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Vermont Statutes Title 14. Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations, § 323. Written waiver of spousal rights

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) At any time before or during a marriage, a spouse may waive the right to an elective share of a deceased spouse's estate, waive the right to a homestead or other allowance, and waive any other spousal rights or interest in property, in whole or in part, by a written instrument signed by the waiving spouse.

(b) A written waiver of spousal rights is presumed to be valid unless the party contesting the waiver demonstrates that:

(1) the waiver was not voluntary, or was made as a result of fraud, duress, or coercion;

(2) the waiver was unconscionable when signed or is unconscionable in its application due to a material change in circumstances that arose subsequent to the execution of the instrument through no fault or no action of the contesting party;

(3) before signing the waiver, the waiving spouse was not provided fair and reasonable disclosure of the property and financial obligations of the decedent; or

(4) before signing the waiver, the waiving spouse did not have an opportunity for meaningful access to independent counsel.

(c) A waiver under this section may be signed on behalf of a waiving spouse by a guardian or by an agent or an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney that:

(1) expressly grants the authority to make the election; or

(2)(A) grants the agent or attorney-in-fact the authority to act in the management and disposition of the principal's property that is as broad or comprehensive as the principal could exercise for himself or herself; and

(B) does not expressly exclude the authority to make the election.

(d) An agent or attorney-in-fact may petition the Probate Division of the Superior Court to determine whether a power of attorney described in subdivision (c)(2) grants the agent or attorney-in-fact authority that is as broad or comprehensive as that which the principal could exercise for himself or herself.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Vermont Statutes Title 14. Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations, § 323. Written waiver of spousal rights - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/vt/title-14-decedents-estates-and-fiduciary-relations/vt-st-tit-14-sect-323/

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