Source: http://delcode.delaware.gov/sessionlaws/ga139/chp081.shtml
Timestamp: 2014-03-12 10:48:22
Document Index: 381115984

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 201', '§ 252', '§ 255', '§ 259', '§ 252', '§ 253', '§ 254', '§ 255', '§ 253', '§ 255', '§256', '§257', '§ 208', '§ 209', '§ 258', '§ 251', '§ 257', '§ 259']

Section 1. Amend Title 12, Delaware Code by designating §§ 201 through 214 thereof as "Subchapter I. Tenets and Principles".
Section 2. Amend Chapter 2, Part IL Title 12 of the Delaware Code by adding the following as Subchapter H:
"Subchapter II. Delaware Uniform International Wills Act.
(1) 'International will' means a will executed in conformity with § 252 through § 255 of this subchapter.
(2) 'Authorized person' and 'person authorized to act in connection with international wills' means a person who by § 259 of this subchapter, or by the laws of the United States including members of the diplomatic and consular service of the United States designated by Foreign Service Regulations, is empowered to supervise the execution of international wills.
§ 252. International Will Validity
(a) A will is valid as regards form, irrespective particularly of the place where it is made, of the location of the assets and of the nationality, domicile, or residence of the testator, if it is made in the form of an international will complying with the requirements of this subchapter.
(c) This subchapter does not apply to the form of testamentary dispositions made by 2 or more persons in one instrument.
(d) This subchapter deals only with the form of execution of an international will. Delaware law regarding the scope of testamentary power, revocation of wills, competency of witnesses, regulation of probate, interpretation and construction of wills, and the administration of decedents' estates remains applicable to an international will.
§ 253. International Will; Requirements.
(a) The will must be made in writing. It need not be written by the testator himself. It may be written in any language, by hand or by any other means.
(b) The testator shall declare in the presence of two credible witnesses and of a person authorized to act in connection with international wills that the document is his will and that he knows the contents thereof. The testator need not inform the witnesses, or the authorized person, of the contents of the will.
§ 254. International Wills: Other Points of Form.
(a) The signatures must be placed at the end of the will. If the will consists of several sheets, each sheet must be signed by the testator or, if he is unable to sign, by the person signing on his behalf or, if there is no such person, by the authorized person. In addition, each sheet must be numbered.
(c) The authorized person shall ask the testator whether he wishes to make a declaration concerning the safekeeping of his will. If so and at the express request of the testator, the place where he intends to have his will kept must be mentioned in the certificate provided for in § 255 of this subchapter.
(d) A will executed in compliance with § 253 of this subchapter is not invalid merely because it does not comply with this section.
§ 255. International Will: Certificate
The authorized person shall attach to the will a certificate to be signed by him establishing that the requirements of this subchapter for valid execution of an international will have been fulfilled. The authorized person shall keep a copy of the certificate and deliver another to the testator. The certificate must be substantially in the following form:
I, __________________ (name, address, and capacity), a person authorized to act in connection with international wills, certify that on _______________ (date) at ________________ (place)
(testator) ___________________________________________________________
(name, address, date and place of birth) in my presence and that of the witness (a) _____________________________ (name, address, date and place of birth) and (b) ______________________ (name, address, date and place of birth)
(2) *following a declaration of the testator stating that he was unable to sign his will for the following reason______________, I have mentioned this declaration on the will,
*and the signature has been affixed by _______________________________________ (name and address)
(c) *each page of the will has been signed by ______________________ and numbered;
(f) *the testator has requested me to include the following statement concerning the safekeeping of his will:
§256. International Will: Effect of Certificate.
§257. International Will: Revocation.
An international will is subject to the rules of revocation of wills appearing at § 208 and § 209 of this Chapter.
§ 258 Source and Construction.
§ 251 through § 257 of this title derive from Annex to Convention of October 26, 1973, Providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will. In interpreting and applying this subchapter, regard shall be had to its international origin and to the need for uniformity in its interpretation.
§ 259. Persons Authorized to Act in Relation to International Will Eligibility: Recognition by Authorizing Agency.
Individuals who have been admitted to practice law before the courts of this state and who are in good standing as active law practitioners in this state, are hereby declared to be authorized persons in relation to international wills."
Section 3. This Act shall be known as and may be cited as the "Delaware Uniform International Wills Act".
Section 4. This Act shall apply to wills executed before and after the effective date of this Act.
Section 5. This Act shall be effective upon its adoption.