72-2-811. Disclaimer of property interests. (1) (a) A person or the representative of a person to whom an interest in or with respect to property or an interest in the property devolves by whatever means may disclaim it in whole or in part by delivering or filing a written disclaimer under this section.
     (b) The right to disclaim exists notwithstanding:
     (i) any limitation on the interest of the disclaimant in the nature of a spendthrift provision or similar restriction; or
     (ii) any restriction or limitation on the right to disclaim contained in the governing instrument.
     (c) For purposes of this subsection (1), the "representative of a person" includes a personal representative of a decedent; a conservator of a disabled person; a guardian of a minor or incapacitated person; a guardian ad litem of a minor, an incapacitated person, an unborn person, an unascertained person, or a person whose identity or address is unknown; and an agent acting on behalf of the person within the authority of a power of attorney. The representative of a person may rely on a general family benefit accruing to the living members of the represented person's family as a basis for making a disclaimer.
     (2) The following rules govern the time when a disclaimer must be filed or delivered:
     (a) If the property or interest has devolved to the disclaimant under a testamentary instrument or by the laws of intestacy, the disclaimer must be filed, if of a present interest, not later than 9 months after the death of the deceased owner or deceased donee of a power of appointment and, if of a future interest, not later than 9 months after the event determining that the taker of the property or interest is finally ascertained and the taker's interest is indefeasibly vested. The disclaimer must be filed in the court of the county in which proceedings for the administration of the estate of the deceased owner or deceased donee of the power have been commenced. A copy of the disclaimer must be delivered in person or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to any personal representative or other fiduciary of the decedent or donee of the power.
     (b) If a property or interest has devolved to the disclaimant under a nontestamentary instrument or contract, the disclaimer must be delivered or filed, if of a present interest, not later than 9 months after the effective date of the nontestamentary instrument or contract and, if of a future interest, not later than 9 months after the event determining that the taker of the property or interest is finally ascertained and the taker's interest is indefeasibly vested. If the person entitled to disclaim does not know of the existence of the interest, the disclaimer must be delivered or filed not later than 9 months after the person learns of the existence of the interest. The effective date of a revocable instrument or contract is the date on which the maker no longer has power to revoke it or to transfer to the maker or another the entire legal and equitable ownership of the interest. The disclaimer or a copy of the disclaimer must be delivered in person or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person who has legal title to or possession of the interest disclaimed.
     (c) A surviving joint tenant may disclaim as a separate interest any property or interest in property devolving to the surviving joint tenant by right of survivorship within 9 months after the death of the deceased joint owner, regardless of whether the surviving joint tenant contributed to the purchase of jointly held property or benefited from the jointly held property prior to the other joint tenant's death.
     (d) If real property or an interest in the property is disclaimed, a copy of the disclaimer may be recorded in the office of the clerk and recorder of the county in which the property or interest disclaimed is located.
     (3) The disclaimer must:
     (a) describe the property or interest disclaimed;
     (b) declare the disclaimer and extent of the disclaimer; and
     (c) be signed by the disclaimant.
     (4) The following are the effects of a disclaimer:
     (a) If property or an interest in property devolves to a disclaimant under a testamentary instrument, under a power of appointment exercised by a testamentary instrument, or under the laws of intestacy and the decedent has not provided for another disposition of that interest, should it be disclaimed, or of disclaimed or failed interests in general, the disclaimed interest devolves as if the disclaimant had predeceased the decedent, but if by law or under the testamentary instrument the descendants of the disclaimant would share in the disclaimed interest by representation or otherwise were the disclaimant to predecease the decedent, then the disclaimed interest passes by representation, or passes as directed by the governing instrument, to the descendants of the disclaimant who survive the decedent. A future interest that takes effect in possession or enjoyment after the termination of the estate or interest disclaimed takes effect as if the disclaimant had predeceased the decedent. A disclaimer relates back for all purposes to the date of the death of the decedent.
     (b) If property or an interest in property devolves to a disclaimant under a nontestamentary instrument or contract and the instrument or contract does not provide for another disposition of that interest, should it be disclaimed, or of disclaimed or failed interests in general, the disclaimed interest devolves as if the disclaimant had predeceased the effective date of the instrument or contract, but if by law or under the nontestamentary instrument or contract the descendants of the disclaimant would share in the disclaimed interest by representation or otherwise were the disclaimant to predecease the effective date of the instrument, then the disclaimed interest passes by representation, or passes as directed by the governing instrument, to the descendants of the disclaimant who survive the effective date of the instrument. A disclaimer relates back for all purposes to that date. A future interest that takes effect in possession or enjoyment at or after the termination of the disclaimed interest takes effect as if the disclaimant had died before the effective date of the instrument or contract that transferred the disclaimed interest.
     (c) The disclaimer or the written waiver of the right to disclaim is binding upon the disclaimant or person waiving and on all persons claiming through or under either of them.
     (5) The right to disclaim property or an interest in the property is barred by:
     (a) an assignment, conveyance, encumbrance, pledge, or transfer of the property or interest or a contract therefor;
     (b) a written waiver of the right to disclaim;
     (c) an acceptance of the property or interest or benefit under it; or
     (d) a sale of the property or interest under judicial sale made before the disclaimer is made.
     (6) This section does not abridge the right of a person to waive, release, disclaim, or renounce property or an interest in property under any other statute.
     (7) An interest in property that exists on October 1, 1993, as to which, if a present interest, the time for filing a disclaimer under this section has not expired or, if a future interest, the interest has not become indefeasibly vested or the taker finally ascertained may be disclaimed within 9 months after October 1, 1993.

     History: En. 91A-2-801 by Sec. 1, Ch. 365, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 91A-2-801; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 52, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 511, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 494, L. 1993; Sec. 72-2-101, MCA 1991; redes. 72-2-811 by Code Commissioner, 1993; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 592, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 290, L. 1999.