The interest of any surviving spouse in any estate passing under Chapter 30, article 23, parts 1, 2, and 4, shall be determined prior to the payment of any federal or state estate taxes, and shall not be subject to or diminished by any debt or charge against such estate by reason of any such federal or state estate tax.

The estates of dower and curtesy are hereby abolished.

Where the title to property or the devolution thereof depends upon priority of death and there is no sufficient evidence that the persons have died otherwise than simultaneously, the property of each person shall be disposed of as if he had survived, except as provided otherwise in sections 30-121 to 30-128.

Where two or more beneficiaries are designated to take successively by reason of survivorship under another person's disposition of property and there is no sufficient evidence that these beneficiaries have died otherwise than simultaneously the property thus disposed of shall be divided into as many equal portions as there are successive beneficiaries and these portions shall be distributed respectively to those who would have taken in the event that each designated beneficiary had survived.

Where there is no sufficient evidence that two joint tenants have died otherwise than simultaneously the property so held shall be distributed one-half as if one had survived and one-half as if the other had survived. If there are more than two joint tenants and all of them have so died the property thus distributed shall be in the proportion that one bears to the whole number of joint tenants.

Where the insured and the beneficiary in a policy of life or accident insurance have died and there is no sufficient evidence that they have died otherwise than simultaneously, the proceeds of the policy shall be distributed as if the insured had survived the beneficiary.

Sections 30-121 to 30-128 shall not apply to the distribution of the property of a person who has died before it takes effect.

Sections 30-121 to 30-128 shall not apply in the case of wills, living trusts, deeds, or contracts of insurance wherein provision has been made for distribution of property different from the provisions of sections 30-121 to 30-128.

Sections 30-121 to 30-128 shall be so construed and interpreted as to effectuate their general purpose to make uniform the law in those states which enact them.

Sections 30-121 to 30-128 may be cited as the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act.

Sections 30-201 to 30-209 shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Wills Recognition Act (1977).

In the Uniform Wills Recognition Act (1977):

(1) International will means a will executed in conformity with sections 30-202 to 30-205; and

(2) Authorized person and person authorized to act in connection with international wills mean a person who by section 30-209, or by the laws of the United States including members of the diplomatic and consular service of the United States designated by Foreign Service Regulations, is empowered to supervise the execution of international wills.

(a) A will is valid as regards form, irrespective particularly of the place where it is made, of the location of the assets, and of the nationality, domicile, or residence of the testator, if it is made in the form of an international will complying with the requirements of the Uniform Wills Recognition Act (1977).

(b) The invalidity of the will as an international will shall not affect its formal validity as a will of another kind.

(c) The Uniform Wills Recognition Act (1977) shall not apply to the form of testamentary dispositions made by two or more persons in one instrument.

(a) The will shall be made in writing. It need not be written by the testator personally. It may be written in any language, by hand or by any other means.

(b) The testator shall declare in the presence of two witnesses and of a person authorized to act in connection with international wills that the document is the testator's will and that the testator knows the contents thereof. The testator need not inform the witnesses, or the authorized person, of the contents of the will.

(c) In the presence of the witnesses, and of the authorized person, the testator shall sign the will or, if the testator has previously signed it, shall acknowledge the testator's signature.

(d) When the testator is unable to sign, the absence of the testator's signature does not affect the validity of the international will if the testator indicates the reason for the testator's inability to sign and the authorized person makes note thereof on the will. In these cases, it is permissible for any other person present, including the authorized person or one of the witnesses, at the direction of the testator, to sign the testator's name for the testator, if the authorized person makes note of this also on the will, but it is not required that any person sign the testator's name for the testator.

(e) The witnesses and the authorized person shall there and then attest the will by signing in the presence of the testator.

(a) The signatures shall be placed at the end of the will. If the will consists of several sheets, each sheet will be signed by the testator or, if the testator is unable to sign, by the person signing on the testator's behalf or, if there is no such person, by the authorized person. In addition, each sheet shall be numbered.

(b) The date of the will shall be the date of its signature by the authorized person. That date shall be noted at the end of the will by the authorized person.

(c) The authorized person shall ask the testator whether the testator wishes to make a declaration concerning the safekeeping of the testator's will. If so and at the express request of the testator, the place where the testator intends to have the testator's will kept shall be mentioned in the certificate provided for in section 30-205.

(d) A will executed in compliance with section 30-203 is not invalid merely because it does not comply with this section.

The authorized person shall attach to the will a certificate to be signed by the authorized person establishing that the requirements of the Uniform Wills Recognition Act (1977) for valid execution of an international will have been complied with. The authorized person shall keep a copy of the certificate and deliver another to the testator. The certificate shall be substantially in the following form:

CERTIFICATE

(Convention of October 26, 1973)

1. I, .................... (name, address, and capacity), a person authorized to act in connection with international wills

2. Certify that on .............. (date) at ................... (place)

3. (testator) ......................................... (name, address, date, and place of birth) in my presence and that of the witnesses

4. (a) .............................. (name, address, date, and place of birth)

(b) .............................. (name, address, date, and place of birth)

has declared that the attached document is the testator's will and that the testator knows the contents thereof.

5. I furthermore certify that:

6. (a) in my presence and in that of the witnesses

(1) the testator has signed the will or has acknowledged the testator's signature previously affixed.

*(2) following a declaration of the testator stating that the testator was unable to sign the testator's will for the following reason ........................................., and I have mentioned this declaration on the will

*and the signature has been affixed by ...................................... (name, address)

7. (b) the witnesses and I have signed the will;

8. *(c) each page of the will has been signed by ........................ and numbered;

9. (d) I have satisfied myself as to the identity of the testator and of the witnesses as designated above;

10. (e) the witnesses met the conditions requisite to act as such according to the law under which I am acting;

11. *(f) the testator has requested me to include the following statement concerning the safekeeping of the testator's will:

.................................................................

12. PLACE ................................................

13. DATE ................................................

14. SIGNATURE ................................................

and, if necessary, SEAL

*to be completed if appropriate

In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the certificate of the authorized person shall be conclusive of the formal validity of the instrument as a will under the Uniform Wills Recognition Act (1977). The absence or irregularity of a certificate shall not affect the formal validity of a will under the act.

The international will shall be subject to the ordinary rules of revocation of wills.

Sections 30-201 to 30-207 derive from Annex to Convention of October 26, 1973, Providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will. In interpreting and applying the Uniform Wills Recognition Act (1977), regard shall be had to its international origin and to the need for uniformity in its interpretation.

Individuals who have been admitted to practice law before the courts of this state and who are in good standing as active law practitioners in this state, are hereby declared to be authorized persons in relation to international wills.

With the exception of lands, money, or other property devised or bequeathed to this state for educational purposes which are controlled by Article VII, section 9, of the Constitution of Nebraska, and except as provided in section 81-1108.33, the Governor, on behalf of the State of Nebraska, is authorized to accept devises of real estate or bequests of personal property, or both, made to the State of Nebraska, or any department or agency thereof, if in his or her judgment, under the terms on which such devise or bequest is made, it is for the best interests of the State of Nebraska to accept the same.

The Governor, upon acceptance of any devise or bequest as provided in section 30-241, shall designate and assign to the appropriate department or agency of the state the duty of administering and carrying out such devise or bequest in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof.

All money received from any such devise or bequest shall be deposited with the State Treasurer for disposition as may be provided in the devise or bequest.

Whenever, upon the filing of a petition for probate, administration or guardianship, or thereafter in the administration of any estate, it shall appear that subjects of any foreign country are or may be interested, either as heirs at law, devisees, legatees or otherwise, the county judge shall at once notify by mail the consular representative of such country for Nebraska of the pendency of such administration and of the probable interests of such foreign subjects; Provided, that such consular representative files his address with the county judge. This section shall in no way affect title to real estate.

For purposes of sections 30-401 to 30-406:

(1) Agent of the ward includes any person appointed as an agent under a power of attorney executed by or on behalf of a ward or which purports to have been executed by or on behalf of a ward;

(2) Conservator or guardian includes a special fiduciary appointed by a court to investigate the actions of an agent of the ward, the conservator, or the guardian;

(3) Personal representative includes a special administrator; and

(4) Ward means an incapacitated person or a protected person as defined in section 30-2601.

If a personal representative, heir, devisee, creditor, or other person interested in the estate of any deceased person or a conservator or guardian for a ward complains to the judge of the county court, upon an application under oath given on information and belief, that (1) any person may have concealed, embezzled, carried away, or disposed of any money or personal property of the deceased or the ward, (2) such person may have in his or her possession or knowledge any deeds, conveyances, bonds, contracts, or other writings, which contain evidence of or tend to disclose the right, title, interest, or claim of the deceased or the ward to any real or personal estate or any claim or demand, (3) such person may have in his or her possession any will of the deceased or any power of attorney, advance health care directive, or power of attorney for health care decisions executed by the ward, or (4) such person may have information or knowledge withheld by the respondent from the personal representative, conservator, or guardian and needed by the personal representative, conservator, or guardian for the recovery of any property by suit or otherwise, the judge may cite such person to appear before the court of probate. Any personal representative, heir, devisee, creditor, conservator, guardian, or other person interested in the estate of such deceased person or the ward may examine such person under oath upon the matter of such complaint or direct interrogatories to him or her. The citation may also direct the person cited to bring with him or her, for examination by the judge and parties interested, any such documents or writings, or any will of the deceased, which may be in his or her possession or under his or her control.

If the person cited under section 30-402 refuses (1) to appear and submit to such examination, (2) to answer such interrogatories as may be put to him or her touching the matter of such complaint, or (3) to bring with him or her any of the documents or writings set forth in the citation which may be in his or her possession or control, the court may, by warrant, commit such person to the county jail of the county to remain in custody until he or she submits to the order of the court. All such interrogatories and answers shall be in writing, shall be signed by the party examined, and shall be filed in the county court.

The judge of the county court, upon the complaint under oath of any personal representative, may cite any person who has been entrusted by such personal representative with any part of the estate of the deceased person to appear before such court and may require such person to render under oath a full account of any money, goods, chattels, bonds, accounts, or other papers belonging to such estate which have come into his or her possession, in trust for such personal representative, and of his or her proceedings thereon. If a person so cited refuses to appear and render such account, the court may proceed against such person as provided in section 30-403.

The judge of the county court, upon the complaint under oath of any conservator or guardian, may cite any person who has been entrusted by such conservator or guardian with any part of the estate of the ward, any current, suspended, or former conservator or guardian of the ward, or any agent of the ward to appear before such court and may require such person to render under oath a full account of any money, goods, chattels, bonds, accounts, or other papers belonging to such estate which have come into his or her possession, in trust for such ward, conservator, or guardian, and of his or her proceedings thereon. If a person so cited refuses to appear and render such account, the court may proceed against such person as provided in section 30-403.

(1) If any such person as described in sections 30-402 to 30-405 is not in the county where administration is granted, the proceedings under sections 30-402 to 30-405 may be had before the county judge of the county where such person resides or may be found. A certified copy of the written interrogatories, if any, and the examination or other proceeding thereon or connected therewith shall be filed in the county court of the county where administration is granted. If the person so cited refuses to appear or answer such interrogatories as may be allowed to be put to him or her touching the matter charged, such person may be punished as provided in section 30-403.

(2) If the respondent is the personal representative, conservator, or guardian, the court may appoint a special administrator or other special fiduciary to represent the estate or the ward.

Sections 30-501 to 30-518 shall be known and may be cited as the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015).

In the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015):

(1) Account means an arrangement under a terms-of-service agreement in which a custodian carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores a digital asset of the user or provides goods or services to the user;

(2) Agent means an attorney in fact granted authority under a durable or nondurable power of attorney;

(3) Carries means engages in the transmission of an electronic communication;

(4) Catalogue of electronic communications means information that identifies each person with which a user has had an electronic communication, the time and date of the communication, and the electronic address of the person;

(5) Conservator means a person appointed by a court to manage the estate of a living individual. The term includes a limited conservator;

(6) Content of an electronic communication means information concerning the substance or meaning of the communication which:

(A) has been sent or received by a user;

(B) is in electronic storage by a custodian providing an electronic communication service to the public or is carried or maintained by a custodian providing a remote-computing service to the public; and

(C) is not readily accessible to the public;

(7) Court means the county court;

(8) Custodian means a person that carries, maintains, processes, receives, or stores a digital asset of a user;

(9) Designated recipient means a person chosen by a user using an online tool to administer digital assets of the user;

(10) Digital asset means an electronic record in which an individual has a right or interest. The term does not include an underlying asset or liability unless the asset or liability is itself an electronic record;

(11) Electronic means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities;

(12) Electronic communication has the meaning set forth in 18 U.S.C. 2510(12), as amended;

(13) Electronic communication service means a custodian that provides to a user the ability to send or receive an electronic communication;

(14) Fiduciary means an original, additional, or successor personal representative, conservator, agent, or trustee;

(15) Information means data, text, images, videos, sounds, codes, computer programs, software, databases, or the like;

(16) Online tool means an electronic service provided by a custodian that allows the user, in an agreement distinct from the terms-of-service agreement between the custodian and user, to provide directions for disclosure or nondisclosure of digital assets to a third person;

(17) Person means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or other legal entity;

(18) Personal representative means an executor, administrator, special administrator, or person that performs substantially the same function under law of this state other than the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015);

(19) Power of attorney means a record that grants an agent authority to act in the place of a principal;

(20) Principal means an individual who grants authority to an agent in a power of attorney;

(21) Protected person means an individual for whom a conservator has been appointed. The term includes an individual for whom an application for the appointment of a conservator is pending;

(22) Record means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form;

(23) Remote-computing service means a custodian that provides to a user computer-processing services or the storage of digital assets by means of an electronic communications system, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2510(14), as amended;

(24) Terms-of-service agreement means an agreement that controls the relationship between a user and a custodian;

(25) Trustee means a fiduciary with legal title to property under an agreement or declaration that creates a beneficial interest in another. The term includes a successor trustee;

(26) User means a person that has an account with a custodian; and

(27) Will includes a codicil, testamentary instrument that only appoints an executor, and instrument that revokes or revises a testamentary instrument.

(a) The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) applies to:

(1) a fiduciary acting under a will or power of attorney executed before, on, or after January 1, 2017;

(2) a personal representative acting for a decedent who died before, on, or after January 1, 2017;

(3) a conservatorship proceeding commenced before, on, or after January 1, 2017; and

(4) a trustee acting under a trust created before, on, or after January 1, 2017.

(b) The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) applies to a custodian if the user resides in this state or resided in this state at the time of the user’s death.

(c) The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) does not apply to a digital asset of an employer used by an employee in the ordinary course of the employer’s business.

(a) A user may use an online tool to direct the custodian to disclose to a designated recipient or not to disclose some or all of the user’s digital assets, including the content of electronic communications. If the online tool allows the user to modify or delete a direction at all times, a direction regarding disclosure using an online tool overrides a contrary direction by the user in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record.

(b) If a user has not used an online tool to give direction under subsection (a) of this section or if the custodian has not provided an online tool, the user may allow or prohibit in a will, trust, power of attorney, or other record, disclosure to a fiduciary of some or all of the user’s digital assets, including the content of electronic communications sent or received by the user.

(c) A user’s direction under subsection (a) or (b) of this section overrides a contrary provision in a terms-of-service agreement that does not require the user to act affirmatively and distinctly from the user’s assent to the terms of service.

(a) The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) does not change or impair a right of a custodian or a user under a terms-of-service agreement to access and use digital assets of the user.

(b) The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) does not give a fiduciary or a designated recipient any new or expanded rights other than those held by the user for whom, or for whose estate, the fiduciary or designated recipient acts or represents.

(c) A fiduciary’s or designated recipient's access to digital assets may be modified or eliminated by a user, by federal law, or by a terms-of-service agreement if the user has not provided direction under section 30-504.

(a) When disclosing digital assets of a user under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015), the custodian may at its sole discretion:

(1) grant a fiduciary or designated recipient full access to the user’s account;

(2) grant a fiduciary or designated recipient partial access to the user’s account sufficient to perform the tasks with which the fiduciary or designated recipient is charged; or

(3) provide a fiduciary or designated recipient a copy in a record of any digital asset that, on the date the custodian received the request for disclosure, the user could have accessed if the user were alive and had full capacity and access to the account.

(b) A custodian may assess a reasonable administrative charge for the cost of disclosing digital assets under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015).

(c) A custodian need not disclose under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) a digital asset deleted by a user.

(d) If a user directs or a fiduciary requests a custodian to disclose under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) some, but not all, of the user’s digital assets, the custodian need not disclose the assets if segregation of the assets would impose an undue burden on the custodian. If the custodian believes the direction or request imposes an undue burden, the custodian or fiduciary may seek an order from the court to disclose:

(1) a subset limited by date of the user’s digital assets;

(2) all of the user’s digital assets to the fiduciary or designated recipient;

(3) none of the user’s digital assets; or

(4) all of the user’s digital assets to the court for review in camera.

If a deceased user consented or a court directs disclosure of the contents of electronic communications of the user, the custodian shall disclose to the personal representative of the estate of the user the content of an electronic communication sent or received by the user if the representative gives the custodian:

(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;

(2) a certified copy of the death certificate of the user;

(3) a certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit or court order;

(4) unless the user provided direction using an online tool, a copy of the user’s will, trust, power of attorney, or other record evidencing the user’s consent to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; and

(5) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;

(B) evidence linking the account to the user; or

(C) a finding by the court that:

(i) the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in subdivision (5)(A) of this section;

(ii) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user would not violate 18 U.S.C. 2701 et seq., as amended, 47 U.S.C. 222, as amended, or other applicable law;

(iii) unless the user provided direction using an online tool, the user consented to disclosure of the content of electronic communications; or

(iv) disclosure of the content of electronic communications of the user is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate.

Unless the user prohibited disclosure of digital assets or the court directs otherwise, a custodian shall disclose to the personal representative of the estate of a deceased user a catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the user and digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, of the user, if the representative gives the custodian:

(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;

(2) a certified copy of the death certificate of the user;

(3) a certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit or court order; and

(4) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;

(B) evidence linking the account to the user;

(C) an affidavit stating that disclosure of the user’s digital assets is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate; or

(D) a finding by the court that:

(i) the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in subdivision (4)(A) of this section; or

(ii) disclosure of the user’s digital assets is reasonably necessary for administration of the estate.

To the extent a power of attorney expressly grants an agent authority over the content of electronic communications sent or received by the principal and unless directed otherwise by the principal or the court, a custodian shall disclose to the agent the content if the agent gives the custodian:

(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;

(2) an original or copy of the power of attorney expressly granting the agent authority over the content of electronic communications of the principal;

(3) a certification by the agent, under penalty of perjury, that the power of attorney is in effect; and

(4) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the principal’s account; or

(B) evidence linking the account to the principal.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the principal, or provided by a power of attorney, a custodian shall disclose to an agent with specific authority over digital assets or general authority to act on behalf of a principal a catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by the principal and digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, of the principal if the agent gives the custodian:

(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;

(2) an original or a copy of the power of attorney that gives the agent specific authority over digital assets or general authority to act on behalf of the principal;

(3) a certification by the agent, under penalty of perjury, that the power of attorney is in effect; and

(4) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the principal’s account; or

(B) evidence linking the account to the principal.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court or provided in a trust, a custodian shall disclose to a trustee that is an original user of an account any digital asset of the account held in trust, including a catalogue of electronic communications of the trustee and the content of electronic communications.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the user, or provided in a trust, a custodian shall disclose to a trustee that is not an original user of an account the content of an electronic communication sent or received by an original or successor user and carried, maintained, processed, received, or stored by the custodian in the account of the trust if the trustee gives the custodian:

(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;

(2) a certified copy of the trust instrument, or a certification of the trust under section 30-38,102, that includes consent to disclosure of the content of electronic communications to the trustee;

(3) a certification by the trustee, under penalty of perjury, that the trust exists and the trustee is a currently acting trustee of the trust; and

(4) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the trust’s account; or

(B) evidence linking the account to the trust.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the user, or provided in a trust, a custodian shall disclose, to a trustee that is not an original user of an account, a catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by an original or successor user and stored, carried, or maintained by the custodian in an account of the trust and any digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, in which the trust has a right or interest if the trustee gives the custodian:

(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;

(2) a certified copy of the trust instrument, or a certification of the trust under section 30-38,102;

(3) a certification by the trustee, under penalty of perjury, that the trust exists and the trustee is a currently acting trustee of the trust; and

(4) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the trust’s account; or

(B) evidence linking the account to the trust.

(a) After an opportunity for a hearing under section 30-2636, the court may grant a conservator access to the digital assets of a protected person.

(b) Unless otherwise ordered by the court or directed by the user, a custodian shall disclose to a conservator the catalogue of electronic communications sent or received by a protected person and any digital assets, other than the content of electronic communications, in which the protected person has a right or interest if the conservator gives the custodian:

(1) a written request for disclosure in physical or electronic form;

(2) a certified copy of the court order that gives the conservator authority over the digital assets of the protected person; and

(3) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the account of the protected person; or

(B) evidence linking the account to the protected person.

(c) A conservator with general authority to manage the assets of a protected person may request a custodian of the digital assets of the protected person to suspend or terminate an account of the protected person for good cause. A request made under this section must be accompanied by a certified copy of the court order giving the conservator authority over the protected person’s property.

(a) The legal duties imposed on a fiduciary charged with managing tangible property apply to the management of digital assets, including:

(1) the duty of care;

(2) the duty of loyalty; and

(3) the duty of confidentiality.

(b) A fiduciary’s or designated recipient's authority with respect to a digital asset of a user:

(1) except as otherwise provided in section 30-504, is subject to the applicable terms-of-service agreement;

(2) is subject to other applicable law, including copyright law;

(3) in the case of a fiduciary, is limited by the scope of the fiduciary’s duties; and

(4) may not be used to impersonate the user.

(c) A fiduciary with authority over the property of a decedent, protected person, principal, or settlor has the right to access any digital asset in which the decedent, protected person, principal, or settlor had a right or interest and that is not held by a custodian or subject to a terms-of-service agreement.

(d) A fiduciary acting within the scope of the fiduciary’s duties is an authorized user of the property of the decedent, protected person, principal, or settlor for the purpose of applicable computer-fraud and unauthorized-computer-access laws, including the Computer Crimes Act and section 86-2,104.

(e) A fiduciary with authority over the tangible personal property of a decedent, protected person, principal, or settlor:

(1) has the right to access the property and any digital asset stored in it; and

(2) is an authorized user for the purpose of computer-fraud and unauthorized-computer-access laws, including the Computer Crimes Act and section 86-2,104.

(f) A custodian may disclose information in an account to a fiduciary of the user when the information is required to terminate an account used to access digital assets licensed to the user.

(g) A fiduciary of a user may request a custodian to terminate the user's account. A request for termination must be in writing, in either physical or electronic form, and accompanied by:

(1) if the user is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate of the user;

(2) a certified copy of the letter of appointment of the representative or a small-estate affidavit or court order, power of attorney, or trust giving the fiduciary authority over the account; and

(3) if requested by the custodian:

(A) a number, username, address, or other unique subscriber or account identifier assigned by the custodian to identify the user’s account;

(B) evidence linking the account to the user; or

(C) a finding by the court that the user had a specific account with the custodian, identifiable by the information specified in subdivision (3)(A) of this subsection.

(a) Not later than sixty days after receipt of the information required under sections 30-507 to 30-515, a custodian shall comply with a request under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) from a fiduciary or designated recipient to disclose digital assets or terminate an account. If the custodian fails to comply, the fiduciary or designated recipient may apply to the court for an order directing compliance.

