1     
WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION AMENDMENTS

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler

5     
House Sponsor: Nelson T. Abbott

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions related to a wrongful death action.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     amends the definition of "heirs" for a wrongful death action; and
13          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     AMENDS:
20          78B-3-105, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
21     

22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 78B-3-105 is amended to read:
24          78B-3-105. Definition of heir.
25          As used in Sections 78B-3-106 and 78B-3-107, "heirs" means[: (1)] the following
26     surviving persons:
27          [(a)] (1) the decedent's spouse;
28          [(b)] (2) the decedent's children as provided in Section 75-2-114;
29          [(c)] (3) (a) the decedent's natural parents[,]; or
30          (b) if the decedent was adopted, [then his] the decedent's adoptive parents;
31          [(d)] (4) the decedent's stepchildren who:
32          [(i)] (a) are [in their minority] younger than 18 years old at the time of decedent's
33     death; and
34          [(ii) are primarily financially dependent on the decedent.]
35          (b) (i) received financial support from the decedent at the time of decedent's death; or
36          (ii) resided with the decedent on at least a part-time basis at the time of the decedent's
37     death; or
38          [(2)] (5) ["Heirs" means] any blood relative as provided by the law of intestate
39     succession if the decedent is not survived by a person under Subsection [Subsections (1)(a),
40     (b), or (c)] (1), (2), or (3).