3B:9-8 Effect of disclaimer.

3B:9-8 Effect of disclaimer. A disclaimer acts as a nonacceptance of the disclaimed interest, rather than as a transfer of the disclaimed interest. The disclaimant is treated as never having received the disclaimed interest. Unless a governing instrument otherwise provides, the property or interest disclaimed devolves:

a. As to a present interest:

(1) in the case of an intestacy, a will, a testamentary trust or a power of appointment exercised by a will or testamentary trust, as if the disclaimant had predeceased the decedent or, if the disclaimant is designated to take under a power of appointment exercised by a will or testamentary instrument, as if the disclaimant had predeceased the donee of the power. If by law or under the will or testamentary trust the descendants of the disclaimant would take the disclaimant's share by representation were the disclaimant to predecease the decedent, then the disclaimed interest devolves by representation to the descendants of the disclaimant who survive the decedent; and

(2) in the case of a nontestamentary instrument or contract, other than a joint property interest, as if the disclaimant had died before the effective date of the instrument or contract. If by law or under the nontestamentary instrument or contract the descendants of the disclaimant would take the disclaimant's share by representation were the disclaimant to predecease the effective date of the instrument, then the disclaimed interest devolves by representation to the descendants of the disclaimant who survive the effective date of the instrument.

(3) in the case of joint property created by a will, testamentary trust or non-testamentary instrument: (a) if the disclaimant is the only living owner, the disclaimed interest devolves to the estate of the last to die of the other joint owners; or (b) if the disclaimant is not the only living owner, the disclaimed interest devolves equally to the living joint owners, or all to the other living owner, if there is only one living owner.

b. As to a future interest:

(1) In the case of a will or testamentary trust or a power of appointment exercised by a will or testamentary trust, as if the disclaimant had died before the event determining that the taker of the property or interest is finally ascertained and his interest is vested; and

(2) In the case of a nontestamentary instrument or contract, as if the disclaimant had died before the event determining that the taker of the property or interest had become finally ascertained and the taker's interest is vested; and

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a future interest that is held by the disclaimant who also holds the present interest and which takes effect at a time certain, such as a fixed calendar date or the disclaimant's attainment of a certain age, is not accelerated by the disclaimer and continues to take effect at the time certain.

c. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, a disclaimer relates back for all purposes to the date of death of the decedent or the donee of the power or the effective date of the nontestamentary instrument or contract.

Amended 2004, c.132, s.71; 2005, c.160, s.10.