(b) An order under subsection (a) of this section directing compliance must contain a finding that compliance is not in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2702, as amended.

(c) A custodian may notify the user that a request for disclosure or to terminate an account was made under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015).

(d) A custodian may deny a request under the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) from a fiduciary or designated recipient for disclosure of digital assets or to terminate an account if the custodian is aware of any lawful access to the account following the receipt of the fiduciary’s request.

(e) The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) does not limit a custodian's ability to obtain or require a fiduciary or designated recipient requesting disclosure or termination under the act to obtain a court order which:

(1) specifies that an account belongs to the protected person or principal;

(2) specifies that there is sufficient consent from the protected person or principal to support the requested disclosure; and

(3) contains a finding required by law other than the act.

(f) A custodian and its officers, employees, and agents are immune from liability for an act or omission done in good faith in compliance with the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015).

In applying and construing the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015), consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (2015) modifies, limits, or supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. 7003(b).

Sections 30-601 to 30-619 shall be known and may be cited as the Health Care Surrogacy Act.

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a process for the designation of a person to make a health care decision for an adult or an emancipated minor who becomes incapable of making such a decision in the absence of a guardian or an advance health care directive.

(2) The Legislature does not intend to encourage or discourage any particular health care decision or to create any new right or alter any existing right of competent adults or emancipated minors to make such decisions, but the Legislature does intend through the Health Care Surrogacy Act to allow an adult or an emancipated minor to exercise rights he or she already possesses by means of health care decisions made on his or her behalf by a qualified surrogate.

(3) The Health Care Surrogacy Act shall not confer any new rights regarding the provision or rejection of any specific medical treatment and shall not alter any existing law concerning homicide, suicide, or assisted suicide. Nothing in the Health Care Surrogacy Act shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve purposefully causing, or assisting in causing, the death of any individual, such as by homicide, suicide, or assisted suicide.

For purposes of the Health Care Surrogacy Act:

(1) Adult means an individual who is nineteen years of age or older;

(2) Advance health care directive means an individual instruction under the Health Care Surrogacy Act, a declaration executed in accordance with the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act, or a power of attorney for health care;

(3) Agent means a natural person designated in a power of attorney for health care to make a health care decision on behalf of the natural person granting the power;

(4) Capable means (a) able to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of a proposed health care decision, including the benefits of, risks of, and alternatives to any proposed health care, and (b) able to communicate in any manner such health care decision;

(5) Emancipated minor means a minor who is emancipated pursuant to the law of this state or another state, including section 43-2101;

(6) Guardian means a judicially appointed guardian or conservator having authority to make a health care decision for a natural person;

(7) Health care means any care, treatment, service, procedure, or intervention to maintain, diagnose, cure, care for, treat, or otherwise affect an individual's physical or mental condition;

(8)(a) Health care decision means a decision made by an individual or the individual's agent, guardian, or surrogate regarding the individual's health care, including consent, refusal of consent, or withdrawal of consent to health care; and

(b) Health care decision includes:

(i) Selection and discharge of health care providers, health care facilities, and health care services;

(ii) Approval or disapproval of diagnostic tests, surgical procedures, programs of medication, and orders not to resuscitate; and

(iii) Directions to provide nutrition, hydration, and all other forms of health care;

(9) Health care facility means a facility licensed under the Health Care Facility Licensure Act or permitted by law to provide health care in the ordinary course of business;

(10) Health care provider means a natural person credentialed under the Uniform Credentialing Act or permitted by law to provide health care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession;

(11) Health care service means an adult day service, a home health agency, a hospice or hospice service, a respite care service, or a children's day health service licensed under the Health Care Facility Licensure Act or permitted by law to provide health care in the ordinary course of business. Health care service does not include an in-home personal services agency as defined in section 71-6501;

(12) Incapable means lacking the ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of a proposed health care decision, including the benefits of, risks of, and alternatives to any proposed health care, or lacking the ability to communicate in any manner such health care decision;

(13) Individual means an adult or an emancipated minor for whom a health care decision is to be made;

(14) Individual instruction means an individual's direction concerning a health care decision for the individual;

(15) Life-sustaining procedure means any medical procedure, treatment, or intervention that (a) uses mechanical or other artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a spontaneous vital function and (b) when applied to a person who is in a terminal condition or who is in a persistent vegetative state, serves only to prolong the dying process. Life-sustaining procedure does not include routine care necessary to maintain patient comfort or the usual and typical provision of nutrition and hydration;

(16) Persistent vegetative state means a medical condition that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as determined in accordance with then current accepted medical standards, is characterized by a total and irreversible loss of consciousness and capacity for cognitive interaction with the environment and no reasonable hope of improvement;

(17) Physician means a natural person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine under the Uniform Credentialing Act;

(18) Power of attorney for health care means the designation of an agent under sections 30-3401 to 30-3432 or a similar law of another state to make health care decisions for the principal;

(19) Primary health care provider means (a) a physician designated by an individual or the individual's agent, guardian, or surrogate to have primary responsibility for the individual's health care or, in the absence of a designation or if the designated physician is not reasonably available, a physician who undertakes the responsibility or (b) if there is no such primary physician or such primary physician is not reasonably available, the health care provider who has undertaken primary responsibility for an individual's health care;

(20) Principal means a natural person who, when competent, confers upon another natural person a power of attorney for health care;

(21) Reasonably available means readily able to be contacted without undue effort and willing and able to act in a timely manner considering the urgency of an individual's health care needs;

(22) State means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;

(23) Surrogate means a natural person who is authorized under section 30-604 to make a health care decision on behalf of an individual when a guardian or an agent under a power of attorney for health care has not been appointed or otherwise designated for such individual;

(24) Terminal condition means a medical condition caused by injury, disease, or physical illness which, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, will result in death within six months regardless of the continued application of medical treatment, including life-sustaining procedures; and

(25) Usual and typical provision of nutrition and hydration means delivery of food and fluids orally, including by cup, eating utensil, bottle, or drinking straw.

(1) A surrogate may make a health care decision for an individual if the individual has been determined to be incapable by the primary health care provider and no agent or guardian has been appointed for the individual. A determination that an individual is incapable of making a health care decision shall not be construed as a finding that the individual is incapable for any other purpose.

(2)(a) An individual may designate a natural person to act as surrogate for the individual by personally informing the primary health care provider.

(b) If an individual has not designated a surrogate and there is no power of attorney for health care or court-appointed guardian for the individual, any member of the following classes of natural persons, in the following order of priority, may act as surrogate for the individual if such person is reasonably available at the time the health care decision is to be made on behalf of the individual and if such person has not been disqualified under the Health Care Surrogacy Act:

(i) The individual's spouse unless legally separated from the individual or unless proceedings are pending for divorce, annulment, or legal separation between the individual and his or her spouse;

(ii) A child of the individual who is an adult or an emancipated minor;

(iii) A parent of the individual; or

(iv) A brother or sister of the individual who is an adult or an emancipated minor.

(c) A person in a class with greater priority to serve as a surrogate may decline to serve as surrogate by informing the primary health care provider of that fact. Such fact shall be noted in the individual’s medical record.

(d) The primary health care provider may use discretion to disqualify a person who would otherwise be eligible to act as a surrogate based on the priority listed in subdivision (b) of this subsection if the provider has documented or otherwise clear and convincing evidence of an abusive relationship or documented or otherwise clear and convincing evidence of another basis for finding that the potential surrogate is not acting on behalf of or in the best interests of the individual. Any evidence so used to disqualify a person from acting as a surrogate shall be documented in full in the individual's medical record.

(3) A person who has exhibited special care and concern for the individual, who is familiar with the individual's personal values, and who is reasonably available to act as a surrogate is eligible to act as a surrogate under subsection (2) of this section.

(4) A surrogate shall communicate his or her assumption of authority as promptly as possible to the members of the individual's family specified in subsection (2) of this section who can be readily contacted.

(5)(a) If more than one member of a class having priority has authority to act as an individual's surrogate, such persons may act as the individual’s surrogate and any of such persons may be identified as one of the individual’s surrogates by the primary health care provider within the individual’s medical record, so long as such persons are in agreement about the health care decision to be made on behalf of the individual and attest to such agreement in a writing signed and dated by all persons claiming the authority and provided to the primary health care provider for inclusion with the individual’s medical record.

(b)(i) If two or more members of a class having the same priority claim authority to act as an individual’s surrogate and such persons are not in agreement about one or more health care decisions to be made on the individual’s behalf, the persons claiming authority shall confer with each other for purposes of arriving at consensus regarding the health care decision to be made in light of the individual’s known desires about health care, the individual’s personal values, the individual’s religious or moral beliefs, and the individual’s best interests. Each person claiming authority to act as an individual’s surrogate shall inform the primary health care provider about his or her claim and priority under the Health Care Surrogacy Act, the claim of any other person within the same class, the nature of the disagreement regarding the health care decision, and the efforts made by such person to reach agreement between and among other persons claiming authority to act as the individual’s surrogate.

(ii) To the extent possible, the primary health care provider shall seek a consensus of the persons claiming authority to act as the individual’s surrogate. The primary health care provider may convene a meeting of such persons with the primary health care provider and, as available and appropriate, other health care personnel involved in the individual’s care for purposes of reviewing and discussing the individual’s condition, prognosis, and options for treatment, the risks, benefits, or burdens of such options, the individual’s known desires about health care, the individual’s personal values, the individual’s religious or moral beliefs, and the individual’s best interests. If reasonably available, the primary health care provider may include members of other classes of priority in such meeting to hear and participate in the discussion.

(iii) The primary health care provider, in his or her discretion or at the request of the persons claiming authority as the individual’s surrogate, may also seek the assistance of other health care providers or the ethics committee or ethics consultation process of the health care facility or another health care entity to facilitate the meeting.

(iv) If a consensus about the health care decisions to be made on behalf of the individual cannot be attained between the persons of the same class of priority claiming authority to act as the individual’s surrogate to enable a timely decision to be made on behalf of the individual, then such persons shall be deemed disqualified to make health care decisions on behalf of the individual. The primary health care provider may then confer with other persons in the same class or within the other classes of lower priority consistent with subsection (2) of this section who may be reasonably available to make health care decisions on behalf of the individual.

(v) If no other person is reasonably available to act as a surrogate on behalf of the individual, then the primary health care provider may, consistent with the Health Care Surrogacy Act, take actions or decline to take actions determined by the primary health care provider to be appropriate, to be in accordance with the individual's personal values, if known, and moral and religious beliefs, if known, and to be in the best interests of the individual.

(6) A surrogate’s authority shall continue in effect until the earlier of any of the following:

(a) A guardian is appointed for the individual;

(b) The primary health care provider determines that the individual is capable of making his or her own health care decision;

(c) A person with higher priority to act as a surrogate under subsection (2) of this section becomes reasonably available;

(d) The individual is transferred to another health care facility; or

(e) The death of the individual.

(7)(a) An individual, if able to communicate the same, may disqualify another person from serving as the individual's surrogate, including a member of the individual's family, by a signed and dated writing or by personally informing the primary health care provider and a witness of the disqualification. In order to be a witness under this subdivision, a person shall be an adult or emancipated minor who is not among the persons who may serve as a surrogate under subsection (2) of this section.

(b) When the existence of a disqualification under this subsection becomes known, it shall be made a part of the individual’s medical record at the health care facility in which the individual is a patient or resides. The disqualification of a person to serve as a surrogate shall not revoke or terminate the authority as to a surrogate who acts in good faith under the surrogacy and without actual knowledge of the disqualification. An action taken in good faith and without actual knowledge of the disqualification of a person to serve as the individual’s surrogate under this subsection, unless the action is otherwise invalid or unenforceable, shall bind the individual and his or her heirs, devisees, and personal representatives.

(8) A primary health care provider may require a person claiming the right to act as surrogate for an individual to provide a written declaration under penalty of perjury stating facts and circumstances reasonably sufficient to establish that person's claimed authority.

(9) The authority of a surrogate shall not supersede any other advance health care directive.

Unless related to the individual by blood, marriage, or adoption, a surrogate may not be an owner, operator, or employee of a health care facility at which the individual is residing or receiving health care or a facility or an institution of the Department of Correctional Services or the Department of Health and Human Services to which the individual has been committed.

(1) A determination that an individual is incapable of making a health care decision shall be made in writing by the primary health care provider and any physician consulted with respect to such determination, and the physician or physicians shall document the cause and nature of the individual's incapability. The determination shall be included in the individual's medical record with the primary health care provider and, when applicable, with the consulting physician and the health care facility in which the individual is a patient or resides. When a surrogate has been designated or determined pursuant to section 30-604, the surrogate shall be included in the individual's medical record.

(2) A physician who has been designated an individual's surrogate shall not make the determination that the individual is incapable of making health care decisions.

Notice of a determination that an individual is incapable of making health care decisions shall be given by the primary health care provider (1) to the individual when there is any indication of the individual's ability to comprehend such notice, (2) to the surrogate, and (3) to the health care facility.

If a dispute arises as to whether the individual is incapable, a petition may be filed with the county court in the county in which the individual resides or is located requesting the court's determination as to whether the individual is incapable of making health care decisions. If such a petition is filed, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the individual. The court shall conduct a hearing on the petition within seven days after the court's receipt of the petition. Within seven days after the hearing, the court shall issue its determination. If the court determines that the individual is incapable, the authority, rights, and responsibilities of the individual's surrogate shall become effective. If the court determines that the individual is capable, the authority, rights, and responsibilities of the surrogate shall not become effective.

(1) When the authority conferred on a surrogate under the Health Care Surrogacy Act has commenced, the surrogate, subject to any individual instructions, shall make health care decisions on the individual's behalf, except that the surrogate shall not have authority (a) to consent to any act or omission to which the individual could not consent under law, (b) to make any decision when the individual is known to be pregnant that will result in the death of the individual's unborn child if it is probable that the unborn child will develop to the point of live birth with continued application of health care, or (c) to make decisions regarding withholding or withdrawing a life-sustaining procedure or withholding or withdrawing artificially administered nutrition or hydration except as provided under section 30-610.

(2) If no agent or guardian has been appointed for the individual, the surrogate shall have priority over any person other than the individual to act for the individual in all health care decisions, except that the surrogate shall not have the authority to make any health care decision unless and until the individual has been determined to be incapable of making health care decisions pursuant to section 30-606.

(3) A person who would not otherwise be personally responsible for the cost of health care provided to the individual shall not become personally responsible for such cost because he or she has acted as the individual's surrogate.

(4) Except to the extent that the right is limited by the individual, a surrogate shall have the same right as the individual to receive information regarding the proposed health care, to receive and review medical and clinical records, and to consent to the disclosures of such records, except that the right to access such records shall not be a waiver of any evidentiary privilege.

(5) Notwithstanding a determination pursuant to section 30-606 that the individual is incapable of making health care decisions, when the individual objects to the determination or to a health care decision made by a surrogate, the individual's objection or decision shall prevail unless the individual is determined by a county court to be incapable of making health care decisions.

(1) In exercising authority under the Health Care Surrogacy Act, a surrogate shall have a duty to consult with medical personnel, including the primary health care provider, and thereupon to make health care decisions (a) in accordance with the individual instructions or the individual’s wishes as otherwise made known to the surrogate or (b) if the individual's wishes are not reasonably known and cannot with reasonable diligence be ascertained, in accordance with the individual’s best interests, with due regard for the individual's religious and moral beliefs if known.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1)(b) of this section, the surrogate shall not have the authority to consent to the withholding or withdrawing of a life-sustaining procedure or artificially administered nutrition or hydration unless (a) the individual is suffering from a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state and such procedure or care would be an extraordinary or disproportionate means of medical treatment to the individual and (b) the individual explicitly grants such authority to the surrogate and the intent of the individual to have life-sustaining procedures or artificially administered nutrition or hydration withheld or withdrawn under such circumstances is established by clear and convincing evidence.

(3) In exercising any decision, the surrogate shall have no authority to withhold or withdraw consent to routine care necessary to maintain patient comfort or the usual and typical provision of nutrition and hydration.

Before acting upon a health care decision made by a surrogate, other than those decisions made at or about the time of the initial determination of incapacity, the primary health care provider shall confirm that the individual continues to be incapable. The confirmation shall be stated in writing and shall be included in the individual's medical records. The notice requirements set forth in section 30-607 shall not apply to the confirmation required by this section.

(1) A petition may be filed for any one or more of the following purposes:

(a) To determine whether the authority of a surrogate under the Health Care Surrogacy Act is in effect or has been revoked or terminated;

(b) To determine whether the acts or proposed acts of a surrogate are consistent with the individual instruction or the individual's wishes as expressed or otherwise established by clear and convincing evidence or, when the wishes of the individual are unknown, whether the acts or proposed acts of the surrogate are clearly contrary to the best interests of the individual;

(c) To declare that the authority of a surrogate is revoked upon a determination by the court that the surrogate made or proposed to make a health care decision for the individual that authorized an illegal act or omission; or

(d) To declare that the authority of a surrogate is revoked upon a determination by the court of both of the following: (i) That the surrogate has violated, failed to perform, or is unable to perform the duty to act in a manner consistent with the individual instruction or the wishes of the individual or, when the desires of the individual are unknown, to act in a manner that is in the best interests of the individual; and (ii) that at the time of the determination by the court, the individual is unable to disqualify the surrogate as provided in subsection (7) of section 30-604.

(2) A petition under this section shall be filed with the county court of the county in which the individual resides or is located.

A petition under section 30-608 or 30-612 may be filed by any of the following:

(1) The individual;

(2) The surrogate;

(3) The spouse, parent, sibling, or child of the individual who is an adult or an emancipated minor;

(4) A close friend of the individual who is an adult or an emancipated minor;

(5) The primary health care provider or another health care provider; or

(6) Any other interested party.

(1) A surrogate shall not be guilty of any criminal offense, subject to any civil liability, or in violation of any professional oath or code of ethics or conduct for any action taken in good faith pursuant to the Health Care Surrogacy Act.

(2) No primary health care provider, other health care provider, or health care facility shall be subject to criminal prosecution, civil liability, or professional disciplinary action for acting or declining to act in reliance upon the decision made by a person whom the primary health care provider or other health care provider in good faith believes is the surrogate. This subsection does not limit the liability of a primary health care provider, other health care provider, or health care facility for a negligent act or omission in connection with the medical diagnosis, treatment, or care of the individual.

The existence of a surrogate for an individual under the Health Care Surrogacy Act does not waive the right of the individual to routine hygiene, nursing, and comfort care and the usual and typical provision of nutrition and hydration.

In following the decision of a surrogate, a health care provider shall exercise the same independent medical judgment that the health care provider would exercise in following the decision of the individual if the individual were not incapable.

(1) Nothing in the Health Care Surrogacy Act obligates a health care facility to honor a health care decision by a surrogate that the health care facility would not honor if the decision had been made by the individual because the decision is contrary to a formally adopted policy of the health care facility that is expressly based on religious beliefs or sincerely held ethical or moral convictions central to the operating principles of the health care facility. The health care facility may refuse to honor the decision whether made by the individual or by the surrogate if the health care facility has informed the individual or the surrogate of such policy, if reasonably possible. If the surrogate is unable or unwilling to arrange a transfer to another health care facility, the health care facility refusing to honor the decision may intervene to facilitate such a transfer.

(2) Nothing in the Health Care Surrogacy Act obligates a health care provider to honor or cooperate with a health care decision by a surrogate that the health care provider would not honor or cooperate with if the decision had been made by the individual because the decision is contrary to the health care provider's religious beliefs or sincerely held moral or ethical convictions. The health care provider shall promptly inform the surrogate and the health care facility of his or her refusal to honor or cooperate with the decision of the surrogate. In such event, the health care facility shall promptly assist in the transfer of the individual to a health care provider selected by the individual or the surrogate.

For purposes of making health care decisions, an attempted suicide by an individual shall not be construed as any indication of his or her wishes with regard to health care.

(1) It shall be a Class II felony for a person to willfully conceal or destroy evidence of any person’s disqualification as a surrogate under the Health Care Surrogacy Act with the intent and effect of causing the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining procedures or artificially administered nutrition or hydration which hastens the death of the individual.

(2) It shall be a Class I misdemeanor for a person without the authorization of the individual to willfully alter, forge, conceal, or destroy evidence of an advance health care directive, appointment of a guardian, appointment of an agent for the individual under a power of attorney for health care, or evidence of disqualification of any person as a surrogate under the Health Care Surrogacy Act.

(3) A physician or other health care provider who willfully prevents the transfer of an individual in accordance with section 30-617 with the intention of avoiding the provisions of the Health Care Surrogacy Act shall be guilty of a Class I misdemeanor.

For purposes of sections 30-701 to 30-713:

(1) Adult child means an individual who is at least nineteen years of age and who is related to a resident biologically, through adoption, through the marriage or former marriage of the resident to the biological parent of the adult child, or by a judgment of parentage entered by a court of competent jurisdiction;

(2) Caregiver means a guardian, a designee under a power of attorney for health care, or another person or entity denying visitation access between a family member petitioner and a resident;

(3) Family member petitioner means the spouse, adult child, adult grandchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, or domestic partner of a resident;

(4) Guardian ad litem has the definition found in section 30-2601;

(5) Isolation has the definition found in section 28-358.01;

(6) Resident means an adult resident of:

(a) A health care facility as defined in section 71-413; or

(b) Any home or other residential dwelling in which the resident is receiving care and services from any person;

(7) Visitation means an in-person meeting or any telephonic, written, or electronic communication; and

(8) Visitor means a person appointed pursuant to section 30-2619.01.

It is the intent of the Legislature that, in order to allow family member petitioners to remain connected, a caregiver may not arbitrarily deny visitation to a family member petitioner of a resident, whether or not the caregiver is related to such family member petitioner, unless such action is authorized by a nursing home administrator pursuant to section 71-6021.

(1) If a family member petitioner is being denied visitation with a resident, the family member petitioner may petition the county court to compel visitation with the resident. If a guardian has been appointed for the resident under the jurisdiction of a county court, the petition shall be filed in the county court having such jurisdiction. If there is no such guardianship, the petition shall be filed in the county court for the county in which the resident resides. The court may not issue an order compelling visitation if the court finds any of the following:

(a) The resident, while having the capacity to evaluate and communicate decisions regarding visitation, expresses a desire to not have visitation with the family member petitioner; or

(b) Visitation between the family member petitioner and the resident is not in the best interests of the resident.

(2) In determining whether visitation between the family member petitioner and the resident has been arbitrarily denied, the court may consider factors including, but not limited to:

(a) The nature of relationship of the family member petitioner and the resident;

(b) The place where visitation rights will be exercised;

(c) The frequency and duration of the visits;

(d) The likely effect of visitation on the resident; and

(e) The likelihood of onerously disrupting established lifestyle of the resident.

If the petition filed pursuant to section 30-703 states that the resident's health is in significant decline or that the resident's death may be imminent, the court shall conduct an emergency hearing on the petition as soon as practicable and in no case later than ten days after the date the petition is served upon the resident and the caregiver. Each party to a contested proceeding for an emergency order relating to visitation under this section shall offer a verified information affidavit as an exhibit at the hearing before the court. If the allegations made under this section to request an emergency hearing are not made with probable cause, the court may order appropriate remedies under section 30-705. Temporary orders may be issued in the same manner as provided for guardianships. Temporary orders shall expire ninety days after the entry of the temporary order unless good cause is shown for continuation.

(1) Upon a motion by a party or upon the court's own motion, if the court finds during a hearing pursuant to section 30-704 that a person is knowingly isolating the resident from visitation by a family member petitioner, the court may order such person to pay court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees of the family member petitioner and may order other appropriate remedies.

