2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE › Article 2: INTESTACY, WILLS AND DONATIVE TRANSFERS › Part 9: UNIFORM DISCLAIMER OF PROPERTY INTERESTS ACT › 18-C §2-912. Delivery or filing

§2-912. Delivery or filing
1.  Beneficiary designation.
As used in this section, "beneficiary designation" means an instrument, other than an instrument creating a trust, naming the beneficiary of:
A. An annuity or insurance policy;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. An account with a designation for payment;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
C. A security registered in beneficiary form;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
D. A pension, profit-sharing, retirement or other employment-related benefit plan; or   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
E. Any other nonprobate transfer at death.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
2.  Delivery of disclaimer; generally.
Subject to subsections 3 to 12, delivery of a disclaimer may be effected by personal delivery, first-class mail or any other method likely to result in its receipt.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
3.  Disclaimer of interest from intestate succession or will.
In the case of an interest created under the law of intestate succession or an interest created by will, other than an interest in a testamentary trust:
A. A disclaimer must be delivered to the personal representative of the decedent's estate or the special administrator of the decedent's estate; or   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. If no personal representative is then serving, a disclaimer must be filed with the court having jurisdiction to appoint the personal representative.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
4.  Disclaimer of interest in a testamentary trust.
In the case of an interest in a testamentary trust:
A. A disclaimer must be delivered to the trustee then serving or, if no trustee is then serving, to the personal representative of the decedent's estate; or   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. If no trustee or personal representative is then serving, the disclaimer must be filed with the court having jurisdiction to enforce the trust.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
5.  Disclaimer of interest in inter vivos trust.
In the case of an interest in an inter vivos trust:
A. A disclaimer must be delivered to the trustee then serving;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. If no trustee is then serving, the disclaimer must be filed with the court having jurisdiction to enforce the trust; or   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
C. If the disclaimer is made before the time the instrument creating the trust becomes irrevocable, it must be delivered to the settlor of a revocable trust or the transferor of the interest.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
6.  Disclaimer of interest created by beneficiary designation.
In the case of an interest created by a beneficiary designation that is disclaimed before the time the designation becomes irrevocable, the disclaimer must be delivered to the person making the beneficiary designation.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
7.  Disclaimer of interest created by irrevocable beneficiary designation.
In the case of an interest created by a beneficiary designation that is disclaimed after the designation becomes irrevocable:
A. The disclaimer of an interest in personal property must be delivered to the person obligated to distribute the interest; and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. The disclaimer of an interest in real property must be recorded in the registry of deeds of the county where the real property that is the subject of the disclaimer is located.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
8.  Disclaimer by surviving holder of jointly held property.
In the case of a disclaimer by a surviving holder of jointly held property, the disclaimer must be delivered to the person to whom the disclaimed interest passes.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
9.  Disclaimer by object or taker in default.
In the case of a disclaimer by an object or taker in default of exercise of a power of appointment at any time after the power was created:
A. The disclaimer must be delivered to the holder of the power or to the fiduciary acting under the instrument that created the power; or   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. If no fiduciary is then serving, the disclaimer must be filed with the court having authority to appoint the fiduciary.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
10.  Disclaimer by appointee.
In the case of a disclaimer by an appointee of a nonfiduciary power of appointment:
A. The disclaimer must be delivered to the holder, the personal representative of the holder's estate or to the fiduciary under the instrument that created the power; or   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. If no fiduciary is then serving, the disclaimer must be filed with the court having authority to appoint the fiduciary.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
11.  Disclaimer by fiduciary.
In the case of a disclaimer by a fiduciary of a power over a trust or estate, the disclaimer must be delivered as provided in subsection 3, 4 or 5 as if the power disclaimed were an interest in property.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
12.  Disclaimer of a power by an agent.
In the case of a disclaimer of a power by an agent, the disclaimer must be delivered to the principal or the principal's representative.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).