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S.B. 207

             1     

PRESUMPTIVE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE
             2      2006 GENERAL SESSION
             3      STATE OF UTAH
             4      Chief Sponsor: Gregory S. Bell
             5      House Sponsor: Scott L Wyatt
             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill defines presumptive personal representative.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    provides that presumptive personal representatives may present and resolve claims
             13      for wrongful death, liability, and uninsured motorist claims.
             14      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             15          None
             16      Other Special Clauses:
             17          None
             18      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             19      ENACTS:
             20          78-11-7.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             21     
             22      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             23          Section 1. Section 78-11-7.5 is enacted to read:
             24          78-11-7.5. Claims brought by presumptive personal representative.
             25          (1) "Presumptive personal representative" means:
             26          (a) the spouse of the decedent not alleged to have contributed to the death of the
             27      decedent;

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             28          (b) if no spouse exists, the spouse of the decedent is incapacitated, or if the spouse of
             29      the decedent is alleged to have contributed to the death of the decedent, then an adult child of
             30      the decedent not alleged to have contributed to the death of the decedent; or
             31          (c) if the spouse and all children of the decedent are incapacitated, or are alleged to
             32      have contributed to the death of the decedent, then a parent of the decedent.
             33          (2) Forty-five days after the death of a person, including a minor, caused by the
             34      wrongful act or neglect of another, the presumptive personal representative may present and
             35      resolve a claim for policy limits up to $25,000 for liability and uninsured motorist claims, and
             36      $10,000 for underinsured motorist claims, arising out of that death to an insurer and may
             37      execute a release of liability upon presentation of an affidavit, properly notarized, stating that:
             38          (a) the person presenting the affidavit is the presumptive personal representative;
             39          (b) 45 days have elapsed since the death of the decedent;
             40          (c) no application or petition for the appointment of a personal representative is
             41      pending or has been granted in any jurisdiction; and
             42          (d) notice of intent to resolve the claim has been sent to the last known addresses of all
             43      heirs as defined by Section 78-11-6 or 78-11-6.5 .
             44          (3) The presumptive personal representative's claim shall be on behalf of all heirs of
             45      the decedent as defined by Section 78-11-6 or 78-11-6.5 . The personal representative shall
             46      have the same duties toward other heirs as those duties provided in Sections 75-3-701 through
             47      75-3-720 .
             48          (4) Any insurer paying a claim arising out of the wrongful death of a person, including
             49      a minor, including but not limited to claims for uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage as
             50      provided in Section 31A-22-305 , to a presumptive personal representative upon presentation of
             51      an affidavit as described in Subsection (2) is discharged and released to the same extent as if
             52      the insurer dealt with a personal representative of the decedent. The insurer is not required to
             53      inquire into the truth of any statement in the affidavit.
             54          (5) Nothing in this section affects or prevents, to the limits of insurance protection
             55      only, any claim for first party benefits or a proceeding to establish the liability of a tort feasor
             56      insured under any policy of insurance in addition to the policy under which the claim was
             57      presented and paid under Subsection (2).
             58          (6) If any heirs are minors, the presumptive personal representative may not distribute

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             59      more than 50% of the proceeds of the settlement until the distribution has been approved by a
             60      court approved settlement in which a conservator is appointed for any minor heirs.
             61          (7) (a) During the 2007 interim, the Judiciary Interim Committee shall study the results
             62      of implementing the use of Presumptive Personal Representatives in wrongful death claims as
             63      provided in this section.
             64          (b) The Judiciary Interim Committee shall:
             65          (i) study the impact of claims brought by presumptive personal representatives
             66      authorized under this section; and
             67          (ii) consider any other issues regarding presumptive personal representatives.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-31-06 10:29 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.