A. Upon commencement of a formal testacy proceeding, the district court shall fix a time and place of hearing. Notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by Section 1-401 [45-1-401 NMSA 1978] by the petitioner to the persons enumerated in this section and to any additional person who has filed a demand for notice under Section 3-204 [45-3-204 NMSA 1978] of the [Uniform] Probate Code.

B. Notice shall be given to the following persons: the surviving spouse, children and other heirs of the decedent (who would have taken had the decedent died intestate); the devisees and personal representatives named in any will that is being, or has been, probated, or offered for informal or formal probate in the county, or that is known by the petitioner to have been probated, or offered for informal or formal probate elsewhere; and any personal representative of the decedent whose appointment has not been terminated. Notice may be given to other persons. In addition, the petitioner shall give notice by publication to all unknown persons and to all known persons whose addresses are unknown who have any interest in the matters being litigated.

C. If it appears by the petition or otherwise that the fact of the death of the alleged decedent may be in doubt, or on the written demand of any interested person, a copy of the notice of the hearing on the petition shall be sent by registered or certified mail to the alleged decedent at his last known address. The district court shall direct the petitioner to report the results of, or make and report back concerning, a reasonably diligent search for the alleged decedent in any manner that may seem advisable, including any or all of the following methods:

(1) by inserting in one or more suitable periodicals, a notice requesting information from any person having knowledge of the where-abouts of the alleged decedent;

(2) by notifying law enforcement officials and public welfare agencies in appropriate locations of the disappearance of the alleged decedent; and

(3) by engaging the services of an investigator. The costs of any search so directed shall be paid by the petitioner if there is no administration or by the estate of the decedent in case there is administration.

History: 1953 Comp., § 32A-3-403, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 257, § 3-403.

Official comments. — See Commissioners on Uniform State Law official comment to 3-403 UPC.

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.

Beneficiary of prior will not entitled to notice. — The principal beneficiary of a prior but revoked will which had not been offered for informal or formal probate was not entitled to notice under this section. In re Estate of Strozzi, 1995-NMCA-099, 120 N.M. 541, 903 P.2d 852.

Law reviews. — For survey, "Article VII of the New Probate Code: In Pursuit of Uniform Trust Administration," see 6 N.M. L. Rev. 213 (1976).

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 79 Am. Jur. 2d Wills § 842; 80 Am. Jur. 2d Wills §§ 932, 933.

95 C.J.S. Wills § 370.