(2) No costs, fees, or other sanctions may be paid from the resident's finances or estate.

(3) If the court determines that the family member petitioner did not have probable cause for filing the petition, the court may order the family member petitioner to pay court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees of the other parties and may order other appropriate remedies.

(4) Remedies may include the payment of the fees and costs of a visitor or a guardian ad litem.

(5) An order may be entered prohibiting the family member petitioner from filing another petition under sections 30-701 to 30-713 in any court in this state for any period of time determined appropriate by the court for up to one year.

(1) Any action under sections 30-701 to 30-713 shall be commenced by filing in the county court a verified petition described in section 30-703. The family member petitioner shall include, if reasonably ascertainable under oath, the places where the resident has resided and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the resident has lived during the previous five years. The petition shall include a statement under oath identifying whether:

(a) The family member petitioner has participated as a party, as a witness, or in any other capacity or in any other proceeding concerning custody or visitation with the resident and if so, identify the court, the case number, and the date of any order which may affect visitation;

(b) The family member petitioner knows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding relating to domestic violence, a protective order, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianship, conservatorship, or habeas corpus or any other civil or criminal proceeding, and if so, identify the court, the case number, and the date of any order which may affect visitation;

(c) The family member petitioner knows the name and address of any person not a party to the proceeding who has physical custody of, is residing with, or is providing residential services to the resident and if so, the name and address of such person;

(d) The resident needs a guardian ad litem or a visitor appointed;

(e) Any other state would have jurisdiction under the Nebraska Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act;

(f) A bond or probation condition exists which would affect the case; and

(g) The family member petitioner has filed petitions under section 30-703 within the preceding five years and if so, the court, the case number, and the date of any order resolving the prior petitions.

(2) Any matters which may be confidential under court rule or statute shall be filed as a confidential document for review by the court as to whether such matters shall remain filed as confidential matters.

(3) If the information required by subsection (1) of this section is not furnished, the court, upon the motion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the information is furnished.

Any proceeding involving a guardianship, conservatorship, power of attorney for health care decisions, or power of attorney granted by the resident may continue in the trial court while an appeal is pending from an order granted under sections 30-701 to 30-713.

At any point in a proceeding under sections 30-701 to 30-713, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem or a visitor.

(1) Jurisdiction under sections 30-701 to 30-713 applies to any resident who is in this state or for whom the provisions of the Nebraska Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act vests authority over such resident in the courts of this state in a guardianship.

(2) Venue shall be determined pursuant to sections 30-703 and 30-2212.

(3) The Supreme Court shall have the authority pursuant to section 30-2213 to establish rules to carry into effect the provisions of sections 30-701 to 30-713.

(4) The notice provisions of section 30-2220 shall apply to a proceeding under sections 30-701 to 30-713.

(5) When final orders relating to proceedings under sections 30-701 to 30-713 are on appeal and such appeal is pending, the court that issued such orders shall retain jurisdiction to provide for such orders regarding visitation or other access or to prevent irreparable harm during the pendency of such appeal or other appropriate orders in aid of the appeal process. Such orders shall not be construed to prejudice any party on appeal.

Any order that is not intended as interlocutory or temporary under sections 30-701 to 30-713 shall be a final, appealable order. Such order may be appealed to the Court of Appeals in the same manner as an appeal from the district court directly to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals shall conduct its review in an expedited manner and shall render its judgment and write its opinion, if any, as speedily as possible. The court may modify an existing order granting such visitation upon a showing that there has been a material change in circumstances which justifies such modification and that the modification would serve the best interests of the resident.

In a proceeding under sections 30-701 to 30-713, the court may examine any medical evidence in camera or issue any protective discovery orders needed to comply with the provisions of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, any regulations promulgated under such federal act, or any other provision of law.

If the court enters a visitation order in a proceeding under sections 30-701 to 30-713, it may set out a visitation schedule including the time, place, and manner of visitation. Failure to comply with the order may be the subject of a civil contempt proceeding and may be subject to remedies under section 30-705. The court may provide for an expiration date or a review date in its order, and such a provision does not affect the appealability of an order under section 30-710.

In a proceeding under sections 30-701 to 30-712, the burden of proof is upon the family member petitioner to establish his or her case by a preponderance of the evidence.

(1) Whenever the death of a person, including an unborn child in utero at any stage of gestation, is caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of any person, company, or corporation, and the act, neglect, or default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the person injured to maintain an action and recover damages in respect thereof, then, and in every such case, the person who, or company or corporation which, would have been liable if death had not ensued, is liable in an action for damages, notwithstanding the death of the person injured, and although the death was caused under such circumstances as amount in law to felony.

(2) No action for damages for the death of a person who is an unborn child shall be brought under this section against:

(a) The mother of the unborn child;

(b) A physician or other licensed health care provider if the death was the intended result of a medical procedure performed by the physician or health care provider and the requisite consent was given; or

(c) A person who dispenses or administers a drug or device in accordance with law if the death was the intended result of the dispensation or administration of the drug or device.

Every such action, as described in section 30-809, shall be commenced within two years after the death of such person. It shall be brought by and in the name of the person's personal representative for the exclusive benefit of the widow or widower and next of kin. The verdict or judgment should be for the amount of damages which the persons in whose behalf the action is brought have sustained. The avails thereof shall be paid to and distributed among the widow or widower and next of kin in the proportion that the pecuniary loss suffered by each bears to the total pecuniary loss suffered by all such persons. A personal representative shall not compromise or settle a claim for damages hereunder until the court by which he or she was appointed shall first have consented to and approved the terms thereof. The amount so received in settlement or recovered by judgment shall be reported to and, if so ordered, paid into such court for distribution, subject to the order of such court, to the persons entitled thereto after a hearing thereon and after notice of such hearing and of the time and place thereof has been given to all persons interested by publication three successive weeks in a legal newspaper published within the county or, if no legal newspaper is published within the county, then in a legal newspaper published in an adjoining county, except that the court for good cause shown may provide for a different method or time of giving notice and a person, including a guardian ad litem, conservator, or other fiduciary, may waive notice or any other requirement for the mailing or receipt of instruments by a writing signed by him or her and filed in the proceeding. Such amount shall not be subject to any claims against the estate of such decedent. When the amount of such settlement or judgment is ordered to be paid into the court and is five thousand dollars or more, the county court shall forthwith upon such settlement or payment of such judgment place such amount in interest-bearing certificates of deposit or a savings account in a banking institution pending the entry of an order of distribution by the court, and such interest that may accumulate pending the entry of such order shall be distributed in the same proportions as the settlement or judgment. The hearing to approve the terms of the compromise or settlement and the hearing for distribution of the amount so received in settlement or recovered by judgment may be combined into one hearing.

On and after January 1, 2020, in any case in which copersonal representatives, cotrustees, coguardians, or coconservators have been appointed, unless specifically restricted in a will, a trust, or an order of appointment, such copersonal representatives, cotrustees, coguardians, or coconservators shall have the authority to act independently with respect to, and shall not be required to act in concert with respect to, banking transactions involving trust or estate assets.

(1) In all matters arising under the Nebraska Probate Code, in all matters in county court arising under the Nebraska Uniform Trust Code, and in all matters in county court arising under the Health Care Surrogacy Act, appeals may be taken to the Court of Appeals in the same manner as an appeal from district court to the Court of Appeals.

(2) An appeal may be taken by any party and may also be taken by any person against whom the final judgment or final order may be made or who may be affected thereby.

(3) When the appeal is by someone other than a personal representative, conservator, trustee, guardian, guardian ad litem, or surrogate pursuant to the Health Care Surrogacy Act the appealing party shall, within thirty days after the entry of the judgment or final order complained of, deposit with the clerk of the county court a supersedeas bond or undertaking in such sum as the court shall direct, with at least one good and sufficient surety approved by the court, conditioned that the appellant will satisfy any judgment and costs that may be adjudged against him or her, including costs under subsection (6) of this section, unless the court directs that no bond or undertaking need be deposited. If an appellant fails to comply with this subsection, the Court of Appeals on motion and notice may take such action, including dismissal of the appeal, as is just.

(4) The appeal shall be a supersedeas for the matter from which the appeal is specifically taken, but not for any other matter. In appeals pursuant to sections 30-2601 to 30-2661, upon motion of any party to the action, the county court may remove the supersedeas or require the appealing party to deposit with the clerk of the county court a bond or other security approved by the court in an amount and conditioned in accordance with sections 30-2640 and 30-2641. Once the appeal is perfected, the court having jurisdiction over the appeal may, upon motion of any party to the action, reimpose or remove the supersedeas or require the appealing party to deposit with the clerk of the court a bond or other security approved by the court in an amount and conditioned in accordance with sections 30-2640 and 30-2641. Upon motion of any interested person or upon the court's own motion, the county court may appoint a special guardian or conservator pending appeal despite any supersedeas order.

(5) The judgment of the Court of Appeals shall not vacate the judgment in the county court. The judgment of the Court of Appeals shall be certified without cost to the county court for further proceedings consistent with the determination of the Court of Appeals.

(6) If it appears to the Court of Appeals that an appeal was taken vexatiously or for delay, the court shall adjudge that the appellant shall pay the cost thereof, including an attorney's fee, to the adverse party in an amount fixed by the Court of Appeals, and any bond required under subsection (3) of this section shall be liable for the costs. In a proceeding under sections 30-701 to 30-713, the Court of Appeals may also order remedies under section 30-705.

Sections 30-401 to 30-406, 30-701 to 30-713, 30-2201 to 30-2902, 30-3901 to 30-3923, 30-4001 to 30-4045, and 30-4201 to 30-4210 and the Public Guardianship Act shall be known and may be cited as the Nebraska Probate Code.

(a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies.

(b) The underlying purposes and policies of this code are:

(1) to simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons, protected persons, minors, and incapacitated persons;

(2) to discover and make effective the intent of a decedent in distribution of his or her property;

(3) to promote a speedy and efficient system for liquidating the estate of the decedent and making distribution to his or her successors; and

(4) to make uniform the law among the various jurisdictions.

Unless displaced by the particular provisions of this code, the principles of law and equity supplement its provisions.

If any provisions of this code or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the code which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this code are declared to be severable.

This code is a general act intended as a unified coverage of its subject matter and no part of it shall be deemed impliedly repealed by subsequent legislation if it can reasonably be avoided.

Whenever fraud has been perpetrated in connection with any proceeding or in any statement filed under this code or if fraud is used to avoid or circumvent the provisions or purposes of this code, any person injured thereby may obtain appropriate relief against the perpetrator of the fraud or restitution from any person (other than a bona fide purchaser) benefiting from the fraud, whether innocent or not. Any proceeding must be commenced within two years after the discovery of the fraud, but no proceeding may be brought against one not a perpetrator of the fraud later than five years after the time of commission of the fraud. This section has no bearing on remedies relating to fraud practiced on a decedent during his lifetime which affects the succession of his estate.

In proceedings under this code the rules of evidence in courts of general jurisdiction, including any relating to simultaneous deaths, are applicable unless specifically displaced by the code. In addition, the following rules relating to determination of death and status are applicable:

(1) a certified or authenticated copy of a death certificate purporting to be issued by an official or agency of the place where the death purportedly occurred is prima facie proof of the fact, place, date and time of death and the identity of the decedent;

(2) a certified or authenticated copy of any record or report of a governmental agency, domestic or foreign, that a person is missing, detained, dead, or alive is prima facie evidence of the status and of the dates, circumstances and places disclosed by the record or report;

(3) a person who is absent for a continuous period of five years, during which he has not been heard from, and whose absence is not satisfactorily explained after diligent search or inquiry is presumed to be dead. His death is presumed to have occurred at the end of the period unless there is sufficient evidence for determining that death occurred earlier.

For the purpose of granting consent or approval with regard to the acts or accounts of a personal representative, including relief from liability or penalty for failure to post bond or to perform other duties, the sole holder or all coholders of a presently exercisable general power of appointment, including one in the form of a power of amendment or revocation, are deemed to act for beneficiaries to the extent their interests (as objects, takers in default, or otherwise) are subject to the power.

Subject to additional definitions contained in the subsequent articles which are applicable to specific articles or parts, and unless the context otherwise requires, in the Nebraska Probate Code:

(1) Application means a written request to the registrar for an order of informal probate or appointment under part 3 of Article 24.

(2) Beneficiary, as it relates to trust beneficiaries, includes a person who has any present or future interest, vested or contingent, and also includes the owner of an interest by assignment or other transfer, and as it relates to a charitable trust includes any person entitled to enforce the trust.

(3) Child includes any individual entitled to take as a child under the code by intestate succession from the parent whose relationship is involved and excludes any person who is only a stepchild, a foster child, or a grandchild or any more remote descendant.

(4) Claim, in respect to estates of decedents and protected persons, includes liabilities of the decedent or protected person whether arising in contract, in tort or otherwise, and liabilities of the estate which arise at or after the death of the decedent or after the appointment of a conservator, including funeral expenses and expenses of administration. The term does not include estate or inheritance taxes, demands or disputes regarding title of a decedent or protected person to specific assets alleged to be included in the estate.

(5) Court means the court or branch having jurisdiction in matters relating to the affairs of decedents. This court in this state is known as county court or, for purposes of guardianship of a juvenile over which a separate juvenile court already has jurisdiction, the county court or separate juvenile court.

(6) Conservator means a person who is appointed by a court to manage the estate of a protected person.

(7) Devise, when used as a noun, means a testamentary disposition of real or personal property and, when used as a verb, means to dispose of real or personal property by will.

(8) Devisee means any person designated in a will to receive a devise. In the case of a devise to an existing trust or trustee, or to a trustee or trust described by will, the trust or trustee is the devisee and the beneficiaries are not devisees.

(9) Disability means cause for a protective order as described by section 30-2630.

(10) Disinterested witness to a will means any individual who acts as a witness to a will and is not an interested witness to such will.

(11) Distributee means any person who has received property of a decedent from his or her personal representative other than as a creditor or purchaser. A testamentary trustee is a distributee only to the extent of distributed assets or increment thereto remaining in his or her hands. A beneficiary of a testamentary trust to whom the trustee has distributed property received from a personal representative is a distributee of the personal representative. For purposes of this provision, testamentary trustee includes a trustee to whom assets are transferred by will, to the extent of the devised assets.

(12) Estate includes the property of the decedent, trust, or other person whose affairs are subject to the Nebraska Probate Code as originally constituted and as it exists from time to time during administration.

(13) Exempt property means that property of a decedent's estate which is described in section 30-2323.

(14) Fiduciary includes personal representative, guardian, conservator, and trustee.

(15) Foreign personal representative means a personal representative of another jurisdiction.

(16) Formal proceedings mean those conducted before a judge with notice to interested persons.

(17) Guardian means a person who has qualified as a guardian of a minor or incapacitated person pursuant to testamentary or court appointment, but excludes one who is merely a guardian ad litem.

(18) Heirs mean those persons, including the surviving spouse, who are entitled under the statutes of intestate succession to the property of a decedent.

(19) Incapacitated person is as defined in section 30-2601.

(20) Informal proceedings mean those conducted without notice to interested persons by an officer of the court acting as a registrar for probate of a will or appointment of a personal representative.

(21) Except for purposes of article 26 of the Nebraska Probate Code, interested person includes heirs, devisees, children, spouses, creditors, beneficiaries, and any others having a property right in or claim against a trust estate or the estate of a decedent, ward, or protected person which may be affected by the proceeding. It also includes persons having priority for appointment as personal representative, and other fiduciaries representing interested persons. The meaning as it relates to particular persons may vary from time to time and must be determined according to the particular purposes of, and matter involved in, any proceeding.

(22) Interested witness to a will means any individual who acts as a witness to a will at the date of its execution and who is or would be entitled to receive any property thereunder if the testator then died under the circumstances existing at the date of its execution, but does not include any individual, merely because of such nomination, who acts as a witness to a will by which he or she is nominated as personal representative, conservator, guardian, or trustee.

(23) Issue of a person means all his or her lineal descendants of all generations, with the relationship of parent and child at each generation being determined by the definitions of child and parent contained in the Nebraska Probate Code.

(24) Lease includes an oil, gas, or other mineral lease.

(25) Letters include letters testamentary, letters of guardianship, letters of administration, and letters of conservatorship.

(26) Minor means an individual under nineteen years of age, but in case any person marries under the age of nineteen years his or her minority ends.

(27) Mortgage means any conveyance, agreement, or arrangement in which property is used as security.

(28) Nonresident decedent means a decedent who was domiciled in another jurisdiction at the time of his or her death.

(29) Notice means compliance with the requirements of notice pursuant to subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2) of section 30-2220.

(30) Organization includes a corporation, government, or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, or association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, or any other legal entity.

(31) Parent includes any person entitled to take, or who would be entitled to take if the child died without a will, as a parent under the Nebraska Probate Code, by intestate succession from the child whose relationship is in question and excludes any person who is only a stepparent, foster parent, or grandparent.

(32) Person means an individual, a corporation, an organization, a limited liability company, or other legal entity.

(33) Personal representative includes executor, administrator, successor personal representative, special administrator, and persons who perform substantially the same function under the law governing their status.

(34) Petition means a written request to the court for an order after notice.

(35) Proceeding includes action at law and suit in equity, but does not include a determination of inheritance tax under Chapter 77, article 20, or estate tax apportionment as provided in sections 77-2108 to 77-2112.

(36) Property includes both real and personal property or any interest therein and means anything that may be the subject of ownership.

(37) Protected person is as defined in section 30-2601.

(38) Protective proceeding is as defined in section 30-2601.

(39) Registrar refers to the official of the court designated to perform the functions of registrar as provided in section 30-2216.

(40) Relative or relation of a person means all persons who are related to him or her by blood or legal adoption.

(41) Security includes any note, stock, treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation in an oil, gas, or mining title or lease or in payments out of production under such a title or lease, collateral-trust certificate, transferable share, voting-trust certificate or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a security, or any certificate of interest or participation, any temporary or interim certificate, receipt, or certificate of deposit for, or any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.

(42) Settlement, in reference to a decedent's estate, includes the full process of administration, distribution, and closing.

(43) Special administrator means a personal representative as described by sections 30-2457 to 30-2461.

(44) State includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession subject to the legislative authority of the United States.

(45) Successor personal representative means a personal representative, other than a special administrator, who is appointed to succeed a previously appointed personal representative.

(46) Successors mean those persons, other than creditors, who are entitled to property of a decedent under his or her will or the Nebraska Probate Code.

(47) Supervised administration refers to the proceedings described in Article 24, part 5.

(48) Testacy proceeding means a proceeding to establish a will or determine intestacy.

(49) Testator means the maker of a will.

(50) Trust includes any express trust, private or charitable, with additions thereto, wherever and however created. It also includes a trust created or determined by judgment or decree under which the trust is to be administered in the manner of an express trust. Trust excludes other constructive trusts, and it excludes resulting trusts, conservatorships, personal representatives, trust accounts as defined in Article 27, custodial arrangements pursuant to the Nebraska Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, business trusts providing for certificates to be issued to beneficiaries, common trust funds, voting trusts, security arrangements, liquidation trusts, and trusts for the primary purpose of paying debts, dividends, interest, salaries, wages, profits, pensions, or employee benefits of any kind, and any arrangement under which a person is nominee or escrowee for another.

(51) Trustee includes an original, additional, or successor trustee, whether or not appointed or confirmed by court.

(52) Ward is as defined in section 30-2601.

(53) Will means any instrument, including any codicil or other testamentary instrument complying with sections 30-2326 to 30-2338, which disposes of personal or real property, appoints a personal representative, conservator, guardian, or trustee, revokes or revises an earlier executed testamentary instrument, or encompasses any one or more of such objects or purposes.

Except as otherwise provided in this code, this code applies to (1) the affairs and estates of decedents, missing persons, and persons to be protected, domiciled in this state, (2) the property of nonresidents located in this state or property coming into the control of a fiduciary who is subject to the laws of this state, (3) incapacitated persons and minors in this state, except as provided in the Nebraska Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, and (4) survivorship and related accounts in this state.

(a) To the full extent permitted by the Constitution of Nebraska, the court has jurisdiction over all subject matter relating to (1) estates of decedents, including construction of wills and determination of heirs and successors of decedents, and estates of protected persons; and (2) protection of minors and incapacitated persons, except as provided in the Nebraska Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act.

(b) The court has full power to make orders, judgments, and decrees and take all other action necessary and proper to administer justice in the matters which come before it.

The reasonable fees and costs of an attorney, a guardian ad litem, a physician, and a visitor appointed by the court for the minor shall be allowed, disallowed, or adjusted by the court and may be paid from the estate of the minor if the minor possesses an estate or, if not, shall be paid by the county in which the proceedings are brought or by the petitioner as costs of the action. An action under sections 30-2601 to 30-2661 may be initiated or defended in forma pauperis in accordance with sections 25-2301 to 25-2310. The court may assess attorney's fees and costs against the petitioner upon a showing that the action was frivolous in accordance with sections 25-824 to 25-824.03.

(a) Where a proceeding under this code could be maintained in more than one place in this state, the court in which the proceeding is first commenced has the exclusive right to proceed.

(b) If proceedings concerning the same estate, protected person, or ward are commenced in more than one court of this state, the court in which the proceeding was first commenced shall continue to hear the matter, and the other courts shall hold the matter in abeyance until the question of venue is decided, and if the ruling court determines that venue is properly in another court, it shall transfer the proceeding to the other court.

(c) If a court finds that in the interest of justice a proceeding or a file should be located in another court of this state, the court making the finding may transfer the proceeding or file to the other court.

The Supreme Court shall have authority to establish rules to carry into effect the provisions of this code so that its administration, proceedings, and practice shall be uniform.

The clerk of court shall keep a record for each decedent, ward, or protected person involved in any document which may be filed with the court under this code, including petitions and applications, demands for notices or bonds, and of any orders or responses relating thereto by the registrar or court, and establish and maintain a system for indexing, filing, or recording which is sufficient to enable users of the records to obtain adequate information. Upon payment of the fees required by law, the clerk must issue certified copies of any probated wills, letters issued to personal representatives, or any other record or paper filed or recorded. Certificates relating to probated wills must indicate whether the decedent was domiciled in this state and whether the probate was formal or informal. Certificates relating to letters must show the date of appointment.

The party instituting or maintaining the proceeding or his attorney is required to mail the published notice and give proof thereof in accordance with section 25-520.01.

The acts and orders which this code specifies as performable by the registrar may be performed either by a judge of the court or by a person, including the clerk, designated by the court by a written order filed and recorded in the office of the court.

Appellate review under this code shall be governed by section 30-1601.

Assignment of matters arising under the Nebraska Probate Code to clerk magistrates shall be subject to sections 24-519 and 24-520.

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this code or by rule, every document filed with the court under this code including applications, petitions, and demands for notice, shall be deemed to include an oath, affirmation, or statement to the effect that its representations are true as far as the person executing or filing it knows or is informed. Any person who willfully falsifies any such representation shall be guilty of perjury and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided by section 28-915.

(a) If notice of a hearing on any petition is required and except for specific notice requirements as otherwise provided, the petitioner shall cause notice of the time and place of hearing of any petition to be given to any interested person or his or her attorney if he or she has appeared by attorney or requested that notice be sent to his or her attorney. Notice shall be given:

(1) If the identity and address of any person is known (i) by mailing a copy thereof at least fourteen days before the time set for the hearing by certified, registered, or ordinary first-class mail addressed to the person being notified at the post office address given in his or her demand for notice, if any, or at his or her office or place of residence, if known, or (ii) by delivering a copy thereof to the person being notified personally at least fourteen days before the time set for the hearing; and

(2) By publishing at least once a week for three consecutive weeks a copy thereof in a legal newspaper having general circulation in the county where the hearing is to be held, the last publication of which is to be at least three days before the time set for the hearing.

