in 
5.29 	whole or in part, a fractional share of that portion of the property attributable to the 
5.30 	deceased holder's contributions determined by dividing the number one by the number of 
5.31 	joint holders alive immediately after the death of the holder to whose death the disclaimer 
5.32 	relates; and
5.33 	(2) for all other jointly held property, another holder may disclaim, in whole or 
5.34 	in part, a fraction of the whole of the property the numerator of which is one and the 
5.35 	denominator of which is the product of the number of joint holders alive immediately 
6.1 	before the death of the holder to whose death the disclaimer relates multiplied by the 
6.2 	number of joint holders alive immediately after the death of the holder to whose death the 
6.3 	disclaimer relates.
6.4 	(b) A disclaimer under paragraph (a) takes effect as of the death of the holder of 
6.5 	jointly held property to whose death the disclaimer relates.
6.6 	(c) An interest in jointly held property disclaimed by a surviving holder of the 
6.7 	property passes as if the disclaimant predeceased the holder to whose death the disclaimer 
6.8 	relates.

6.9 	Sec. 10. [524.2-1110] DISCLAIMER OF INTEREST BY TRUSTEE.
6.10 	If a trustee having the power to disclaim under the instrument creating the fiduciary 
6.11 	relationship or pursuant to court order disclaims an interest in property that otherwise 
6.12 	would have become trust property, the interest does not become trust property.

6.13 	Sec. 11. [524.2-1111] DISCLAIMER OF POWER OF APPOINTMENT OR 
6.14 	OTHER POWER NOT HELD IN A FIDUCIARY CAPACITY.
6.15 	If a holder disclaims a power of appointment or other power not held in a fiduciary 
6.16 	capacity, the following rules apply:
6.17 	(1) if the holder has not exercised the power, the disclaimer takes effect as of the 
6.18 	time the instrument creating the power becomes irrevocable;
6.19 	(2) if the holder has exercised the power, the disclaimer takes effect immediately 
6.20 	after the last exercise of the power; and
6.21 	(3) the instrument creating the power is construed as if the power expired when 
6.22 	the disclaimer became effective.

6.23 	Sec. 12. [524.2-1112] DISCLAIMER BY APPOINTEE, OBJECT, OR TAKER IN 
6.24 	DEFAULT OF EXERCISE OF POWER OF APPOINTMENT.
6.25 	(a) A disclaimer of an interest in property by an appointee of a power of appointment 
6.26 	takes effect as of the time the instrument by which the holder exercises the power becomes 
6.27 	irrevocable.
6.28 	(b) A disclaimer of an interest in property by an object, or taker in default of an 
6.29 	exercise of a power of appointment, takes effect as of the time the instrument creating 
6.30 	the power becomes irrevocable.

6.31 	Sec. 13. [524.2-1113] DISCLAIMER OF POWER HELD IN FIDUCIARY 
6.32 	CAPACITY.
7.1 	(a) If a fiduciary disclaims a power held in a fiduciary capacity which has not been 
7.2 	exercised, the disclaimer takes effect as of the time the instrument creating the power 
7.3 	becomes irrevocable.
7.4 	(b) If a fiduciary disclaims a power held in a fiduciary capacity which has been 
7.5 	exercised, the disclaimer takes effect immediately after the last exercise of the power.
7.6 	(c) A disclaimer under this section is effective as to another fiduciary if:
7.7 	(1) the disclaimer so provides; and
7.8 	(2) the fiduciary disclaiming has the authority to bind the estate, trust, or other 
7.9 	person for whom the fiduciary is acting.

