Opinion ID: 1187773
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Nebraska Ademption Statute

Text: The Wyoming statutory provision which was in effect at the time of death is § 2-6-104, W.S. 1977: Law governing meaning and effect. The meaning and legal effect of a disposition in a will is determined by the law of the state in which the will was executed, unless the will otherwise provides or unless the application of that law is contrary to the public policy of this state otherwise applicable to the disposition. The will was written in Nebraska, prepared by a Nebraska attorney. Nebraska adopted the Uniform Probate Code ademption provision which, of course, is the same as the present Wyoming provision, and then determined that the modernized law was to be considered to be in effect as of the date of death by attribution in a particular will case. In re McClow's Estate, 205 Neb. 739, 290 N.W.2d 186 (1980). The pervasive logic of the commentators and text writers obviously had an effect in the draftsmanship of the Uniform Probate Code in the interpretative issues including the common-law rules of ademption. Chaffin, The Time Gap in Wills: Shifting Assets and Shrinking Estates  Obsolescence and Testamentary Planning in Georgia, 6 Ga.L.Rev. 649, 696 (1972). Since we have now applied the same substantive interpretation for the Wyoming probate code as did the courts of Nebraska, it is not necessary to further pursue the forum interpretation statute included in the present Wyoming probate code, § 2-6-104, since the law is identical and the anti-ademption provision is effective as to the will in either state.