If the action pending on which notice is required is a guardianship or conservatorship action under sections 30-2601 to 30-2661, publication shall be required only if the identity or address of any person required to be served is not known.

(b) The court for good cause shown may provide for a different method or time of giving notice for any hearing.

(c) Proof of the giving of notice shall be made on or before the hearing and filed in the proceeding.

A person, including a guardian ad litem, conservator, or other fiduciary, may waive notice or any other requirement for the mailing or receipt of instruments by a writing signed by him or his attorney and filed in the proceeding.

In formal proceedings involving estates of decedents, minors, protected persons, or incapacitated persons, and in judicially supervised settlements, the following apply:

(1) Interests to be affected shall be described in pleadings which give reasonable information to owners by name or class, by reference to the instrument creating the interests, or in other appropriate manner.

(2) Persons are bound by orders binding others in the following cases:

(i) Orders binding the sole holder or all coholders of a power of revocation or a presently exercisable general power of appointment, including one in the form of a power of amendment, bind other persons to the extent their interests (as objects, takers in default, or otherwise) are subject to the power.

(ii) To the extent there is no conflict of interest between them or among persons represented, orders binding a conservator bind the person whose estate he or she controls; orders binding a guardian bind the ward if no conservator of his or her estate has been appointed; orders binding a trustee bind beneficiaries of the trust in proceedings to probate a will establishing or adding to a trust, to review the acts or accounts of a prior fiduciary and in proceedings involving creditors or other third parties; and orders binding a personal representative bind persons interested in the undistributed assets of a decedent's estate in actions or proceedings by or against the estate. If there is no conflict of interest and no conservator or guardian has been appointed, a parent may represent his or her minor child.

(iii) An unborn or unascertained person who is not otherwise represented is bound by an order to the extent his or her interest is adequately represented by another party having a substantially identical interest in the proceeding.

(3) Notice is required as follows:

(i) Notice as prescribed by section 30-2220 shall be given to every interested person or to one who can bind an interested person as described in (2)(i) or (2)(ii) above. Notice may be given both to a person and to another who may bind him or her.

(ii) Notice is given to unborn or unascertained persons, who are not represented under (2)(i) or (2)(ii) above, by giving notice to all known persons whose interests in the proceedings are substantially identical to those of the unborn or unascertained persons.

(4) At any point in a proceeding, a court may appoint a guardian ad litem as provided in sections 30-4201 to 30-4210 to represent the interest of a minor, an incapacitated, unborn, or unascertained person, or a person whose identity or address is unknown, if the court determines that representation of the interest otherwise would be inadequate. If not precluded by conflict of interests, a guardian ad litem may be appointed to represent several persons or interests. The court shall set out its reasons for appointing a guardian ad litem as a part of the record of the proceeding.

(1) Except as otherwise provided by section 23-1824, a person who is eighteen years of age or older and of sound mind, by testamentary disposition, by entering into a pre-need sale as defined by section 12-1102, or by affidavit as provided in subdivision (2)(a)(ii) of this section, may direct the location, manner, and conditions of disposition of his or her remains and the arrangements for funeral goods and services to be provided upon his or her death.

(2) Except as set forth in subsection (3) of this section or in section 71-20,121, the right of disposition, including the right to control the disposition of the remains of a deceased person, the location, manner, and conditions of disposition, and the arrangements for funeral goods and services to be provided, vests in the following order if the person listed is eighteen years of age or older and is of sound mind:

(a)(i) A person designated by the decedent as the person with the right of disposition in an affidavit executed in accordance with subdivision (2)(a)(ii) of this section.

(ii) A person who is eighteen years of age or older and of sound mind wishing to convey the right of disposition to another person may execute an affidavit before a notary public in substantially the following form:

State of .......... )

County of .......... )

I, .............., do hereby designate .............. with the right to control the disposition of my remains upon my death. I (...... have) (...... have not) attached specific directions concerning the disposition of my remains which the designee shall substantially comply with, so long as such directions are lawful and there are sufficient resources in my estate to carry out the directions. This affidavit does not constitute a durable power of attorney for health care.

......................... (signature of person executing affidavit)

Subscribed and sworn to before me this ...... day of the month of ............ of the year ...... .

......................... (signature of notary public);

(b) The surviving spouse of the decedent;

(c) The sole surviving child of the decedent or, if there is more than one child of the decedent, the majority of the surviving children, except that less than a majority of the surviving children shall be vested with the right of disposition if they have used reasonable efforts to notify all other surviving children of their instructions regarding the right of disposition and are not aware of any opposition to those instructions on the part of a majority of the surviving children;

(d) The surviving parent or parents of the decedent. If one of the surviving parents is absent, the remaining parent shall be vested with the right of disposition after reasonable efforts have been unsuccessful in locating the absent surviving parent;

(e) The surviving brother or sister of the decedent or, if there is more than one sibling of the decedent, the majority of the surviving siblings, except that less than the majority of the surviving siblings shall be vested with the right of disposition if they have used reasonable efforts to notify all other surviving siblings of their instructions regarding the right of disposition and are not aware of any opposition to those instructions on the part of a majority of the surviving siblings;

(f) The surviving grandparent of the decedent or, if there is more than one surviving grandparent, the majority of the grandparents, except that less than the majority of the surviving grandparents shall be vested with the right of disposition if they have used reasonable efforts to notify all other surviving grandparents of their instructions regarding the right of disposition and are not aware of any opposition to those instructions on the part of a majority of the surviving grandparents;

(g) The person in the next degree of kinship, in descending order, under the laws of descent and distribution, to inherit the estate of the decedent. If there is more than one person of the same degree, any person of that degree may exercise the right of disposition;

(h) The guardian of the person of the decedent at the time of the decedent's death, if one had been appointed;

(i) The personal representative of the estate of the decedent. The powers and duties under this section of the personal representative shall commence upon his or her appointment. Such powers and duties of the personal representative shall relate back in time to give acts by the personal representative which are beneficial to the disposition of the decedent's remains occurring prior to appointment the same effect as those occurring thereafter. Prior to appointment, the personal representative may carry out written instructions of the decedent relating to his or her body, funeral, and burial arrangements. The personal representative may also ratify and accept acts regarding disposition of the decedent's remains done by others where the acts would have been proper for the personal representative;

(j) The State Anatomical Board or the county board of the county where the death occurred in the case of an indigent person or any other person the disposition of whose remains is a responsibility of the state or county;

(k) A representative as described in section 38-1426 or 38-1427 that has arranged with the funeral establishment, cemetery, or crematory authority to cremate or bury a body part in the case of body parts received from the entity described in section 38-1426 or 38-1427; and

(l) In the absence of any person listed in subdivisions (2)(a) through (k) of this section, any other person willing to assume the right of disposition, including the funeral director with custody of the body, after attesting, in writing, that a good faith effort has been made to no avail to contact the persons listed in subdivisions (2)(a) through (k) of this section.

(3) A person entitled under this section to the right of disposition shall forfeit that right and the right is passed on to the next qualifying person as listed in subdivisions (2)(a) through (l) of this section in the following circumstances:

(a) Any person charged with first or second degree murder or voluntary manslaughter in connection with the decedent's death and whose charges are known to the funeral director. If the charges against such person are dismissed, or if such person is acquitted of the charges, the right of disposition is returned to such person;

(b) Any person who does not exercise his or her right of disposition within three days after notification of the death of the decedent or within four days after the decedent's death, whichever is earlier;

(c) If the person and the decedent are spouses and a petition to dissolve the marriage was pending at the time of the decedent's death; or

(d) If a county court pursuant to subsection (4) of this section determines that the person entitled to the right of disposition and the decedent were estranged at the time of death. For purposes of this subdivision, estranged means a physical and emotional separation from the decedent at the time of death which has existed for a period of time that clearly demonstrates an absence of due affection, trust, and regard for the decedent.

(4)(a) If two or more persons with the same relationship to the decedent hold the right of disposition and cannot by majority vote make a decision regarding the disposition of the decedent's remains, any of such persons or a funeral home with custody of the remains may file a petition asking the court to make a determination in the matter.

(b) Notwithstanding subsections (1) through (3) of this section, the county court of the county where the decedent died may award the right of disposition to the person determined by the court to be the most fit and appropriate to carry out the right of disposition and may make decisions regarding the decedent's remains if those sharing the right of disposition cannot agree.

(c) In making a determination under this subsection, the court shall consider the following:

(i) The reasonableness and practicality of the proposed funeral arrangements and disposition;

(ii) The degree of the personal relationship between the decedent and each of the persons claiming the right of disposition;

(iii) The desires of the person or persons who are ready, able, and willing to pay the cost of the funeral arrangements and disposition; and

(iv) The convenience and needs of other families and friends wishing to pay respects.

(d) In the event of a dispute regarding the right of disposition, a funeral establishment, cemetery, or crematory authority is not liable for refusing to accept the remains or to inter or otherwise dispose of the remains of the decedent or complete the arrangements for the final disposition of the remains until the funeral establishment, cemetery, or crematory authority receives a court order or other written agreement signed by the parties in disagreement that decides the final disposition of the remains. If the funeral establishment, cemetery, or crematory authority retains the remains for final disposition while the parties are in disagreement, the funeral establishment may embalm or refrigerate and shelter the body, or both, in order to preserve it while awaiting the final decision of the court and may add the cost of embalming or refrigeration and sheltering to the final disposition costs. If a funeral home brings an action under this subsection, the funeral establishment, cemetery, or crematory authority may add the legal fees and court costs associated with a petition under this subsection to the cost of final disposition. This subsection may not be construed to require or to impose a duty upon a funeral establishment, cemetery, or crematory authority to bring an action under this subsection.

(e) Except to the degree it may be considered by the court under subdivision (4)(c)(iii) of this section, the fact that a person has paid or agreed to pay for all or part of the funeral arrangements and final disposition does not give that person a greater claim to the right of disposition than the person would otherwise have. The personal representative of the estate of the decedent does not, by virtue of being the personal representative, have a greater claim to the right of disposition than the personal representative would otherwise have.

Any part of the estate of a decedent not effectively disposed of by his will passes to his heirs as prescribed in the following sections of this code.

The intestate share of the surviving spouse is:

(1) if there is no surviving issue or parent of the decedent, the entire intestate estate;

(2) if there is no surviving issue but the decedent is survived by a parent or parents, the first one hundred thousand dollars, plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate;

(3) if there are surviving issue all of whom are issue of the surviving spouse also, the first one hundred thousand dollars, plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate;

(4) if there are surviving issue one or more of whom are not issue of the surviving spouse, one-half of the intestate estate.

The part of the intestate estate not passing to the surviving spouse under section 30-2302, or the entire intestate estate if there is no surviving spouse, passes as follows:

(1) to the issue of the decedent; if they are all of the same degree of kinship to the decedent they take equally, but if of unequal degree, then those of more remote degree take by representation;

(2) if there is no surviving issue, to his parent or parents equally;

(3) if there is no surviving issue or parent, to the issue of the parents or either of them by representation;

(4) if there is no surviving issue, parent or issue of a parent, but the decedent is survived by one or more grandparents or issue of grandparents, half of the estate passes to the paternal grandparents if both survive, or to the surviving paternal grandparent, or to the issue of the paternal grandparents if both are deceased, the issue taking equally if they are all of the same degree of kinship to the decedent, but if of unequal degree those of more remote degree take by representation; and the other half passes to the maternal relatives in the same manner; but if there be no surviving grandparent or issue of grandparent on either the paternal or the maternal side, the entire estate passes to the relatives on the other side in the same manner as the half;

(5) if there is no surviving issue, parent, issue of a parent, grandparent or issue of a grandparent, the entire estate passes to the next of kin in equal degree, excepting that when there are two or more collateral kindred in equal degree, but claiming through different ancestors, those who claim through the nearest ancestor shall be preferred to those claiming through a more remote ancestor.

Any person who fails to survive the decedent by one hundred twenty hours is deemed to have predeceased the decedent for purposes of homestead allowance, exempt property and intestate succession, and the decedent's heirs are determined accordingly. If the time of death of the decedent or of the person who would otherwise be an heir, or the times of death of both, cannot be determined, and it cannot be established that the person who would otherwise be an heir has survived the decedent by one hundred twenty hours, it is deemed that the person failed to survive for the required period. This section is not to be applied where its application would result in a taking of intestate estate by the state under section 30-2305.

If there is no taker under the provisions of this article, the intestate estate passes to the state.

If representation is called for by this code, the estate is divided into as many shares as there are surviving heirs in the nearest degree of kinship and deceased persons in the same degree who left issue who survive the decedent, each surviving heir in the nearest degree receiving one share and the share of each deceased person in the same degree being divided among his issue in the same manner.

The degrees of kindred shall be computed according to the rule of civil law. Relatives of the half blood inherit the same share they would inherit if they were of the whole blood.

Relatives of the decedent conceived before his death but born thereafter inherit as if they had been born in the lifetime of the decedent.

If, for purposes of intestate succession, a relationship of parent and child must be established to determine succession by, through, or from a person,

(1) an adopted person is the child of an adopting parent and not of the natural parents except that adoption of a child by the spouse of a natural parent has no effect on the relationship between the child and that natural parent.

(2) in cases not covered by (1), a person born out of wedlock is a child of the mother. That person is also a child of the father, if:

(i) the natural parents participated in a marriage ceremony before or after the birth of the child, even though the attempted marriage is void; or

(ii) the paternity is established by an adjudication before the death of the father or is established thereafter by strict, clear and convincing proof. The open cohabitation of the mother and alleged father during the period of conception shall be admissible as evidence of paternity. The paternity established under this subparagraph (ii) is ineffective to qualify the father or his kindred to inherit from or through the child unless the father has openly treated the child as his, and has not refused to support the child.

If a person dies intestate as to all his estate, property which he gave in his lifetime to an heir is treated as an advancement against the latter's share of the estate only if declared in a contemporaneous writing by the decedent or acknowledged in writing by the heir to be an advancement. For this purpose the property advanced is valued as of the time the heir came into possession or enjoyment of the property or as of the time of death of the decedent, whichever first occurs. If the recipient of the property fails to survive the decedent, the property is not taken into account in computing the intestate share to be received by the recipient's issue, unless the declaration or acknowledgment provides otherwise.

A debt owed to the decedent is not charged against the intestate share of any person except the debtor. If the debtor fails to survive the decedent, the debt is not taken into account in computing the intestate share of the debtor's issue.

No person is disqualified to take as an heir because he or a person through whom he claims is or has been an alien except as provided in section 4-107 and Chapter 76, article 4.

An individual who is related to the decedent through two lines of relationship is entitled to only a single share based on the relationship that would entitle the individual to the larger share.

(a) A parent is barred from inheriting from or through a child of the parent if the parent's parental rights were terminated and the parent-child relationship was not judicially reestablished.

(b) For the purpose of intestate succession from or through the deceased child, a parent who is barred from inheriting under this section is treated as if the parent predeceased the child.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if a married person domiciled in this state dies, the surviving spouse has a right of election to take an elective share in any fraction not in excess of one-half of the augmented estate under the limitations and conditions hereinafter stated.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if a married person not domiciled in this state dies, the right, if any, of the surviving spouse to take an elective share in property in this state and the amount or extent of such share are governed by the law of the decedent's domicile at death.

(c) If a married person dies and such person (1) had been an owner of real estate in this state and (2) had conveyed the real estate during his or her lifetime without joinder of his or her spouse in the conveyance, while domiciled outside of the state, such conveyance shall be valid regardless of the law of the decedent's domicile at death. The real estate shall not be subject to any claims or interests derived from the grantor or the grantor's estate because the spouse did not join in the conveyance.

(a) The augmented estate is the estate, first, reduced by the aggregate amount of funeral and administration expenses, homestead allowance, family allowances and exemptions, and enforceable claims and, second, increased by the aggregate amount of the following items:

(1) The value of property transferred by the decedent at any time during marriage to the surviving spouse to or for the benefit of any person other than a bona fide purchaser or the surviving spouse, but only to the extent to which the decedent did not receive adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth for such transfer, if such transfer is a transfer of any of the following types:

(i) Any transfer under which the decedent retained at death the possession or enjoyment of, or right to income from, the property;

(ii) Any transfer to the extent to which the decedent retained at death a power alone or with any other person to revoke such transfer or to consume, invade, or dispose of the principal of the property for his or her own benefit;

(iii) Any transfer whereby the property is held at death by the decedent and any other person or persons with right of survivorship; or

(iv) Any transfer to a donee or donees made by the decedent within three years of death to the extent to which the aggregate amount of such transfers to any one donee in any of such years exceeded three thousand dollars; and

(2) The value of property owned by the surviving spouse at death of the decedent and the value of property transferred by the surviving spouse at any time during marriage to the decedent to or for the benefit of any person other than the decedent, but exclusive of all income earned thereby before death of the decedent and only to the extent both to which such property would have been included in the augmented estate of the surviving spouse if the surviving spouse had predeceased the decedent and to which such property is derived from the decedent by any means other than testate or intestate succession without adequate and full consideration in money or money's worth, if such property is property of any of the following types:

(i) Any property derived from the decedent including, without limitation to, any beneficial interest of the surviving spouse in a trust created by the decedent during his or her lifetime, any property appointed to the surviving spouse by the exercise by the decedent of a general or a special power of appointment also exercisable in favor of any person other than the surviving spouse, any proceeds, including accidental death benefits, of insurance upon the life of the decedent together with any lump sum immediately payable and the commuted value of any proceeds of annuity contracts under which the decedent was the primary annuitant attributable to the premiums for such insurance paid by the decedent or by his or her employer, his or her partner, a partnership of which he or she was a member, or any of his or her creditors, the commuted value of any amounts or proceeds payable after death of the decedent under public or private pension, disability, compensation, death benefit, or retirement plan, exclusive of the federal social security, railroad retirement, or like system, by reason of service performed or disability incurred by the decedent, and the value of any share of the surviving spouse resulting from rights in community property in Nebraska or elsewhere formerly owned with the decedent; or

(ii) Any property owned by the surviving spouse at death of the decedent or previously transferred by the surviving spouse, except to the extent to which the surviving spouse establishes that such property was derived from any source other than the decedent.

A bona fide purchaser under (1) above is a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of any adverse claim; and the attachment of stamps to an instrument and their cancellation under sections 76-901 to 76-908 are prima facie evidence that the transferee of the transfer thereby effected is a bona fide purchaser.

(b) Property included in the augmented estate under subsection (a) of this section is valued at the following dates:

(1) For property transferred by the decedent by irrevocable gift during lifetime, at the date, if before death of the decedent, the donee first came into possession or enjoyment of such property;

(2) For property transferred by the surviving spouse of the decedent, at the date, if before death of the decedent, such transfer became irrevocable; and

(3) For all property not valued at any other date, at the date of death of the decedent.

(c) The augmented estate does not include the following items otherwise includable under subsection (a) of this section:

(1) Accident or life insurance proceeds, joint annuity, or pension payable to any person other than the surviving spouse of the decedent;

(2) Property transferred by the decedent to any person other than the surviving spouse by any bill of sale, conveyance, deed, or gift or by any other means of transfer either by an instrument of transfer joined in by the surviving spouse of the decedent or with the consent to transfer manifested before or after death of the decedent by a writing signed by the surviving spouse of the decedent before, contemporaneously with, or after the transfer; and

(3) Property transferred by or from the decedent to any person by any means other than intestate succession or testamentary disposition if a petition is not filed or delivered under section 30-2317 within nine months of the death of the decedent.

The right of election of the surviving spouse may be exercised only during his or her lifetime by him or her. In the case of a protected person, the right of election may be exercised only by order of the court in which protective proceedings as to his or her property are pending, after finding that exercise thereof in the fraction designated or proposed is in the best interests of the protected person during his or her probable life expectancy and of the children, family members, or other successors to the decedent or to the protected person, due regard being given by the court to the other assets and resources of the protected person, the extent and nature of any dependent, mutual, or otherwise related estate planning of the decedent and the protected person, the present and likely future financial impact upon the estate of the decedent, the protected person or the estate of the protected person, or such successors of any federal or state estate, excise, gift, income, inheritance, succession, or other tax consequent upon such exercise, and the existence or nonexistence of any other factors deemed by the court to be relevant to the exercise or nonexercise of the right of election.

(a) The right of election of a surviving spouse and the rights of the surviving spouse to homestead allowance, exempt property, and family allowance, or any of them, may be waived, wholly or partially, before or after marriage, by a written contract, agreement, or waiver signed by the surviving spouse.

(b) A surviving spouse's waiver is not enforceable if the surviving spouse proves that:

(1) he or she did not execute the waiver voluntarily; or

(2) the waiver was unconscionable when it was executed and, before execution of the waiver, he or she:

(i) was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the decedent;

(ii) did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the decedent beyond the disclosure provided; and

(iii) did not have, or reasonably could not have had, an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the decedent.

(c) An issue of unconscionability of a waiver is for decision by the court as a matter of law.

(d) Unless it provides to the contrary, a waiver of "all rights", or equivalent language, in the property or estate of a present or prospective spouse or a complete property settlement entered into after or in anticipation of separation, divorce, or annulment is a waiver of all rights to elective share, homestead allowance, exempt property, and family allowance by each spouse in the property of the other and a renunciation by each of all benefits that would otherwise pass to him or her from the other by intestate succession or by virtue of any will executed before the waiver or property settlement.

(a) The surviving spouse may elect to take his or her elective share in the augmented estate by filing in the court and mailing or delivering to the personal representative, if any, a petition for the elective share in any designated fraction not in excess of one-half or, in the absence of any such designation, of one-half of the augmented estate within nine months after the date of death or within six months after the probate of the decedent's will, whichever time limitation last expires. Nonprobate transfers described in section 30-2314(a)(1) shall not be included within the augmented estate for the purpose of computing the elective share if the petition is filed later than one year after death. The court may extend the time for election as it sees fit for cause shown by the surviving spouse before the time for election has expired.

(b) The surviving spouse shall give notice of the time and place set for hearing to persons interested in the estate and to the distributees and recipients of portions of the augmented estate whose interests will be adversely affected by the taking of the elective share.

(c) The surviving spouse may withdraw his or her demand for an elective share at any time before entry of a final determination by the court.

(d) After notice and hearing, the court shall determine the amount of the elective share and shall order its payment from the assets of the augmented estate or by contribution as appears appropriate under section 30-2319. If it appears that a fund or property included in the augmented estate has not come into the possession of the personal representative, or has been distributed by the personal representative, the court nevertheless shall fix the liability of any person who has any interest in the fund or property or who has possession thereof, whether as trustee or otherwise. The proceeding may be maintained against fewer than all persons against whom relief could be sought, but no person is subject to contribution in any greater amount than he or she would have been if relief had been secured against all persons subject to contribution.

(e) The order or judgment of the court may be enforced as necessary in suit for contribution or payment in other courts of this state or other jurisdictions.

(a) The surviving spouse's election of his elective share does not affect the share of the surviving spouse under the provisions of the decedent's will or intestate succession unless the surviving spouse also expressly renounces in the petition for an elective share the benefit of all or any of the provisions. If any provision is so renounced, the property or other benefit which would otherwise have passed to the surviving spouse thereunder is treated, subject to contribution under subsection 30-2319(b), as if the surviving spouse had predeceased the testator.