7.10 	Sec. 14. [524.2-1114] DELIVERY OR FILING.
7.11 	(a) Subject to paragraphs (b) to (l), delivery of a disclaimer may be effective 
7.12 	by personal delivery, first-class mail, or any other method that results in its receipt. 
7.13 	A disclaimer sent by first-class mail is deemed to have been delivered on the date it is 
7.14 	postmarked. Delivery by any other method is effective upon receipt by the person to 
7.15 	whom the disclaimer is to be delivered under this section.
7.16 	(b) In the case of a disclaimer of an interest created under the law of intestate 
7.17 	succession or an interest created by will, other than an interest in a testamentary trust:
7.18 	(1) the disclaimer must be delivered to the personal representative of the decedent's 
7.19 	estate; or
7.20 	(2) if no personal representative is serving when the disclaimer is sought to be 
7.21 	delivered, the disclaimer must be filed with the clerk of the court in any county where 
7.22 	venue of administration would be proper.
7.23 	(c) In the case of a disclaimer of an interest in a testamentary trust:
7.24 	(1) the disclaimer must be delivered to the trustee serving when the disclaimer is 
7.25 	delivered or, if no trustee is then serving, to the personal representative of the decedent's 
7.26 	estate; or
7.27 	(2) if no personal representative is serving when the disclaimer is sought to be 
7.28 	delivered, the disclaimer must be filed with the clerk of the court in any county where 
7.29 	venue of administration of the decedent's estate would be proper.
7.30 	(d) In the case of a disclaimer of an interest in an inter vivos trust:
7.31 	(1) the disclaimer must be delivered to the trustee serving when the disclaimer is 
7.32 	delivered;
7.33 	(2) if no trustee is then serving, it must be filed with the clerk of the court in any 
7.34 	county where the filing of a notice of trust would be proper; or
8.1 	(3) if the disclaimer is made before the time the instrument creating the trust becomes 
8.2 	irrevocable, the disclaimer must be delivered to the person with the power to revoke the 
8.3 	revocable trust or the transferor of the interest or to such person's legal representative.
8.4 	(e) In the case of a disclaimer of an interest created by a beneficiary designation made 
8.5 	before the time the designation becomes irrevocable, the disclaimer must be delivered to 
8.6 	the person making the beneficiary designation or to such person's legal representative.
8.7 	(f) In the case of a disclaimer of an interest created by a beneficiary designation 
8.8 	made after the time the designation becomes irrevocable, the disclaimer must be delivered 
8.9 	to the person obligated to distribute the interest.
8.10 	(g) In the case of a disclaimer by a surviving holder of jointly held property, the 
8.11 	disclaimer must be delivered to the person to whom the disclaimed interest passes or, if 
8.12 	such person cannot reasonably be located by the disclaimant, the disclaimer must be 
8.13 	delivered as provided in paragraph (b).
8.14 	(h) In the case of a disclaimer by an object, or taker in default of exercise, of a 
8.15 	power of appointment at any time after the power was created, the disclaimer must be 
8.16 	delivered to:
8.17 	(1) the holder of the power; or
8.18 	(2) the fiduciary acting under the instrument that created the power or, if no fiduciary 
8.19 	is serving when the disclaimer is sought to be delivered, filed with a court having authority 
8.20 	to appoint the fiduciary.
8.21 	(i) In the case of a disclaimer by an appointee of a nonfiduciary power of 
8.22 	appointment, the disclaimer must be delivered to:
8.23 	(1) the holder of the power or the personal representative of the holder's estate; or
8.24 	(2) the fiduciary under the instrument that created the power or, if no fiduciary is 
8.25 	serving when the disclaimer is sought to be delivered, filed with a court having authority 
8.26 	to appoint the fiduciary.
8.27 	(j) In the case of a disclaimer by a fiduciary of a power over a trust or estate, the 
8.28 	disclaimer must be delivered as provided in paragraph (b), (c), or (d) as if the power 
8.29 	disclaimed were an interest in property.
8.30 	(k) In the case of a disclaimer of a power exercisable by an agent, other than a power 
8.31 	exercisable by a fiduciary over a trust or estate, the disclaimer must be delivered to the 
8.32 	principal or the principal's representative.
8.33 	(l) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), delivery of a disclaimer of an interest in or 
8.34 	relating to real estate shall be presumed upon the recording of the disclaimer in the office 
8.35 	of the clerk of the court of the county or counties where the real estate is located.
9.1 	(m) A fiduciary or other person having custody of the disclaimed interest is not 
9.2 	liable for any otherwise proper distribution or other disposition made without actual 
9.3 	notice of the disclaimer or, if the disclaimer is barred under section 524.2-1106, for any 
9.4 	otherwise proper distribution or other disposition made in reliance on the disclaimer, if 
9.5 	the distribution or disposition is made without actual knowledge of the facts constituting 
9.6 	the bar of the right to disclaim.

9.7 	Sec. 15. [524.2-1115] RECORDING OF DISCLAIMER RELATING TO REAL 
9.8 	ESTATE.
9.9 	(a) A disclaimer of an interest in or relating to real estate does not provide 
9.10 	constructive notice to all persons unless the disclaimer contains a legal description of the 
9.11 	real estate to which the disclaimer relates and unless the disclaimer is filed for recording in 
9.12 	the office of the county recorder in the county or counties where the real estate is located.
9.13 	(b) An effective disclaimer meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) constitutes 
9.14 	constructive notice to all persons from the time of filing. Failure to record the disclaimer 
9.15 	does not affect its validity as between the disclaimant and persons to whom the property 
9.16 	interest or power passes by reason of the disclaimer.

9.17 	Sec. 16. [524.2-1116] APPLICATION TO EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS.
9.18 	Except as otherwise provided in section 524.2-1106, an interest in or power over 
9.19 	property existing on January 1, 2010, as to which the time for delivering or filing a 
9.20 	disclaimer under laws superseded by sections 524.2-1101 to 524.2-1116 has not expired, 
9.21 	may be disclaimed after January 1, 2010.

9.22 	Sec. 17. REPEALER.
 9.23 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 501B.86; and 525.532, are repealed.

9.24 	Sec. 18. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 9.25 	Sections 1 to 17 are effective January 1, 2010.