(b) A surviving spouse is entitled to homestead allowance, exempt property and family allowance whether or not he elects to take an elective share.

(a) In the proceeding for an elective share, property which is part of the augmented estate which passes or has passed to the surviving spouse by testate or intestate succession or other means and which has not been renounced, including that described in section 30-2314, is applied first to satisfy the elective share and to reduce the amount due from other recipients of portions of the augmented estate.

(b) Remaining property of the augmented estate is so applied that liability for the balance of the elective share of the surviving spouse is equitably apportioned among the recipients of the augmented estate in proportion to the value of their interests therein.

(c) Only original transferees from, or appointees of, the decedent and their donees, to the extent the donees have the property or its proceeds, are subject to the contribution to make up the elective share of the surviving spouse. A person liable to contribution may choose to give up the property transferred to him or to pay its value as of the time it is considered in computing the augmented estate.

(a) If a testator fails to provide by will for his surviving spouse who married the testator after the execution of the will, the omitted spouse shall receive the same share of the estate he would have received if the decedent left no will unless waived pursuant to section 30-2316.

(b) In satisfying a share provided by this section, the devises made by the will abate as provided in section 30-24,100.

(a) If a testator fails to provide in his will for any of his children born or adopted after the execution of his will, the omitted child receives a share in the estate equal in value to that which he would have received if the testator had died intestate unless:

(1) it appears from the will that the omission was intentional;

(2) when the will was executed the testator had one or more children and devised substantially all his estate to the other parent of the omitted child; or

(3) the testator provided for the child by transfer outside the will in an amount equal to or greater than such child's share had the testator died intestate.

(b) If at the time of execution of the will the testator fails to provide in his will for a living child solely because he believes the child to be dead, the child receives a share in the estate equal in value to that which he would have received if the testator had died intestate.

(c) In satisfying a share provided by this section, the devises made by the will abate as provided in section 30-24,100.

A surviving spouse of a decedent who was domiciled in this state is entitled to a homestead allowance of seven thousand five hundred dollars for a decedent who dies before January 1, 2011, and twenty thousand dollars for a decedent who dies on or after January 1, 2011. If there is no surviving spouse, each minor child and each dependent child of the decedent is entitled to a homestead allowance amounting to the amount allowed for a surviving spouse divided by the number of minor and dependent children of the decedent. The homestead allowance is exempt from and has priority over all claims against the estate except for costs and expenses of administration. Homestead allowance is in addition to any share passing to the surviving spouse or minor or dependent child by the will of the decedent unless otherwise provided therein, by intestate succession or by way of elective share.

(1) In addition to the homestead allowance, the surviving spouse of a decedent who was domiciled in this state is entitled from the estate to value not exceeding five thousand dollars for a decedent who dies before January 1, 2011, and twelve thousand five hundred dollars for a decedent who dies on or after January 1, 2011, in excess of any security interests therein in household furniture, automobiles, furnishings, appliances, and personal effects. If there is no surviving spouse, children of the decedent are entitled jointly to the same value unless the decedent has provided in his or her will that one or more of such children shall be disinherited, in which case only those children not so disinherited shall be so entitled. For purposes of this section, disinherited means providing in one's will that a child shall take nothing or a nominal amount of ten dollars or less from the estate.

(2) If encumbered chattels are selected and if the value in excess of security interests, plus that of other exempt property, is less than the amount allowed under subsection (1) of this section, or if there is not that amount worth of exempt property in the estate, the spouse or children are entitled to other assets of the estate, if any, to the extent necessary to make up the amount allowed under subsection (1) of this section. Rights to exempt property and assets needed to make up a deficiency of exempt property have priority over all claims against the estate except for costs and expenses of administration, except for claims filed by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 68-919 notwithstanding the order of payment established in section 30-2487, and except that the right to any assets to make up a deficiency of exempt property shall abate as necessary to permit prior payment of homestead allowance and family allowance.

(3) These rights are in addition to any benefit or share passing to the surviving spouse by the will of the decedent unless otherwise provided therein, by intestate succession, or by way of elective share. These rights are in addition to any benefit or share passing to the surviving children by intestate succession and are in addition to any benefit or share passing by the will of the decedent to those surviving children not disinherited unless otherwise provided in the will.

In addition to the right to homestead allowance and exempt property, if the decedent was domiciled in this state, the surviving spouse and minor children whom the decedent was obligated to support and children who were in fact being supported by him are entitled to a reasonable allowance in money out of the estate for their maintenance during the period of administration, which allowance may not continue for longer than one year if the estate is inadequate to discharge allowed claims. The allowance may be paid as a lump sum or in periodic installments. It is payable to the surviving spouse, if living, for the use of the surviving spouse and minor and dependent children; otherwise to the children, or persons having their care and custody; but in case any minor child or dependent child is not living with the surviving spouse, the allowance may be made partially to the child or his guardian or other person having his care and custody, and partially to the spouse, as their needs may appear. The family allowance is exempt from and has priority over all claims except for costs and expenses of administration and the homestead allowance.

The family allowance is not chargeable against any benefit or share passing to the surviving spouse or children by the will of the decedent unless otherwise provided therein, by intestate succession, or by way of elective share. The death of any person entitled to family allowance, other than the surviving spouse, terminates his right to allowances not yet paid.

If the estate is otherwise sufficient, property specifically devised is not used to satisfy rights to homestead and exempt property. Subject to this restriction, the surviving spouse, the guardians of the minor children, or children who are adults may select property of the estate as homestead allowance and exempt property. After giving such notice as the court may require in a proceeding initiated under the provisions of section 30-2405, the personal representative may make these selections if the surviving spouse, the children or the guardians of the minor children are unable or fail to do so within a reasonable time or if there are no guardians of the minor children. The personal representative may execute an instrument or deed of distribution to establish the ownership of property taken as homestead allowance or exempt property. The personal representative may determine the family allowance in a lump sum not exceeding nine thousand dollars for a decedent who dies before January 1, 2011, and twenty thousand dollars for a decedent who dies on or after January 1, 2011, or periodic installments not exceeding seven hundred fifty dollars per month for one year for a decedent who dies before January 1, 2011, and one thousand six hundred sixty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents per month for one year for a decedent who dies on or after January 1, 2011. The personal representative may disburse funds of the estate in payment of the family allowance and any part of the homestead allowance payable in cash. The personal representative or any interested person aggrieved by any selection, determination, payment, proposed payment, or failure to act under this section may petition the court for appropriate relief, which relief may provide a family allowance larger or smaller than that which the personal representative determined or could have determined.

The homestead allowance, the exempt property, and the family allowance as finally determined by the personal representative or by the court, shall vest in the surviving spouse as of the date of decedent's death, as a vested indefeasible right of property, shall survive as an asset of the surviving spouse's estate if unpaid on the date of death of such surviving spouse, and shall not terminate upon the death or remarriage of the surviving spouse.

Any individual who is eighteen or more years of age or is not a minor and who is of sound mind may make a will and thereby dispose of personal and real property at and after death and prescribe, to the extent not otherwise controlled or limited by this code, the manner of administration of his estate and conduct of his affairs after death and until final settlement of his estate.

Except as provided for holographic wills, writings within section 30-2338, and wills within section 30-2331, every will is required to be in writing signed by the testator or in the testator's name by some other individual in the testator's presence and by his direction, and is required to be signed by at least two individuals each of whom witnessed either the signing or the testator's acknowledgment of the signature or of the will.

An instrument which purports to be testamentary in nature but does not comply with section 30-2327 is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if the signature, the material provisions, and an indication of the date of signing are in the handwriting of the testator and, in the absence of such indication of date, if such instrument is the only such instrument or contains no inconsistency with any like instrument or if such date is determinable from the contents of such instrument, from extrinsic circumstances, or from any other evidence.

(1) Any will may be simultaneously executed, attested, and made self-proved by the acknowledgment thereof by the testator and the affidavits of the witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of this state or under the laws of the state where execution occurs and evidenced by the officer's certificate, under official seal, in form and content substantially as follows:

I, .......... the testator, sign my name to this instrument this ..... day of ..... 20...., and being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that I sign and execute this instrument as my last will and that I sign it willingly or willingly direct another to sign for me, that I execute it as my free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed and that I am eighteen years of age or older or am not at this time a minor, and am of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

Testator .................

We, .......... and .........., the witnesses, sign our names to this instrument, being first duly sworn, and do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the testator signs and executes this instrument as his or her last will and that he or she signs it willingly or willingly directs another to sign for him or her, and that he or she executes it as his or her free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed, and that each of us, in the presence and hearing of the testator, hereby signs this will as witness to the testator's signing, and that to the best of his or her knowledge the testator is eighteen years of age or older or is not at this time a minor, and is of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

Witness .................

Witness.................

THE STATE OF ...................................

COUNTY OF ......................................

Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me by .........., the testator, and subscribed and sworn to before me by .......... and .........., witnesses, this ..... day of ....... 20.... .

(SEAL) (Signed) .................................

(Official capacity of officer) ...................

The execution of the acknowledgment by the testator and the affidavits of the witnesses as provided for in this section shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the signing of the will by the testator and the witnesses under section 30-2327.

(2) An attested will may at any time subsequent to its execution be made self-proved, by the acknowledgment thereof by the testator and the affidavits of the witnesses, each made before an officer authorized to administer oaths under the laws of this state or under the laws of the state where execution occurs, and evidenced by the officer's certificate, under official seal, attached or annexed to the will in form and content substantially as follows:

THE STATE OF .....................................

COUNTY OF ........................................

We, .........., .........., and .........., the testator and the witnesses, respectively, whose names are signed to the attached or foregoing instrument, being first duly sworn, do hereby declare to the undersigned authority that the testator signed and executed the instrument as his or her last will and that he or she had signed willingly or directed another to sign for him or her, and that he or she executed it as his or her free and voluntary act for the purposes therein expressed; and that each of the witnesses, in the presence and hearing of the testator, signed the will as witness and that to the best of his or her knowledge the testator was at that time eighteen or more years of age or was not at that time a minor, and was of sound mind and under no constraint or undue influence.

Testator .......................

Witness ........................

Witness ........................

Subscribed, sworn to, and acknowledged before me by .........., the testator, and subscribed and sworn to before me by .......... and .........., witnesses, this ..... day of ....... 20.... .

(SEAL) (Signed) .................................

(Official capacity of officer) ..................

(a) Any individual generally competent to be a witness may act as a witness to a will.

(b) A will or any provision thereof is not invalid because the will is signed by an interested witness. Unless there is at least one disinterested witness to a will, an interested witness to a will is entitled to receive any property thereunder only to an amount or extent not exceeding that which is or would be the intestate share of such interested witness if the testator died intestate at the date of death.

A written will is valid if executed in compliance with section 30-2327 or 30-2328 or if its execution complies with the law at the time of execution of the place where the will is executed or of the place where at the time of execution or at the time of death the testator is domiciled, has a place of abode or is a national.

A will or any part thereof is revoked

(1) by a subsequent will which, as is evident either from its terms or from competent evidence of its terms, revokes the prior will or part expressly or by inconsistency; or

(2) by being burned, torn, canceled, obliterated, or destroyed, with the intent and for the purpose of revoking it by the testator or by another person in the presence of and by the direction of the testator.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) Beneficiary, as it relates to a trust beneficiary, includes a person who has any present or future interest, vested or contingent, and also includes the owner of an interest by assignment or other transfer; as it relates to a charitable trust, includes any person entitled to enforce the trust; and as it relates to a beneficiary of a beneficiary designation, refers to a beneficiary of an insurance or annuity policy, of an account with POD designation as defined in section 30-2716, of a security registered in beneficiary form, of a pension, profit-sharing, retirement, or similar benefit plan, or of any other nonprobate transfer at death;

(2) Beneficiary designated in a governing instrument includes a grantee of a deed, a beneficiary of a transfer on death deed, a transfer-on-death beneficiary, a beneficiary of a POD designation, a devisee, a trust beneficiary, a beneficiary of a beneficiary designation, a donee, appointee, or taker in default of a power of appointment, and a person in whose favor a power of attorney or a power held in any individual, fiduciary, or representative capacity is exercised;

(3) Disposition or appointment of property includes a transfer of an item of property or any other benefit to a beneficiary designated in a governing instrument;

(4) Divorce or annulment means any divorce or annulment, or any dissolution or declaration of invalidity of a marriage, that would exclude the spouse as a surviving spouse within the meaning of section 30-2353. A decree of separation that does not terminate the status of husband and wife is not a divorce for purposes of this section;

(5) Divorced individual includes an individual whose marriage has been annulled;

(6) Governing instrument means a deed, a will, a trust, an insurance or annuity policy, an account with POD designation, a security registered in beneficiary form, a transfer on death deed, a pension, profit-sharing, retirement, or similar benefit plan, an instrument creating or exercising a power of appointment or a power of attorney, or a dispositive, appointive, or nominative instrument of any similar type, which is executed by the divorced individual before the divorce or annulment of his or her marriage to his or her former spouse;

(7) Joint tenants with the right of survivorship and community property with the right of survivorship includes co-owners of property held under circumstances that entitle one or more to the whole of the property on the death of the other or others, but excludes forms of co-ownership registration in which the underlying ownership of each party is in proportion to that party's contribution;

(8) Payor means a trustee, an insurer, a business entity, an employer, a government, a governmental agency or subdivision, or any other person authorized or obligated by law or a governing instrument to make payments;

(9) Relative of the divorced individual's former spouse means an individual who is related to the divorced individual's former spouse by blood, adoption, or affinity and who, after the divorce or annulment, is not related to the divorced individual by blood, adoption, or affinity; and

(10) Revocable, with respect to a disposition, appointment, provision, or nomination, means one under which the divorced individual, at the time of the divorce or annulment, was alone empowered, by law or under the governing instrument, to cancel the designation in favor of his or her former spouse or former spouse's relative, whether or not the divorced individual was then empowered to designate himself or herself in place of his or her former spouse or in place of his or her former spouse's relative and whether or not the divorced individual then had the capacity to exercise the power.

(b) For purposes of this section, subject to subsection (c) of this section, a person has knowledge of a fact if the person:

(1) Has actual knowledge of it;

(2) Has received a notice or notification of it; or

(3) From all the facts and circumstances known to the person at the time in question, has reason to know it.

(c) An organization that conducts activities through employees has notice or knowledge of a fact only from the time the information was received by an employee having responsibility to act for the organization, or would have been brought to the employee's attention if the organization had exercised reasonable diligence. An organization exercises reasonable diligence if it maintains reasonable routines for communicating significant information to the employee having responsibility to act for the organization and there is reasonable compliance with the routines. Reasonable diligence does not require an employee of the organization to communicate information unless the communication is part of the individual's regular duties or the individual knows a matter involving the organization would be materially affected by the information.

(d) Except as provided by the express terms of a governing instrument, a court order, or a contract relating to the division of the marital estate made between the divorced individuals before or after the marriage, divorce, or annulment, the divorce or annulment of a marriage:

(1) Revokes any revocable

(A) disposition or appointment of property made by a divorced individual to his or her former spouse in a governing instrument and any disposition or appointment created by law or in a governing instrument to a relative of the divorced individual's former spouse;

(B) provision in a governing instrument conferring a general or nongeneral power of appointment on the divorced individual's former spouse or on a relative of the divorced individual's former spouse; and

(C) nomination in a governing instrument, nominating a divorced individual's former spouse or a relative of the divorced individual's former spouse to serve in any fiduciary or representative capacity, including a personal representative, executor, trustee, conservator, agent, or guardian; and

(2) Severs the interests of the former spouses in property held by them at the time of the divorce or annulment as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, transforming the interests of the former spouses into equal tenancies in common.

(e) A severance under subdivision (d)(2) of this section does not affect any third-party interest in property acquired for value and in good faith reliance on an apparent title by survivorship in the survivor of the former spouses unless a writing declaring the severance has been noted, registered, filed, or recorded in records appropriate to the kind and location of the property which are relied upon, in the ordinary course of transactions involving such property, as evidence of ownership.

(f) Provisions of a governing instrument are given effect as if the former spouse and relatives of the former spouse disclaimed all provisions revoked by this section or, in the case of a revoked nomination in a fiduciary or representative capacity, as if the former spouse and relatives of the divorced individual's former spouse died immediately before the divorce or annulment.

(g) Provisions revoked solely by this section are revived by the divorced individual's remarriage to the former spouse or by a nullification of the divorce or annulment.

(h) No change of circumstances other than as described in this section and section 30-2354 effects a revocation.

(i)(1)(A) Except as provided in subdivision (i)(1)(B) of this section, a payor or other third party is not liable for having made a payment or transferred an item of property or any other benefit to a beneficiary designated in a governing instrument affected by a divorce, annulment, or remarriage, or for having taken any other action in good faith reliance on the validity of the governing instrument, before the payor or other third party received written notice of or has knowledge of the divorce, annulment, or remarriage.

(B) Liability of a payor or other third party which is a financial institution making payment on a jointly owned account or to a beneficiary pursuant to the terms of a governing instrument on an account with a POD designation shall be governed by section 30-2732.

(C) A payor or other third party is liable for a payment made or other action taken after the payor or other third party received written notice of a claimed forfeiture, severance, or revocation under this section.

(2) Written notice of the divorce, annulment, or remarriage under subdivision (i)(1)(A) of this section must be mailed to the payor's or other third party's main office or home, be personally delivered to the payor or other third party, or, in the case of written notice to a person other than a financial institution, be delivered by such other means which establish that the person has knowledge of the divorce, annulment, or remarriage. Written notice to a financial institution with respect to a jointly owned account or an account with a POD designation shall be governed by section 30-2732.

(3) Upon receipt of written notice of the divorce, annulment, or remarriage, a payor or other third party may pay any amount owed or transfer or deposit any item of property held by it to or with the court that has jurisdiction of the probate proceedings relating to the decedent's estate or, if no proceedings have been commenced, to or with the court that has jurisdiction of probate proceedings relating to decedents' estates located in the county of the decedent's residence. The court shall hold the funds or item of property and, upon its determination under this section, shall order disbursement or transfer in accordance with the determination. Payments, transfers, or deposits made to or with the court discharge the payor or other third party from all claims for the value of amounts paid to or items of property transferred to or deposited with the court.

(j)(1) A person who purchases property from a former spouse, a relative of a former spouse, or any other person for value and without notice, or who receives from a former spouse, a relative of a former spouse, or any other person a payment or other item of property in partial or full satisfaction of a legally enforceable obligation, is neither obligated under this section to return the payment, item of property, or benefit nor is liable under this section for the amount of the payment or the value of the item of property or benefit. But a former spouse, relative of a former spouse, or other person who, not for value, received a payment, an item of property, or any other benefit to which that person is not entitled under this section is obligated to return the payment, item of property, or benefit, or is personally liable for the amount of the payment or the value of the item of property or benefit, to the person who is entitled to it under this section.

(2) If this section or any part of this section is preempted by federal law with respect to a payment, an item of property, or any other benefit covered by this section, a former spouse, a relative of a former spouse, or any other person who, not for value, received a payment, an item of property, or any other benefit to which that person is not entitled under this section is obligated to return that payment, item of property, or benefit, or is personally liable for the amount of the payment or the value of the item of property or benefit, to the person who would have been entitled to it were this section or part of this section not preempted.

(k) If a former spouse has notice of the fact that he or she is a former spouse, then any receipt of property or money to which this section applies is received by the former spouse as a trustee for the person or persons who would be entitled to that property under this section.

(a) If a second will which, had it remained effective at death, would have revoked the first will in whole or in part, is thereafter revoked by acts under section 30-2332, the first will is revoked in whole or in part unless it is evident from the circumstances of the revocation of the second will or from testator's contemporary or subsequent declarations that he intended the first will to take effect as executed.

(b) If a second will which, had it remained effective at death, would have revoked the first will in whole or in part, is thereafter revoked by a third will, the first will is revoked in whole or in part, except to the extent it appears from the terms of the third will that the testator intended the first will to take effect.

Any writing in existence when a will is executed may be incorporated by reference if the language of the will manifests this intent and describes the writing sufficiently to permit its identification.

A will may provide for the passage of all property the testator owns at death and all property acquired by the estate after the testator's death.

A will may dispose of property by reference to acts and events which have significance apart from their effect upon the dispositions made by the will, whether they occur before or after the execution of the will or before or after the testator's death. The execution or revocation of a will of another individual is such an event.

Whether or not the provisions relating to holographic wills apply, a will may refer to a written statement or list to dispose of items of tangible personal property not otherwise specifically disposed of by the will, other than money, evidences of indebtedness, documents of title, and securities, and property used in trade or business. To be admissible under this section as evidence of the intended disposition, the writing must have an indication of the date of the writing or signing and, in the absence of such indication of date, be the only such writing or contain no inconsistency with any other like writing or permit determination of such date of writing or signing from the contents of such writing, from extrinsic circumstances, or from any other evidence, must either be in the handwriting of the testator or be signed by him or her, and must describe the items and the devisees with reasonable certainty. The writing may be referred to as one to be in existence at the time of the testator's death; it may be prepared before or after the execution of the will; it may be altered by the testator after its preparation; and it may be a writing which has no significance apart from its effect upon the disposition made by the will.

A devisee who does not survive the testator by one hundred twenty hours is treated as if he predeceased the testator, unless the will of the testator contains some language dealing explicitly with simultaneous deaths or deaths in a common disaster, or requiring that the devisee survive the testator or survive the testator for a stated period in order to take under the will.

The meaning and legal effect of a disposition in a will shall be determined by the local law of a particular state selected by the testator in his instrument unless the application of that law is contrary to the provisions relating to the elective share described in part 2 of this article, the provisions relating to exempt property and allowances described in part 4 of this article, or any other public policy of this state otherwise applicable to the disposition.

The intention of a testator as expressed in his will controls the legal effect of his dispositions. The rules of construction expressed in the succeeding sections of this part apply unless a contrary intention is indicated by the will.

Except as provided in section 30-2348, a general residuary clause in a will or a will making general disposition of all of the property of the testator is construed to pass all property which the testator owns at his death including property acquired after the execution of the will.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section, no gift, devise, or endowment for religious, educational, charitable, or benevolent purposes, which in other respects is valid under the laws of this state, shall be invalid or fail by reason of the indefiniteness or uncertainty of the recipient of the gift, devise, or endowment or by reason that it is or has become unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful.

(b) The court, on application of any interested person or the Attorney General may determine and order an administration or distribution of the gift, devise, or endowment in a manner as consistent as possible with the intent expressed in the document creating the gift, devise, or endowment. This section shall not be deemed to limit application of the common law doctrines of cy pres and deviation or of section 58-615.

(c) In an application for relief under this section which is not brought by the Attorney General, notice of the proceeding shall be given to the Attorney General as a representative for the charitable interests involved.

(d) Subsection (a) of this section shall not apply if the document creating the gift, devise, or endowment expressly provides for an alternate disposition of the gift, devise, or endowment in the event the gift, devise, or endowment has become unlawful, impracticable, impossible to achieve, or wasteful. A general residuary devise by will shall not be considered an express provision for an alternate disposition.

(e) Any gift, devise, or endowment to a trust with charitable purposes as described in section 30-3831 shall be governed by section 30-3839.

(1) A will or trust of a decedent who dies after December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2011, that contains a formula referring to the "unified credit", "estate tax exemption", "applicable exemption amount", "applicable credit amount", "applicable exclusion amount", "generation-skipping transfer tax exemption", "GST exemption", "marital deduction", "maximum marital deduction", or "unlimited marital deduction", or that measures a share of an estate or trust based on the amount that can pass free of federal estate tax or the amount that can pass free of federal generation-skipping transfer tax, or that is otherwise based on a similar provision of federal estate or generation-skipping transfer tax law, shall be deemed to refer to the federal estate and generation-skipping transfer tax laws as they applied with respect to estates of decedents dying on December 31, 2009.

(2) This section does not apply:

(a) If the decedent dies on a date on which there is a then-applicable federal estate or generation-skipping transfer tax; or

(b) With respect to a will or trust that is executed or amended after December 31, 2009, or that manifests an intent that a contrary rule apply if the decedent dies on a date on which there is no then-applicable federal estate or generation-skipping transfer tax.

(3) The personal representative or any affected beneficiary under the will or trust may bring a proceeding to determine whether the decedent intended that the references under subsection (1) of this section be construed with respect to the law as it existed after December 31, 2009. Such a proceeding shall be commenced within twelve months after the death of the decedent.

If a devisee related to the testator in any degree of kinship is dead at the time of execution of the will, fails to survive the testator, or is treated as if he predeceased the testator, the issue of the deceased devisee who survive the testator by one hundred twenty hours take in place of the deceased devisee and if they are all of the same degree of kinship to the devisee they take equally, but if of unequal degree then those of more remote degree take by representation. One who would have been a devisee under a class gift if he had survived the testator is treated as a devisee for purposes of this section whether his death occurred before or after the execution of the will.

(a) Except as provided in section 30-2343, if a devise other than a residuary devise fails for any reason, it becomes a part of the residue.

(b) Except as provided in section 30-2343, if the residue is devised to two or more persons and the share of one of the residuary devisees fails for any reason, his share passes to the other residuary devisee, or to other residuary devisees in proportion to their interests in the residue.

(a) If the testator intended a specific devise of certain securities rather than the equivalent value thereof, the specific devisee is entitled only to:

(1) as much of the devised securities as is a part of the estate at the time of the testator's death;

(2) any additional or other securities of the same entity owned by the testator by reason of action entered into or initiated by the entity excluding any acquired by exercise of purchase options;

(3) securities of another entity owned by the testator as a result of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other similar action entered into or initiated by the entity; and

(4) any additional securities of the entity owned by the testator as a result of a plan of reinvestment if it is a regulated investment company.

(b) Distributions prior to death with respect to a specifically devised security not provided for in subsection (a) are not part of the specific devise.

(a) If specifically devised property is sold by a conservator or guardian, or if a condemnation award or insurance proceeds are paid to a conservator or guardian as a result of condemnation, fire, or casualty, the specific devisee has the right to a general pecuniary devise equal to the net sale price, the condemnation award, or the insurance proceeds. This subsection does not apply if, subsequent to the sale, condemnation, or casualty, it is adjudicated that the disability of the testator has ceased and the testator survives the adjudication by one year. The right of the specific devisee under this subsection is reduced by any right he has under subsection (b).

(b) A specific devisee has the right to the remaining specifically devised property and:

(1) any balance of the purchase price (together with any security interest) owing from a purchaser to the testator at death by reason of sale of the property;

(2) any amount of a condemnation award for the taking of the property unpaid at death;

(3) any proceeds unpaid at death on fire or casualty insurance on the property; and

(4) property owned by testator at his death as a result of foreclosure, or obtained in lieu of foreclosure, of the security for a specifically devised obligation.

A specific devise passes subject to any security interest existing at the date of death, without right of exoneration, regardless of a general directive in the will to pay debts.

A general residuary clause in a will, or a will making general disposition of all of the testator's property, does not exercise a power of appointment held by the testator unless specific reference is made to the power or there is some other indication of intention to include the property subject to the power.

Halfbloods, adopted individuals and individuals born out of wedlock are included in class gift terminology and terms of relationship in accordance with rules for determining relationships for purposes of intestate succession.

Property which a testator gave in his lifetime to a person is treated as a satisfaction of a devise to that person in whole or in part only if the will provides for deduction of the lifetime gift, or the testator declares in a writing contemporaneous with the gift that it is to be deducted from the devise or is in satisfaction of the devise, or the devisee acknowledges in a writing contemporaneous with the gift that it is in satisfaction. For purpose of partial satisfaction, property given during lifetime is valued as of the time the devisee came into possession or enjoyment of the property or as of the time of death of the testator, whichever occurs first.

A contract to make a will or devise, or not to revoke a will or devise, or to die intestate, if executed after January 1, 1977, can be established only by (1) provisions of a will stating material provisions of the contract; (2) an express reference in a will to a contract and extrinsic evidence proving the terms of the contract; or (3) a writing signed by the decedent evidencing the contract. The execution of a joint will or mutual wills does not create a presumption of a contract not to revoke the will or wills.

(a)(1) A person (or the representative of a deceased, incapacitated, or protected person) who is an heir, devisee, person succeeding to a renounced interest, donee, beneficiary under a testamentary or nontestamentary instrument, donee of a power of appointment, grantee, surviving joint owner or surviving joint tenant, beneficiary, or owner of an insurance contract or any incident of ownership therein, beneficiary or person designated to take pursuant to a power of appointment exercised by a testamentary or nontestamentary instrument, person who has a statutory entitlement to or election with respect to property pursuant to the Nebraska Probate Code, designated beneficiary of a transfer on death deed, or recipient of any beneficial interest under any testamentary or nontestamentary instrument, may renounce in whole or in part, or with reference to specific parts, fractional shares, undivided portions or assets thereof, by filing a written instrument of renunciation within the time and at the place hereinafter provided.

(2) The instrument shall (i) describe the property or part thereof or the interest therein renounced, (ii) be signed and acknowledged by the person renouncing in the manner provided for in the execution of deeds of real estate, (iii) declare the renunciation and the extent thereof, and (iv) declare that the renunciation is an irrevocable and unqualified refusal to accept the renounced interest.

(3) The appropriate court in a proceeding under section 30-3812, may direct or permit a trustee under a testamentary or nontestamentary instrument to renounce any restriction on or power of administration, management, or allocation of benefit upon finding that such restrictions on the exercise of such power may defeat or impair the accomplishment of the purposes of the trust whether by the imposition of tax or the allocation of beneficial interest inconsistent with such purposes or by other reason. Such authority shall be exercised after hearing and upon notice to qualified beneficiaries as defined in section 30-3803, in the manner directed by the court.

(b) The instrument specified in (a)(1) and (a)(2) must be received by the transferor of the interest, his or her legal representative, the personal representative of a deceased transferor, the trustee of any trust in which the interest being renounced exists, or the holder of the legal title to the property to which the interest relates. To be effective for purposes of determining inheritance and estate taxes under articles 20 and 21 of Chapter 77, the instrument must be received not later than the date which is nine months after the later of (i) the date on which the transfer creating the interest in such person is made, or (ii) the date on which such person attains age twenty-one. If the circumstances which establish the right of a person to renounce an interest arise as a result of the death of an individual, the instrument shall also be filed in the court of the county where proceedings concerning the decedent's estate are pending, or where they would be pending if commenced. If an interest in real estate is renounced, a copy of the instrument shall also be recorded in the office of the register of deeds in the county in which the real estate lies. No person entitled to a copy of the instrument shall be liable for any proper distribution or disposition made without actual notice of the renunciation and no such person making a proper distribution or disposition in reliance upon the renunciation shall be liable for any such distribution or disposition in the absence of actual notice that an action has been instituted contesting the validity of the renunciation.

(c) Unless the transferor of the interest has otherwise indicated in the instrument creating the interest, the interest renounced, and any future interest which is to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or after the termination of the interest renounced, passes as if the person renouncing had predeceased the decedent or had died prior to the date on which the transfer creating the interest in such person is made, as the case may be, if the renunciation is within the time periods set forth in subsection (b) and if not within such time periods the interest renounced, and any future interest which is to take effect in possession or enjoyment at or after the termination of the interest renounced, passes as if the person renouncing had died on the date the interest was renounced. The person renouncing shall have no power to direct how the interest being renounced shall pass, except that the renunciation of an interest for which the right to renounce was established by the death of an individual shall, in the case of the spouse of the decedent, relate only to that statutory provision or that provision of the instrument creating the interest being renounced and shall not preclude the spouse from receiving the benefits of the renounced interest which may be derived as a result of the renounced interest passing pursuant to other statutory provisions or pursuant to other provisions of the instrument creating the interest unless such further benefits are also renounced. In every case when the renunciation is within the time periods set forth in subsection (b) the renunciation relates back for all purposes to the date of death of the decedent or the date on which the transfer creating the interest in such person is made, as the case may be.

(d) Any (1) assignment, conveyance, encumbrance, pledge, or transfer of property therein or any contract therefor, (2) written waiver of the right to renounce or any acceptance of property or benefits therefrom or an interest therein by an heir, devisee, person succeeding to a renounced interest, donee, beneficiary under a testamentary or nontestamentary instrument, donee of a power of appointment, grantee, surviving joint owner or surviving joint tenant, beneficiary or owner of an insurance contract or any incident of ownership therein, beneficiary or person designated to take pursuant to a power of appointment exercised by a testamentary or nontestamentary instrument, person who has a statutory entitlement to or election with respect to property pursuant to the Nebraska Probate Code, or recipient of any beneficial interest under any testamentary or nontestamentary instrument, or (3) sale or other disposition of property pursuant to judicial process, made within the time periods set forth in subsection (b) shall not bar the right to renounce, but shall make a subsequent renunciation within the time period set forth in subsection (b) of this section ineffective for purposes of determination of inheritance taxes under article 20 of Chapter 77. Any renunciation made after any part of the property has been assigned, conveyed, encumbered, pledged, or transferred is ineffective for the portion of the property which has previously been assigned, conveyed, encumbered, pledged, or transferred.

(e) Within thirty days of receipt of a written instrument of renunciation by the transferor of the interest, his or her legal representative, the personal representative of the decedent, the trustee of any trust in which the interest being renounced exists, or the holder of the legal title to the property to which the interest relates, as the case may be, such person shall attempt to notify in writing those persons who are known or ascertainable with reasonable diligence who shall be recipients or potential recipients of the renounced interest of the renunciation and the interest or potential interest such recipient shall receive as a result of the renunciation.

(f) The right to renounce granted by this section exists irrespective of any limitation on the interest of the person renouncing in the nature of a spendthrift provision or similar restriction. A trust beneficiary whose interest is subject to any limitation in the nature of a spendthrift provision or similar restriction may assign, sell, or otherwise convey such interest or any part thereof upon a finding by a court in a proceeding under section 30-3812 that the rights of other beneficiaries would not be impaired and that such assignment, sale, or other conveyance would not result in any substantial benefit to nonbeneficiaries of the trust at the expense of the trust or trust beneficiaries. Such finding may be made after hearing and upon notice to all known persons beneficially interested in such trust, in the manner directed by the court.

(g) This section does not abridge the right of any person to assign, convey, release, or renounce any property arising under any other section of this code or other statute.

(h) Any interest in property which exists on July 19, 1980, may be renounced after July 19, 1980, as provided herein. An interest which has arisen prior to July 19, 1980, in any person other than the person renouncing is not destroyed or diminished by any action of the person renouncing taken under this section.

(a) An individual who is divorced from the decedent or whose marriage to the decedent has been dissolved or annulled by a decree that has become final is not a surviving spouse unless, by virtue of a subsequent marriage, he or she is married to the decedent at the time of death. A decree of separation which does not terminate the status of husband and wife is not a divorce for purposes of this section.

(b) For purposes of parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this article and of section 30-2412, a surviving spouse does not include:

(1) an individual who obtains or consents to a final decree or judgment of divorce from the decedent or an annulment or dissolution of their marriage, which decree or judgment is not recognized as valid in this state, unless they subsequently participate in a marriage ceremony purporting to marry each to the other, or subsequently live together as man and wife;

(2) an individual who, following an invalid decree or judgment of divorce or annulment or dissolution of marriage obtained by the decedent, participates in a marriage ceremony with a third individual; or

(3) an individual who was a party to a valid proceeding concluded by an order purporting to terminate all marital property rights against the decedent.

(a) A surviving spouse, heir or devisee who feloniously and intentionally kills or aids and abets the killing of the decedent is not entitled to any benefits under the will or under this article, and the estate of the decedent passes as if such spouse, heir, or devisee had predeceased the decedent. Property appointed by the will of the decedent to or for the benefit of such devisee passes as if the devisee had predeceased the decedent.

(b) Any joint tenant who feloniously and intentionally kills or aids and abets the killing of another joint tenant thereby effects a severance of the interest of the decedent so that the share of the decedent passes as his property and such joint tenant has no rights by survivorship. This provision applies to joint tenancies and tenancies by the entirety in real and personal property, joint accounts in banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions and other institutions, and any other form of co-ownership with survivorship incidents.

(c) A named beneficiary of a bond, life insurance policy, or other contractual arrangement who feloniously and intentionally kills or aids and abets the killing of the principal obligee or the individual upon whose life the policy is issued is not entitled to any benefit under the bond, policy or other contractual arrangement, and it becomes payable as though such beneficiary has predeceased the decedent.

(d) Real property specified for a designated beneficiary of a transfer on death deed who feloniously and intentionally kills or aids and abets the killing of the transferor who signed the transfer on death deed or any other owner of the real property shall pass as if the designated beneficiary had predeceased the transferor.

(e) Any other acquisition of property or interest by the killer or by one who aids and abets the killer is treated in accordance with the principles of this section.

(f) A final judgment of conviction of felonious and intentional killing or aiding and abetting therein is conclusive for purposes of this section. In the absence of a conviction of felonious and intentional killing or aiding and abetting therein, the court may determine by a preponderance of evidence whether the killing or aiding and abetting therein was felonious and intentional for purposes of this section.

(g) This section does not affect the rights of any person who, before rights under this section have been adjudicated, purchases, from the killer or aider and abettor for value and without notice, property which the killer or aider and abettor would have acquired except for this section, but the killer or aider and abettor is liable for the amount of the proceeds or the value of the property. Any insurance company, bank, or other obligor making payment according to the terms of its policy or obligation is not liable by reason of this section unless prior to payment it has received at its home office or principal address written notice of a claim under this section.

A will may be deposited by the testator or his agent with the court having jurisdiction of the county of his residence for safekeeping, under rules of the court. The will shall be kept confidential. During the testator's lifetime a deposited will shall be delivered only to him or to a person authorized in writing signed by him to receive the will. A conservator or guardian may be allowed to examine a deposited will of a protected testator under procedures designed to maintain the confidential character of the will to the extent possible, and to assure that it will be resealed and left on deposit after the examination. Upon being informed of the testator's death, the court shall notify any person designated to receive the will and deliver it to him on request; or the court may deliver the will to some other appropriate court.

After the death of a testator and on request of an interested person, any person having custody of a will of the testator is required to deliver it with reasonable promptness to a person able to secure its probate and, if none is known, to an appropriate court. Any person who willfully fails to deliver a will is liable to any person aggrieved for the damages which may be sustained by the failure. Any person who willfully refuses or fails to deliver a will after being ordered by the court in a proceeding brought for the purpose of compelling delivery is subject to penalty for contempt of court.

The power of a person to leave property by will, and the rights of creditors, devisees, and heirs to his property are subject to the restrictions and limitations contained in this code to facilitate the prompt settlement of estates. Upon the death of a person, his real and personal property devolves to the persons to whom it is devised by his last will or to those indicated as substitutes for them in cases involving lapse, renunciation, or other circumstances affecting the devolution of testate estate or, in the absence of testamentary disposition, to his heirs, or to those indicated as substitutes for them in cases involving renunciation or other circumstances affecting devolution of intestate estates, subject to homestead allowance, exempt property and family allowance, to rights of creditors, elective share of the surviving spouse, and to administration.

Except as provided in sections 30-24,125 and 30-24,129, to be effective to prove the transfer of any property or to nominate an executor, a will must be declared to be valid by an order of informal probate by the registrar or an adjudication of probate by the court, except that a duly executed and unrevoked will which has not been probated may be admitted as evidence of a devise if (1) no court proceeding concerning the succession or administration of the estate has occurred and (2) either the devisee or his or her successors and assigns possessed the property devised in accordance with the provisions of the will, or the property devised was not possessed or claimed by anyone by virtue of the decedent's title during the time period for testacy proceedings. Every will, when proved as provided in the Nebraska Probate Code, shall have a certificate of such proof endorsed thereon or annexed thereto, signed by the registrar, judge, or clerk magistrate of the county court and attested by the seal of the court. Every will so certified, and the record thereof, or a transcript of such record, certified by the judge or clerk magistrate of the county court and attested by the seal of the court, may be read in evidence in all courts of this state without further proof. An affidavit executed pursuant to section 30-24,129 prior to September 1, 2001, is valid and effective to prove such transfer.

Except as otherwise provided in article 25, to acquire the powers and undertake the duties and liabilities of a personal representative of a decedent, a person must be appointed by order of the court or registrar, qualify and be issued letters. Administration of an estate is commenced by the issuance of letters.

No proceeding to enforce a claim against the estate of a decedent or his successors may be revived or commenced before the appointment of a personal representative. After the appointment and until distribution, all proceedings and actions to enforce a claim against the estate are governed by the procedure prescribed by this article. After distribution a creditor whose claim has not been barred may recover from the distributees as provided in section 30-24,118 or from a former personal representative individually liable as provided in section 30-24,119. This section has no application to a proceeding by a secured creditor of the decedent to enforce his right to his security except as to any deficiency judgment which might be sought therein.

Persons interested in decedents' estates may apply to the registrar for determination in the informal proceedings provided in this article, and may petition the court for orders in formal proceedings within the court's jurisdiction including but not limited to those described in this article. The court has jurisdiction of all proceedings to determine how decedents' estates subject to the laws of this state are to be administered, expended and distributed.

In proceedings within the jurisdiction of the court where notice is required by this code or by rule, interested persons may be bound by the orders of the court in respect to property in or subject to the laws of this state by notice in conformity with section 30-2220. An order is binding as to all who are given notice of the proceeding though less than all interested persons are notified.

Unless supervised administration as described in part 5 is involved, (1) each proceeding before the court or registrar is independent of any other proceeding involving the same estate; (2) petitions for formal orders of the court may combine various requests for relief in a single proceeding if the orders sought may be finally granted without delay. Except as required for proceedings which are particularly described by other sections of this article, no petition is defective because it fails to embrace all matters which might then be the subject of a final order; (3) proceedings for probate of wills or adjudications of no will may be combined with proceedings for appointment of personal representatives; and (4) a proceeding for appointment of a personal representative is concluded by an order making or declining the appointment.

No informal probate or appointment proceeding or formal testacy or appointment proceeding, other than a proceeding to probate a will previously probated at the testator's domicile and appointment proceedings relating to an estate in which there has been a prior appointment, may be commenced more than three years after the decedent's death, except (1) if a previous proceeding was dismissed because of doubt about the fact of the decedent's death, appropriate probate, appointment, or testacy proceedings may be maintained at any time thereafter upon a finding that the decedent's death occurred prior to the initiation of the previous proceeding and the applicant or petitioner has not delayed unduly in initiating the subsequent proceeding; (2) appropriate probate, appointment, or testacy proceedings may be maintained in relation to the estate of an absent, disappeared, or missing person for whose estate a conservator has been appointed, at any time within three years after the conservator becomes able to establish the death of the protected person; (3) a proceeding to contest an informally probated will and to secure appointment of the person with legal priority for appointment in the event the contest is successful may be commenced within the later of twelve months from the informal probate or three years from the decedent's death; and (4) an informal probate or appointment or a formal testacy or appointment proceeding may be commenced thereafter if no formal or informal proceeding for probate or proceeding concerning the succession or administration has occurred within the three-year period, but claims other than expenses of administration may not be presented against the estate. These limitations do not apply to proceedings to construe probated wills or determine heirs of an intestate. In cases under (1) or (2) above, the date on which a testacy or appointment proceeding is properly commenced shall be deemed to be the date of the decedent's death for purposes of other limitations provisions of this code which relate to the date of death.

No statute of limitations running on a cause of action belonging to a decedent which had not been barred as of the date of his death shall apply to bar a cause of action surviving the decedent's death sooner than four months after death. A cause of action which, but for this section, would have been barred less than four months after death is barred after four months unless tolled.

(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) Custodian means a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or other institution acting as a lessor of a safe deposit box; and

(b) Representative of a custodian means an authorized officer or employee of a custodian.

(2)(a) If a decedent at the time of his or her death was a sole or last surviving joint lessee of a safe deposit box, the custodian shall, prior to notice that a personal representative or special administrator has been appointed for such decedent's estate, allow access to the safe deposit box to determine whether the safe deposit box contains an instrument that appears to be an original will of the decedent, a deed to a burial plot, or burial instructions. The following persons may have such access:

(i) A person who presents an affidavit described in subsection (4) of this section that affiant reasonably believes that he or she is either (A) an heir at law of the decedent, (B) a devisee of the decedent or a person nominated as a personal representative as shown in a photocopy of a will which is attached to such affidavit, or (C) the agent or attorney specifically authorized in writing by a person described in subdivision (2)(a)(i)(A) or (B) of this section; or

(ii) A person who, under the terms of the safe deposit box lease or a power of attorney at the time of the decedent's death, was legally permitted to enter the safe deposit box, unless otherwise provided by the lease or the power of attorney.

(b) If a person described in subdivision (2)(a) of this section desires access to a safe deposit box but does not possess a key to the box, the custodian may open the safe deposit box by any means necessary at the person's request and expense or the custodian may require the person to obtain a court order for the custodian to open the safe deposit box at the requesting person's expense. The custodian shall retain, in a secure location at such person's expense, the contents of the box other than a purported will, deed to a burial plot, and burial instructions. A custodian shall deliver a purported will as described in subdivision (5)(b) of this section. A person described in subdivision (2)(a)(i) of this section may remove a deed to a burial plot and burial instructions that are not part of a purported will pursuant to subdivision (5)(d) of this section, and the custodian shall not prevent the removal. Expenses incurred by a custodian or by the person seeking the documents pursuant to this section shall be considered an estate administration expense.

(3) A representative of the custodian shall be present during the entry of a safe deposit box pursuant to this section.

(4) The affidavit referred to in subdivision (2)(a)(i) of this section shall state:

(a) That the sole or last surviving lessee of a safe deposit box has died and the date of his or her death, and a copy of the death certificate shall be attached;

(b) If the person submitting the affidavit is an attorney or agent of the affiant, that such appointment is for the purpose of accompanying the opening of the safe deposit box. In lieu of this statement, the appointment shall accompany the affidavit; and

(c) That the affiant:

(i)(A) Is an heir at law of the deceased lessee and a description of such person's relationship to the deceased lessee;

(B) Is reasonably thought to be a devisee of the decedent based on the provisions of a will, a photocopy of which is submitted with the affidavit; or

(C) Is reasonably thought to be nominated as personal representative pursuant to the terms of a will, a photocopy of which is submitted with the affidavit;

(ii) Swears or affirms that all statements in the affidavit are true and material and further acknowledges that any false statement may subject the person to penalties relating to perjury under section 28-915; and

(iii) Has no knowledge of an application or petition for the appointment of a personal representative pending or granted in any jurisdiction.

(5)(a) If an instrument purporting to be a will is found in a safe deposit box as the result of an entry pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the representative of the custodian shall remove the purported will.

(b) The custodian shall mail the purported will by registered or certified mail or deliver the purported will in person to the clerk of the county court of the county in which the decedent was a resident. If the custodian is unable to determine the county of residence of the decedent, the custodian shall mail the purported will by registered or certified mail or deliver the purported will in person to the office of the clerk of the county court of the county in which the safe deposit box is located.

(c) At the request of the person or persons authorized to have access to the safe deposit box under subsection (2) of this section, the representative of the custodian shall copy each purported will of the decedent, at the expense of the requesting person, and shall deliver the copy of each purported will to the person, or if directed by the person, to the person's agent or attorney. In copying any purported will, the representative of the custodian shall not remove any staples or other fastening devices or disassemble the purported will in any way.

(d) If the safe deposit box contains a deed to a burial plot or burial instructions that are not a part of a purported will, the person or persons authorized to have access to the safe deposit box under subsection (2) of this section may remove these instruments or request that the representative of the custodian copy the deed to the burial plot or burial instructions at the expense of the requesting person.

(6) This section does not limit the right of a personal representative or a special administrator for the decedent, or a successor of the decedent pursuant to section 30-24,125, to have access to the safe deposit box as otherwise provided by law.

(7) Unless limited by the safe deposit box lease, a surviving co-lessee of the safe deposit box may continue to enter the safe deposit box notwithstanding the death of the decedent.

(8) A custodian shall not be liable to a person for an action taken pursuant to this section or for a failure to act in accordance with the requirements of this section unless the action or failure to act is shown to have resulted from the custodian's bad faith, gross negligence, or intentional misconduct.

(a) Venue for the first informal or formal testacy or appointment proceedings after a decedent's death is:

(1) in the county where the decedent had his domicile at the time of his death; or

(2) if the decedent was not domiciled in this state, in any county where property of the decedent was located at the time of his death.

(b) Venue for all subsequent proceedings within the jurisdiction of the court is in the place where the initial proceeding occurred, unless the initial proceeding has been transferred as provided in section 30-2212 or subsection (c) of this section.

(c) If the first proceeding was informal, on application of an interested person and after notice to the proponent in the first proceeding, the court, upon finding that venue is elsewhere, may transfer the proceeding and the file to the other court.

(d) For the purpose of aiding determinations concerning location of assets which may be relevant in cases involving nondomiciliaries, a debt, other than one evidenced by investment or commercial paper or other instrument in favor of a nondomiciliary, is located where the debtor resides or, if the debtor is a person other than an individual, at the place where it has its principal office. Commercial paper, investment paper and other instruments are located where the instrument is. An interest in property held in trust is located where the trustee may be sued. If the asset arises by reason of a tort claim against a nondomiciliary decedent, the asset is located in any county in this state where the nondomiciliary decedent could have been sued if not deceased.

If conflicting claims as to the domicile of a decedent are made in a formal testacy or appointment proceeding commenced in Nebraska and also in a testacy or appointment proceeding after notice pending at the same time in another state, with an applicable provision of law similar in reciprocal effect to this provision, the court in Nebraska is required to stay, dismiss, or permit suitable amendment in the proceeding here unless it is here determined that the local proceeding was commenced before the proceeding elsewhere, and the determination of domicile in the proceeding first commenced is determinative in the proceeding in Nebraska.

(a) Whether the proceedings are formal or informal, persons who are not disqualified have priority for appointment in the following order:

(1) the person with priority as determined by a probated will including a person nominated by a power conferred in a will;

(2) the surviving spouse of the decedent who is a devisee of the decedent;

(3) other devisees of the decedent;

(4) the surviving spouse of the decedent;

(5) other heirs of the decedent;

(6) forty-five days after the death of the decedent, any creditor.

(b) An objection to an appointment can be made only in formal proceedings. In case of objection the priorities stated in (a) apply except that

(1) if the estate appears to be more than adequate to meet exemptions and costs of administration but inadequate to discharge anticipated unsecured claims, the court, on petition of a creditor, may appoint any qualified person;

(2) in case of objection to appointment of a person other than one whose priority is determined by will by an heir or devisee appearing to have a substantial interest in the estate, the court may appoint a person who is acceptable to heirs and devisees whose interests in the estate appear to be worth in total more than half of the probable distributable value or, in default of this accord, any suitable person.

(c) A person entitled to letters under (2) through (5) of (a) above, and a person aged eighteen and over who would be entitled to letters but for his age, may nominate a qualified person to act as personal representative. Any person aged eighteen and over may renounce his right to nominate or to an appointment by appropriate writing filed with the court. When two or more persons share a priority, those of them who do not renounce must concur in nominating another to act for them, or in applying for appointment.

(d) Conservators of the estates of protected persons, or if there is no conservator, any guardian except a guardian ad litem of a minor or incapacitated person, may exercise the same right to nominate, to object to another's appointment, or to participate in determining the preference of a majority in interest of the heirs and devisees that the protected person or ward would have if qualified for appointment.

(e) Appointment of one who does not have priority may be made only in formal proceedings except that appointment of one having priority resulting from renunciation or nomination may be made in informal proceedings. Before appointing one without priority, the court must determine that those having priority, although given notice of the proceedings, have failed to request appointment or to nominate another for appointment, and that administration is necessary.

(f) No person is qualified to serve as a personal representative who is:

(1) under the age of nineteen;

(2) a person whom the court finds unsuitable in formal proceedings.

(g) A personal representative appointed by a court of the decedent's domicile has priority over all other persons except where the decedent's will nominates different persons to be personal representative in this state and in the state of domicile. The domiciliary personal representative may nominate another, who shall have the same priority as the domiciliary personal representative.

(h) This section governs priority for appointment of a successor personal representative but does not apply to the selection of a special administrator.

Any person desiring notice of any order or filing pertaining to a decedent's estate in which he has a financial or property interest may file a demand for notice with the court at any time after the death of the decedent stating the name of the decedent, the nature of his interest in the estate, and the demandant's address or that of his attorney. The clerk shall mail a copy of the demand to the personal representative if one has been appointed. After filing of a demand, no order shall be made or filing acted upon to which the demand relates without notice as prescribed in section 30-2220 to the demandant or his attorney. The validity of an order which is issued without compliance with this requirement shall not be affected by the error, but the petitioner receiving the order or the person making the filing may be liable for any damage caused by the absence of notice. The requirement of notice arising from a demand under this provision may be waived in writing by the demandant and shall cease upon the termination of his interest in the estate.

Applications for informal probate or informal appointment shall be directed to the registrar and verified by the applicant to be accurate and complete to the best of the applicant's knowledge and belief as to the following information:

(1) Every application for informal probate of a will or for informal appointment of a personal representative, other than a special or successor representative, shall contain the following:

(i) a statement of the interest of the applicant;

(ii) the name and date of death of the decedent, the decedent's age, and the county and state of domicile at the time of death, and the names and addresses of the spouse, children, heirs and devisees and the ages of any who are minors so far as known or ascertainable with reasonable diligence by the applicant;

(iii) if the decedent was not domiciled in the state at the time of death, a statement showing venue;

(iv) a statement identifying and indicating the address of any personal representative of the decedent appointed in this state or elsewhere whose appointment has not been terminated;

(v) a statement indicating whether the applicant has received a demand for notice or is aware of any demand for notice of any probate or appointment proceeding concerning the decedent that may have been filed in this state or elsewhere.

(2) An application for informal probate of a will shall state the following in addition to the statements required by subdivision (1) of this section:

(i) that the original of the decedent's last will or an authenticated copy of a will probated in another jurisdiction:

(A) is in the possession of the court;

(B) accompanies the application; or

(C) is in the possession of the applicant, that the applicant will deliver such original or authenticated copy to the court within ten days after the filing of the application, and that a true and accurate copy of such original or authenticated copy accompanies the application;

(ii) that the applicant, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, believes the will to have been validly executed; and

(iii) that after the exercise of reasonable diligence the applicant is unaware of any instrument revoking the will, and that the applicant believes that the instrument which is the subject of the application is the decedent's last will.

(3) An application for informal appointment of a personal representative to administer an estate under a will shall describe the will by date of execution and state the time and place of probate or the pending application or petition for probate. The application for appointment shall adopt the statements in the application or petition for probate and state the name, address and priority for appointment of the person whose appointment is sought.

(4) An application for informal appointment of an administrator in intestacy shall state, in addition to the statements required by subdivision (1) of this section:

(i) that after the exercise of reasonable diligence the applicant is unaware of any unrevoked testamentary instrument relating to property having a situs in this state under section 30-2210, or a statement why any such instrument of which the applicant may be aware is not being probated;

(ii) the priority of the person whose appointment is sought and the names of any other persons having a prior or equal right to the appointment under section 30-2412.

(5) An application for appointment of a personal representative to succeed a personal representative appointed under a different testacy status shall refer to the order in the most recent testacy proceeding, state the name and address of the person whose appointment is sought and of the person whose appointment will be terminated if the application is granted, and describe the priority of the applicant.

(6) An application for appointment of a personal representative to succeed a personal representative who has tendered a resignation as provided in subsection (c) of section 30-2453, or whose appointment has been terminated by death or removal, shall adopt the statements in the application or petition which led to the appointment of the person being succeeded except as specifically changed or corrected, state the name and address of the person who seeks appointment as successor, and describe the priority of the applicant.

(a) Upon receipt of an application requesting informal probate of a will, the registrar, upon making the findings required by section 30-2416, shall issue a written statement of informal probate if at least one hundred twenty hours have elapsed since the decedent's death. Informal probate is conclusive as to all persons until superseded by an order in a formal testacy proceeding. No defect in the application or procedure relating thereto which leads to informal probate of a will, or in connection with the notice required by subsection (b) of this section, renders the probate void.

(b) If a personal representative has not been appointed under section 30-2420 contemporaneously with the issuance of a written statement of informal probate, the clerk shall, within thirty days thereafter, publish notice once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the county where the written statement of informal probate has been issued. The first publication shall be made within thirty days after the statement is issued, shall be in a form prescribed by the Supreme Court, and shall give notice that a written statement of informal probate of a will of the decedent has been issued. The party instituting or maintaining the proceeding or his attorney is required to mail the published notice and give proof thereof in accordance with section 25-520.01.

(a) In an informal proceeding for original probate of a will, the registrar shall determine whether:

(1) the application is complete;

(2) the applicant has made oath or affirmation that the statements contained in the application are true to the best of the applicant's knowledge and belief;

(3) the applicant appears from the application to be an interested person as defined in subdivision (21) of section 30-2209;

(4) on the basis of the statements in the application, venue is proper;

(5) either:

(i) an original, duly executed, and apparently unrevoked will is in the registrar's possession; or

(ii) the applicant has represented that an original, duly executed, and apparently unrevoked will is in the applicant's possession, the applicant has provided a true and accurate copy of such original will with the application, and the applicant has represented that the original, duly executed, and apparently unrevoked will will be delivered to the court within ten days after the filing of the application; and

(6) any notice required by section 30-2413 has been given and that the application is not within section 30-2417.

(b) The application shall be denied if it indicates that a personal representative has been appointed in another county of this state or, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, if it appears that this or another will of the decedent has been the subject of a previous probate order.

(c) A will which appears to have the required signatures and which contains an attestation clause showing that requirements of execution under section 30-2327, 30-2328, or 30-2331 have been met shall be probated without further proof. In other cases, the registrar may assume execution if the will appears to have been properly executed, or the registrar may accept a sworn statement or affidavit of any person having knowledge of the circumstances of execution, whether or not the person was a witness to the will.

(d) Informal probate of a will which has been previously probated elsewhere may be granted at any time upon written application by any interested person, together with deposit of an authenticated copy of the will and of the statement probating it from the office or court where it was first probated.

(e) A will from a place which does not provide for probate of a will after death and which is not eligible for probate under subsection (a) of this section may be probated in this state upon receipt by the registrar of a duly authenticated copy of the will and a duly authenticated certificate of its legal custodian that the copy filed is a true copy and that the will has become operative under the law of the other place.

An application for informal probate shall be declined if it relates to one or more of a known series of testamentary instruments the latest of which does not expressly revoke the earlier, except that a series consisting of a will with its codicils may be informally probated.

If the registrar is not satisfied that a will is entitled to be probated in informal proceedings because of failure to meet the requirements of sections 30-2416 and 30-2417 or any other reason, he may decline the application. A declination of informal probate is not an adjudication and does not preclude formal probate proceedings.

The moving party must give notice as described by section 30-2220 of his application for informal probate (1) to any person demanding it pursuant to section 30-2413; and (2) to any personal representative of the decedent whose appointment has not been terminated. No other notice of informal probate is required, except as provided in sections 30-2415(b) and 30-2420(c).

(a) Upon receipt of an application for informal appointment of a personal representative other than a special administrator as provided in section 30-2457, if at least one hundred twenty hours have elapsed since the decedent's death, the registrar, after making the findings required by section 30-2421, shall appoint the applicant subject to qualification and acceptance; Provided, that if the decedent was a nonresident, the registrar shall delay the order of appointment until thirty days have elapsed since death unless the personal representative appointed at the decedent's domicile is the applicant, or unless the decedent's will directs that his estate be subject to the laws of this state.

(b) The status of personal representative and the powers and duties pertaining to the office are fully established by informal appointment. An appointment, and the office of personal representative created thereby, is subject to termination as provided in sections 30-2451 to 30-2455, but is not subject to retroactive vacation.

(c) In addition to the notices required by section 30-2413, after a personal representative is appointed pursuant to the provisions of this section, the clerk shall, within thirty days after the appointment, cause notice of the appointment to be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the county where the appointment has been made. The first publication shall be made within thirty days after appointment.

The published notice shall be in a form prescribed by the Supreme Court and shall contain the following: (1) notice of the appointment, and (2) notice that a written statement of informal probate of a will of decedent has been issued if such is the case. The party instituting or maintaining the proceeding or his attorney is required to mail the published notice and give proof thereof in accordance with section 25-520.01.

(a) In informal appointment proceedings, the registrar must determine whether:

(1) the application for informal appointment of a personal representative is complete;

(2) the applicant has made oath or affirmation that the statements contained in the application are true to the best of his knowledge and belief;

(3) the applicant appears from the application to be an interested person as defined in section 30-2209(21);

(4) on the basis of the statements in the application, venue is proper;

(5) any will to which the requested appointment relates has been formally or informally probated; but this requirement does not apply to the appointment of a special administrator;

(6) any notice required by section 30-2413 has been given;

(7) from the statements in the application, the person whose appointment is sought has priority entitling him to the appointment.

(b) Unless section 30-2455 controls, the application must be denied if it indicates that a personal representative who has not filed a written statement of resignation as provided in section 30-2453(c) has been appointed in this or another county of this state, that (unless the applicant is the domiciliary personal representative or his nominee) the decedent was not domiciled in this state and that a personal representative whose appointment has not been terminated has been appointed by a court in the state of domicile, or that other requirements of this section have not been met.

If the registrar is not satisfied that a requested informal appointment of a personal representative should be made because of failure to meet the requirements of sections 30-2420 and 30-2421, or for any other reason, he may decline the application. A declination of informal appointment is not an adjudication and does not preclude appointment in formal proceedings.

The moving party must give notice as described by section 30-2220 of his intention to seek an appointment informally: (1) to any person demanding it pursuant to section 30-2413; and (2) to any person having a prior or equal right to appointment not waived in writing and filed with the court. No other notice of an informal appointment proceeding is required, except as provided in section 30-2420(c) or in section 30-2483.

If an application for informal appointment indicates the existence of a possible unrevoked testamentary instrument which may relate to property subject to the laws of this state, and which is not filed for probate in this court, the registrar shall decline the application.

A formal testacy proceeding is litigation to determine whether a decedent left a valid will. A formal testacy proceeding may be commenced by an interested person filing a petition as described in section 30-2426(a) in which he requests that the court, after notice and hearing, enter an order probating a will, or a petition to set aside an informal probate of a will or to prevent informal probate of a will which is the subject of a pending application, or a petition in accordance with section 30-2426(b) for an order that the decedent died intestate.

A petition may seek formal probate of a will without regard to whether the same or a conflicting will has been informally probated. A formal testacy proceeding may, but need not, involve a request for appointment of a personal representative.

During the pendency of a formal testacy proceeding, the registrar shall not act upon any application for informal probate of any will of the decedent or any application for informal appointment of a personal representative of the decedent.

Unless a petition in a formal testacy proceeding also requests confirmation of the previous informal appointment, a previously appointed personal representative, after receipt of notice of the commencement of a formal probate proceeding, must refrain from exercising his power to make any further distribution of the estate during the pendency of the formal proceeding. A petitioner who seeks the appointment of a different personal representative in a formal proceeding also may request an order restraining the acting personal representative from exercising any of the powers of his office and requesting the appointment of a special administrator. In the absence of a request, or if the request is denied, the commencement of a formal proceeding has no effect on the powers and duties of a previously appointed personal representative other than those relating to distribution.

(a) Petitions for formal probate of a will, or for adjudication of intestacy with or without request for appointment of a personal representative, must be directed to the court, request a judicial order after notice and hearing and contain further statements as indicated in this section. A petition for formal probate of a will

(1) requests an order as to the testacy of the decedent in relation to a particular instrument which may or may not have been informally probated and determining the heirs,

(2) contains the statements required for informal applications as stated in subdivisions (1)(i) through (v) of section 30-2414, the statements required by subdivisions (2)(ii) and (iii) of section 30-2414, and

(3) states whether the original of the last will of the decedent is in the possession of the court, accompanies the petition, or has been filed electronically and will be delivered to the court within ten days after the filing of the application.

The petition also must state the contents of the will and indicate that it is lost, destroyed, or otherwise unavailable if the original will or an authenticated copy of the will probated in another jurisdiction:

(i) is not in the possession of the court;

(ii) did not accompany the application; and

(iii) has not been filed electronically, subject to delivery within ten days after the filing of the application.

(b) A petition for adjudication of intestacy and appointment of an administrator in intestacy must request a judicial finding and order that the decedent left no will and determining the heirs, contain the statements required by subdivisions (1) and (4) of section 30-2414 and indicate whether supervised administration is sought. A petition may request an order determining intestacy and heirs without requesting the appointment of an administrator, in which case the statements required by subdivision (4)(ii) of section 30-2414 may be omitted.

(a) Upon commencement of a formal testacy proceeding, the court shall fix a time and place of hearing. Notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by section 30-2220 by the petitioner under subdivision 30-2220(a)(1) to the persons herein enumerated and to any additional person who has filed a demand for notice under section 30-2413.

Notice shall be given to the following persons: The surviving spouse, children, and other heirs of the decedent, the devisees and executors 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 clerk shall publish notice to all unknown persons and to all known persons whose addresses are unknown who have any interest in the matters being litigated in accordance with section 30-2220(a)(2). The party instituting or maintaining the proceeding or his or her attorney is required to mail the published notice and give proof thereof in accordance with section 25-520.01.

(b) 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 certified or registered mail to the alleged decedent at his or her last-known address. The 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 whereabouts of the alleged decedent;

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

(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.

Any party to a formal proceeding who opposes the probate of a will for any reason shall state in his pleadings his objections to probate of the will.

If a petition in a testacy proceeding is unopposed, the court may order probate or intestacy on the strength of the pleadings if satisfied that the conditions of section 30-2433 have been met, or conduct a hearing in open court and require proof of the matters necessary to support the order sought. If evidence concerning execution of the will is necessary, the affidavit or testimony of one of any attesting witnesses to the instrument is sufficient. If the affidavit or testimony of an attesting witness is not available, execution of the will may be proved by other evidence or affidavit.

(1) If there is an objection to probate of a will or if a petition is filed to set aside an informal probate of a will or to prevent informal probate of a will which is the subject of a pending application, the county court shall continue the originally scheduled hearing for at least fourteen days from the date of the hearing. At any time prior to the continued hearing date any party may transfer the proceeding to determine whether the decedent left a valid will to the district court by filing with the county court a notice of transfer, depositing with the clerk of the county court a docket fee of the district court for cases originally commenced in district court, and paying to the clerk of the county court a fee of twenty dollars.

(2) Within ten days of the completion of the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, the clerk of the county court shall transmit to the clerk of the district court a certification of the case file and docket fee.

(3) Upon the filing of the certification as provided in subsection (2) of this section in the district court, such court shall have jurisdiction over the proceeding on the contest. Within thirty days of the filing of such certification, any party may file additional objections.

(4) The district court may order such additional pleadings as necessary and shall thereafter determine whether the decedent left a valid will. Trial shall be to a jury unless a jury is waived by all parties who have filed pleadings in the matter.

(5) The final decision and judgment in the matter transferred shall be certified to the county court, and proceedings shall be had thereon necessary to carry the final decision and judgment into execution.

(a) If evidence concerning execution of an attested will which is not self-proved is necessary in contested cases, the testimony of at least one of the attesting witnesses, if within the state competent and able to testify, is required. Due execution of an attested or unattested will may be proved by other evidence.

(b) If the will is self-proved, compliance with signature requirements for execution is conclusively presumed and other requirements of execution are presumed subject to rebuttal without the testimony of any witness upon filing the will and the acknowledgment and affidavits annexed or attached thereto, unless there is proof of fraud or forgery affecting the acknowledgment or affidavit.

In contested cases, petitioners who seek to establish intestacy have the burden of establishing prima facie proof of death, venue, and heirship. Proponents of a will have the burden of establishing prima facie proof of due execution, death, testamentary capacity, and venue. Contestants of a will have the burden of establishing undue influence, fraud, duress, mistake or revocation. Parties have the ultimate burden of persuasion as to matters with respect to which they have the initial burden of proof. If a will is opposed by the petition for probate of a later will revoking the former, it shall be determined first whether the later will is entitled to probate, and if a will is opposed by a petition for a declaration of intestacy, it shall be determined first whether the will is entitled to probate.

A final order of a court of another state, which state has an applicable provision of law similar in reciprocal effect to this section, determining testacy, the validity or construction of a will, made in a proceeding involving notice to and an opportunity for contest by all interested persons must be accepted as determinative by the courts of this state if it includes, or is based upon, a finding that the decedent was domiciled at his death in the state where the order was made.

After the time required for any notice has expired, upon proof of notice, and after any hearing that may be necessary, if the court finds that the testator is dead and venue is proper, it shall determine the decedent's domicile at death, his heirs and his state of testacy. Any will found to be valid and unrevoked shall be formally probated. Termination of any previous informal appointment of a personal representative, which may be appropriate in view of the relief requested and findings, is governed by section 30-2455. The petition shall be dismissed or appropriate amendment allowed if the court is not satisfied that the alleged decedent is dead. A will from a place which does not provide for probate of a will after death may be proved for probate in this state by a duly authenticated certificate of its legal custodian that the copy introduced is a true copy and that the will has become effective under the law of the other place.

If two or more instruments are offered for probate before a final order is entered in a formal testacy proceeding, more than one instrument may be probated if neither expressly revokes the other or contains provisions which work a total revocation by implication. If more than one instrument is probated, the order shall indicate what provisions control in respect to the nomination of an executor, if any. The order may, but need not, indicate how any provisions of a particular instrument are affected by the other instrument. After a final order in a testacy proceeding has been entered, no petition for probate of any other instrument of the decedent may be entertained, except incident to a petition to vacate or modify a previous probate order and subject to the time limits of section 30-2436.

If it becomes evident in the course of a formal testacy proceeding that, though one or more instruments are entitled to be probated, the decedent's estate is or may be partially intestate, the court shall enter an order to that effect.

Subject to appeal and subject to vacation as provided herein and in section 30-2437, a formal testacy order under sections 30-2433 to 30-2435, including an order that the decedent left no valid will and determining heirs, is final as to all persons with respect to all issues concerning the decedent's estate that the court considered or might have considered incident to its rendition relevant to the question of whether the decedent left a valid will, and to the determination of heirs, except that:

(1) The court shall entertain a petition for modification or vacation of its order and probate of another will of the decedent if it is shown that the proponents of the later-offered will were unaware of its existence at the time of the earlier proceeding or were unaware of the earlier proceeding and were given no notice thereof, except by publication.

(2) If intestacy of all or part of the estate has been ordered, the determination of heirs of the decedent may be reconsidered if it is shown that one or more persons were omitted from the determination and it is also shown that the persons were unaware of their relationship to the decedent, were unaware of his or her death or were given no notice of any proceeding concerning his or her estate, except by publication.

(3) A petition for vacation under either (1) or (2) above must be filed prior to the earlier of the following time limits:

(i) If a personal representative has been appointed for the estate, the time of entry of any order approving final distribution of the estate, or, if the estate is closed by statement, six months after the filing of the closing statement.

(ii) Whether or not a personal representative has been appointed for the estate of the decedent, the time prescribed by subdivision (1), (2), or (3) of section 30-2408 when it is no longer possible to initiate an original proceeding to probate a will of the decedent.

(iii) Twelve months after the entry of the order sought to be vacated.

(4) The order originally rendered in the testacy proceeding may be modified or vacated, if appropriate under the circumstances, by the order of probate of the later-offered will or the order redetermining heirs.

(5) The finding of the fact of death is conclusive as to the alleged decedent only if notice of the hearing on the petition in the formal testacy proceeding was sent by registered or certified mail addressed to the alleged decedent at his or her last-known address and the court finds that a search under section 30-2427(b) was made.

If the alleged decedent is not dead, even if notice was sent and search was made, he or she may recover estate assets in the hands of the personal representative. In addition to any remedies available to the alleged decedent by reason of any fraud or intentional wrongdoing, the alleged decedent may recover any estate or its proceeds from distributees that is in their hands, or the value of distributions received by them, to the extent that any recovery from distributees is equitable in view of all of the circumstances.

(6) In a contested will case in which the district court heard a transferred proceeding and certified the results to the county court under section 30-2429.01, any petition for modification under subsection (1) of this section shall be filed in the county court from which the proceedings were transferred; any party may thereafter remove the proceedings for modification or vacation in accordance with section 30-2429.01.

For good cause shown, an order in a formal testacy proceeding may be modified or vacated within the time allowed for appeal.

(a) A formal proceeding for adjudication regarding the priority or qualification of one who is an applicant for appointment as personal representative, or of one who previously has been appointed personal representative in informal proceedings, if an issue concerning the testacy of the decedent is or may be involved, is governed by section 30-2426, as well as by this section. In other cases, the petition shall contain or adopt the statements required by section 30-2414(1) and describe the question relating to priority or qualification of the personal representative which is to be resolved. If the proceeding precedes any appointment of a personal representative, it shall stay any pending informal appointment proceedings as well as any commenced thereafter. If the proceeding is commenced after appointment, the previously appointed personal representative, after receipt of notice thereof, shall refrain from exercising any power of administration except as necessary to preserve the estate or unless the court orders otherwise.

(b) After notice to interested persons, including all persons interested in the administration of the estate as successors under the applicable assumption concerning testacy, any previously appointed personal representative and any person having or claiming priority for appointment as personal representative, the court shall determine who is entitled to appointment under section 30-2412, make a proper appointment and, if appropriate, terminate any prior appointment found to have been improper as provided in cases of removal under section 30-2454.

Supervised administration is a single in rem proceeding to secure complete administration and settlement of a decedent's estate under the continuing authority of the court which extends until entry of an order approving distribution of the estate and discharging the personal representative or other order terminating the proceeding. A supervised personal representative is responsible to the court, as well as to the interested parties, and is subject to directions concerning the estate made by the court on its own motion or on the motion of any interested party. Except as otherwise provided in this part, or as otherwise ordered by the court, a supervised personal representative has the same duties and powers as a personal representative who is not supervised.

A petition for supervised administration may be filed by any interested person or by a personal representative at any time or the prayer for supervised administration may be joined with a petition in a testacy or appointment proceeding. If the testacy of the decedent and the priority and qualification of any personal representative have not been adjudicated previously, the petition for supervised administration shall include the matters required of a petition in a formal testacy proceeding and the notice requirements and procedures applicable to a formal testacy proceeding apply. If not previously adjudicated, the court shall adjudicate the testacy of the decedent and questions relating to the priority and qualifications of the personal representative in any case involving a request for supervised administration, even though the request for supervised administration may be denied. After notice to interested persons, the court shall order supervised administration of a decedent's estate: (1) if the decedent's will directs supervised administration, it shall be ordered unless the court finds that circumstances bearing on the need for supervised administration have changed since the execution of the will and that there is no necessity for supervised administration; (2) if the decedent's will directs unsupervised administration, supervised administration shall be ordered only upon a finding that it is necessary for protection of persons interested in the estate; or (3) in other cases if the court finds that supervised administration is necessary under the circumstances.

(a) The pendency of a proceeding for supervised administration of a decedent's estate stays action on any informal application then pending or thereafter filed.

(b) If a will has been previously probated in informal proceedings, the effect of the filing of a petition for supervised administration is as provided for formal testacy proceedings by section 30-2425.

(c) After he has received notice of the filing of a petition for supervised administration, a personal representative who has been appointed previously shall not exercise his power to distribute any estate. The filing of the petition does not affect his other powers and duties unless the court restricts the exercise of any of them pending full hearing on the petition.

Unless restricted by the court, a supervised personal representative has, without interim orders approving exercise of a power, all powers of personal representatives under this code, but he shall not exercise his power to make any distribution of the estate without prior order of the court. Any other restriction on the power of a personal representative which may be ordered by the court must be endorsed on his letters of appointment and, unless so endorsed, is ineffective as to persons dealing in good faith with the personal representative.

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, supervised administration is terminated by order in accordance with time restrictions, notices and contents of orders prescribed for proceedings under section 30-24,115. Interim orders approving or directing partial distributions or granting other relief may be issued by the court at any time during the pendency of a supervised administration on the application of the personal representative or any interested person.

Prior to receiving letters, a personal representative shall qualify by filing with the appointing court any required bond and a statement of acceptance of the duties of the office.

By accepting appointment, a personal representative submits personally to the jurisdiction of the court in any proceeding relating to the estate that may be instituted by any interested person. Notice of any proceeding shall be delivered to the personal representative or mailed to him by ordinary first-class mail at his address as listed in the application or petition for appointment or as thereafter reported to the court and to his address as then known to the petitioner.

(1) A bond shall be required of a personal representative unless: (a) The will expressly waives the bond, expressly requests that there be no bond, or waives the requirement of a surety thereon other than the personal representative; (b) all of the heirs, if no will has been probated, or all of the devisees under a will which does not provide for relieving the personal representative of bond in accordance with subdivision (1)(a) of this section, file with the court a written waiver of the bond requirement; a duly appointed guardian or conservator may waive on behalf of his ward or protected person unless the guardian or conservator is the personal representative; (c) the personal representative is a national banking association, a holder of a banking permit under the laws of this state, or a trust company holding a certificate to engage in trust business from the Department of Banking and Finance; or (d) the petition for formal or informal appointment alleges that the probable value of the entire estate will permit summary procedures under section 30-24,127.

(2) In any case when bond is not required under subsection (1) of this section, the court may, upon petition of any interested person and upon reasonable proof that the interest of the petitioning person is in danger of being lost because of the administration of the estate, require a bond in such amount as the court may direct in order to protect the interest of the petitioner or of the petitioner and others. An heir or devisee who initially waived bond may be a petitioner under this subsection.

(3) If a bond is not initially required because the petition for appointment alleges that the probable value of the entire estate will permit summary procedures under section 30-24,127, and it later appears from the inventory and appraisal that the value of the estate will not permit use of such procedures, then the personal representative shall promptly file a bond unless one is not required for some other reason under subsection (1) of this section.

(a) In informal proceedings, if bond is required under section 30-2446 and the provisions of the will or court order do not specify the amount, unless stated in his application or petition, the person qualifying shall file a statement under oath with the registrar indicating his best estimate of the value of the personal estate of the decedent and of the income expected from the personal and real estate during the next year, and he shall execute and file a bond with the registrar in an amount not less than the estimate. The registrar shall determine that the bond is duly executed by a corporate surety or with such individual sureties as the court shall direct or approve.

(b) In formal and informal proceedings, on application or petition of the personal representative or another interested person, the court may excuse a requirement of bond, increase or reduce the amount of the bond, release sureties, or permit the substitution of another bond with the same or different sureties.

Any person apparently having an interest in the estate worth in excess of one thousand dollars, or any creditor having a claim in excess of one thousand dollars, may make a written demand that a personal representative give bond. The demand must be filed with the registrar and a copy mailed to the personal representative, if appointment and qualification have occurred. Thereupon, bond is required, but the requirement ceases if the person demanding bond ceases to be interested in the estate or if bond is excused as provided in section 30-2446 or 30-2447. After he has received notice and until the filing of the bond or cessation of the requirement of bond, the personal representative shall refrain from exercising any powers of his office except as necessary to preserve the estate. Failure of the personal representative to meet a requirement of bond by giving suitable bond within thirty days after receipt of notice is cause for his removal and appointment of a successor personal representative.

(a) The following requirements and provisions apply to any bond required by this part:

(1) Bonds shall name the court as obligee for the benefit of the persons interested in the estate and shall be conditioned upon the faithful discharge by the fiduciary of all duties according to law and shall be approved by the registrar in informal proceedings and by the court in formal proceedings.

(2) Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the approved bond, sureties are jointly and severally liable with the personal representative and with each other. The address of sureties shall be stated in the bond.

(3) By executing an approved bond of a personal representative, the surety consents to the jurisdiction of the probate court which issued letters to the primary obligor in any proceedings pertaining to the fiduciary duties of the personal representative and naming the surety as a party. Notice of any proceeding shall be delivered to the surety or mailed to him by registered or certified mail at his address as listed with the court where the bond is filed and to his address as then known to the petitioner.

(4) On petition of a successor personal representative, any other personal representative of the same decedent, or any interested person, a proceeding in the court may be initiated against a surety for breach of the obligation of the bond of the personal representative.

(5) The bond of the personal representative is not void after the first recovery but may be proceeded against from time to time until the whole penalty is exhausted.

(b) No action or proceeding may be commenced against the surety on any matter as to which an action or proceeding against the primary obligor is barred by adjudication or limitation.

(a) On petition of any person who appears to have an interest in the estate, the court by temporary order may restrain a personal representative from performing specified acts of administration, disbursement, or distribution, or exercise of any powers or discharge of any duties of his office, or make any other order to secure proper performance of his duty, if it appears to the court that the personal representative otherwise may take some action which would jeopardize unreasonably the interest of the applicant or of some other interested person. Persons with whom the personal representative may transact business may be made parties.

(b) The matter shall be set for hearing within ten days unless the parties otherwise agree. Notice as the court directs shall be given to the personal representative and his attorney of record, if any, and to any other parties named defendant in the petition.

Termination of appointment of a personal representative occurs as indicated in sections 30-2452 to 30-2455. Termination ends the right and power pertaining to the office of personal representative as conferred by this code or any will, except that a personal representative, at any time prior to distribution or until restrained or enjoined by court order, may perform acts necessary to protect the estate and may deliver the assets to a successor representative. Termination does not discharge a personal representative from liability for transactions or omissions occurring before termination, or relieve him of the duty to preserve assets subject to his control, to account therefor and to deliver the assets. Termination does not affect the jurisdiction of the court over the personal representative, but terminates his authority to represent the estate in any pending or future proceeding.

The death of a personal representative or the appointment of a guardian or conservator for the estate of a personal representative terminates his appointment. Until appointment and qualification of a successor or special representative to replace the deceased or protected representative, the representative of the estate of the deceased or protected personal representative, if any, has the duty to protect the estate possessed and being administered by his decedent or ward at the time his appointment terminates, has the power to perform acts necessary for protection and shall account for and deliver the estate assets to a successor or special personal representative upon his appointment and qualification.

(a) An appointment of a personal representative terminates as provided in section 30-24,117 one year after the filing of a closing statement.

(b) An order closing an estate as provided in section 30-24,115 or 30-24,116 terminates an appointment of a personal representative at the time and on the conditions provided for in the order.

(c) A personal representative may resign his position by filing a written statement of resignation with the registrar after he has given at least fifteen days' written notice to the persons known to be interested in the estate. If no one applies or petitions for appointment of a successor representative within the time indicated in the notice, the filed statement of resignation is ineffective as a termination of appointment and in any event is effective only upon the appointment and qualification of a successor representative and delivery of the assets to him.

(a) A person interested in the estate may petition for removal of a personal representative for cause at any time. Upon filing of the petition, the court shall fix a time and place for hearing. Notice shall be given by the petitioner to the personal representative, and to other persons as the court may order. Except as otherwise ordered as provided in section 30-2450, after receipt of notice of removal proceedings, the personal representative shall not act except to account, to correct maladministration or preserve the estate. If removal is ordered, the court also shall direct by order the disposition of the assets remaining in the name of, or under the control of, the personal representative being removed.

(b) Cause for removal exists when removal would be in the best interests of the estate, or if it is shown that a personal representative or the person seeking his appointment intentionally misrepresented material facts in the proceedings leading to his appointment, or that the personal representative has disregarded an order of the court, has become incapable of discharging the duties of his office, or has mismanaged the estate or failed to perform any duty pertaining to the office. Unless the decedent's will directs otherwise, a personal representative appointed at the decedent's domicile, incident to securing appointment of himself or his nominee as ancillary personal representative, may obtain removal of another who was appointed personal representative in this state to administer local assets.

Except as otherwise ordered in formal proceedings, the probate of a will subsequent to the appointment of a personal representative in intestacy or under a will which is superseded by formal probate of another will, or the vacation of an informal probate of a will subsequent to the appointment of the personal representative thereunder, does not terminate the appointment of the personal representative although his powers may be reduced as provided in section 30-2425. Termination occurs upon appointment in informal or formal appointment proceedings of a person entitled to appointment under the later assumption concerning testacy. If no request for new appointment is made within thirty days after expiration of time for appeal from the order in formal testacy proceedings, or from the informal probate, changing the assumption concerning testacy, the previously appointed personal representative upon request may be appointed personal representative under the subsequently probated will, or as in intestacy as the case may be.

Parts 3 and 4 of this article govern proceedings for appointment of a personal representative to succeed one whose appointment has been terminated. After appointment and qualification, a successor personal representative may be substituted in all actions and proceedings to which the former personal representative was a party, and no notice, process or claim which was given or served upon the former personal representative need be given to or served upon the successor in order to preserve any position or right the person giving the notice or filing the claim may thereby have obtained or preserved with reference to the former personal representative. Except as otherwise ordered by the court, the successor personal representative has the powers and duties in respect to the continued administration which the former personal representative would have had if his appointment had not been terminated.

A special administrator may be appointed:

(1) informally by the registrar on the application of any interested person when necessary to protect the estate of a decedent prior to the appointment of a general personal representative or if a prior appointment has been terminated as provided in section 30-2452.

(2) in a formal proceeding by order of the court on the petition of any interested person and finding, after notice and hearing, that appointment is necessary to preserve the estate or to secure its proper administration including its administration in circumstances where a general personal representative cannot or should not act. If it appears to the court that an emergency exists, appointment may be ordered without notice.

(a) If a special administrator is to be appointed pending the probate of a will which is the subject of a pending application or petition for probate, the person named personal representative in the will shall be appointed if available and qualified.

(b) In other cases, any proper person may be appointed special administrator.

A special administrator appointed by the registrar in informal proceedings pursuant to section 30-2457(1) has the duty to collect and manage the assets of the estate, to preserve them, to account therefor and to deliver them to the personal representative upon his qualification, or to such other person as shall be legally entitled to receive the same. The special administrator has the power of a personal representative under this code necessary to perform his duties.

A special administrator appointed by order of the court in any formal proceeding has the power of a personal representative except as limited in the appointment and duties as prescribed in the order. The appointment may be for a specified time, to perform particular acts or on other terms as the court may direct.

The appointment of a special administrator terminates in accordance with the provisions of the order of appointment, other order of the court, or on the appointment of a personal representative. In other cases, the appointment of a special administrator is subject to termination as provided in sections 30-2451 to 30-2454.

The duties and powers of a personal representative commence upon his appointment. The powers of a personal representative relate back in time to give acts by the person appointed which are beneficial to the estate occurring prior to appointment the same effect as those occurring thereafter. Prior to appointment, a person named executor in a will may carry out written instructions of the decedent relating to his body, funeral and burial arrangements. A personal representative may ratify and accept acts on behalf of the estate done by others where the acts would have been proper for a personal representative.

A person to whom general letters are issued first has exclusive authority under the letters until his appointment is terminated or modified. If, through error, general letters are afterwards issued to another, the first appointed representative may recover any property of the estate in the hands of the representative subsequently appointed, but the acts of the latter done in good faith before notice of the first letters are not void for want of validity of appointment.

(a) A personal representative is a fiduciary who shall comply with the prudent investor rule set forth in sections 30-3883 to 30-3889. A personal representative is under a duty to settle and distribute the estate of the decedent in accordance with the terms of any probated and effective will and this code, and as expeditiously and efficiently as is consistent with the best interests of the estate. He or she shall use the authority conferred upon him or her by this code, the terms of the will, if any, and any order in proceedings to which he or she is party for the best interests of successors to the estate.

(b) A personal representative shall not be surcharged for acts of administration or distribution if the conduct in question was authorized at the time. Subject to other obligations of administration, an informally probated will is authority to administer and distribute the estate according to its terms. An order of appointment of a personal representative, whether issued in informal or formal proceedings, is authority to distribute apparently intestate assets to the heirs of the decedent if, at the time of distribution, the personal representative is not aware of a pending testacy proceeding, a proceeding to vacate an order entered in an earlier testacy proceeding, a formal proceeding questioning his or her appointment or fitness to continue, or a supervised administration proceeding. Nothing in this section affects the duty of the personal representative to administer and distribute the estate in accordance with the rights of claimants, the surviving spouse, any minor and dependent children and any pretermitted child of the decedent as described elsewhere in this code.

(c) Except as to proceedings which do not survive the death of the decedent, a personal representative of a decedent domiciled in this state at his or her death has the same standing to sue and be sued in the courts of this state and the courts of any other jurisdiction as his or her decedent had immediately prior to death.

A personal representative shall proceed expeditiously with the settlement and distribution of a decedent's estate and, except as otherwise specified or ordered in regard to a supervised personal representative, do so without adjudication, order, or direction of the court, but he may invoke the jurisdiction of the court, in proceedings authorized by this code, to resolve questions concerning the estate or its administration.

Within three months after appointment, a personal representative, who is not a special administrator or a successor to another representative who has previously discharged this duty, shall prepare and file an inventory of property owned by the decedent at the time of death, listing it with reasonable detail and indicating as to each listed item its fair market value as of the date of the decedent's death and the type and amount of any encumbrance that may exist with reference to any item.

The personal representative shall send a copy of the inventory to interested persons who request it and shall file the original of the inventory with the court.

The personal representative may employ a qualified and disinterested appraiser to assist him in ascertaining the fair market value as of the date of the decedent's death of any asset the value of which may be subject to reasonable doubt. Different persons may be employed to appraise different kinds of assets included in the estate. The names and addresses of any appraiser shall be indicated on the inventory with the item or items he appraised.

If any property not included in the original inventory comes to the knowledge of a personal representative or if the personal representative learns that the value or description indicated in the original inventory for any item is erroneous or misleading, the personal representative shall make a supplementary inventory or appraisement showing the market value as of the date of the decedent's death of the new item or the revised market value or descriptions and the appraisers or other data relied upon, if any, and file it with the court and furnish copies thereof or information thereof to persons interested in the new information.

Except as otherwise provided by a decedent's will, every personal representative has a right to, and shall take possession or control of, the decedent's property, except that any real property or tangible personal property may be left with or surrendered to the person presumptively entitled thereto unless or until, in the judgment of the personal representative, possession of the property by him will be necessary for purposes of administration. The request by a personal representative for delivery of any property possessed by an heir or devisee is conclusive evidence, in any action against the heir or devisee for possession thereof, that the possession of the property by the personal representative is necessary for purposes of administration. The personal representative shall pay taxes on, and take all steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection and preservation of, the estate in his possession. He may maintain an action to recover possession of property or to determine the title thereto.

The property liable for the payment of unsecured debts of a decedent includes all property transferred by him by any means which is in law void or voidable as against his creditors, and, subject to prior liens, the right to recover this property, so far as necessary for the payment of unsecured debts of the decedent, is exclusively in the personal representative.

Until termination of his appointment a personal representative has the same power over the title to property of the estate that an absolute owner would have, in trust however, for the benefit of the creditors and others interested in the estate. Unless otherwise specifically ordered by the court, this power may be exercised without notice, hearing, or order of court.

If the exercise of power concerning the estate is improper, the personal representative is liable to interested persons for damage or loss resulting from breach of his fiduciary duty to the same extent as a trustee of an express trust. The rights of purchasers and others dealing with a personal representative shall be determined as provided in sections 30-2474 and 30-2475.

Any sale or encumbrance to the personal representative, his spouse, agent or attorney, or any corporation or trust in which he has a substantial beneficial interest, or any transaction which is affected by a substantial conflict of interest on the part of the personal representative, is voidable by any person interested in the estate except one who has consented after fair disclosure, unless

(1) the will or a contract entered into by the decedent expressly authorized the transaction; or

(2) the transaction is approved by the court after notice to interested persons.

A person who in good faith either assists a personal representative or deals with him for value is protected as if the personal representative properly exercised his power. The fact that a person knowingly deals with a personal representative does not alone require the person to inquire into the existence of a power or the propriety of its exercise. Except for restrictions on powers of supervised personal representatives which are endorsed on letters as provided in section 30-2442, no provision in any will or order of court purporting to limit the power of a personal representative is effective except as to persons with actual knowledge thereof. A person is not bound to see to the proper application of estate assets paid or delivered to a personal representative. The protection here expressed extends to instances in which some procedural irregularity or jurisdictional defect occurred in proceedings leading to the issuance of letters, including a case in which the alleged decedent is found to be alive. The protection here expressed is not by substitution for that provided by comparable provisions of the laws relating to commercial transactions and laws simplifying transfers of securities by fiduciaries.

Except as restricted or otherwise provided by the will or by an order in a formal proceeding, without limiting the authority conferred by section 30-2472, and subject to the priorities stated in section 30-24,100, a personal representative, acting reasonably for the benefit of the interested persons, may properly:

(1) retain assets owned by the decedent pending distribution or liquidation including those in which the representative is personally interested or which are otherwise improper for trust investment;

(2) receive assets from fiduciaries or other sources;

(3) perform, compromise, or refuse performance of the decedent's contracts that continue as obligations of the estate, as he or she may determine under the circumstances. In performing enforceable contracts by the decedent to convey or lease land, the personal representative, among other possible courses of action, may:

(i) execute and deliver a deed of conveyance for cash payment of all sums remaining due or the purchaser's note for the sum remaining due secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on the land; or

(ii) deliver a deed in escrow with directions that the proceeds, when paid in accordance with the escrow agreement, be paid to the successors of the decedent, as designated in the escrow agreement;

(4) satisfy written charitable pledges of the decedent irrespective of whether the pledges constituted binding obligations of the decedent or were properly presented as claims, if in the judgment of the personal representative the decedent would have wanted the pledges completed under the circumstances;

(5) if funds are not needed to meet debts and expenses currently payable and are not immediately distributable, deposit or invest liquid assets of the estate, including money received from the sale of other assets, in federally insured interest-bearing accounts, readily marketable secured loan arrangements, or other prudent investments which would be reasonable for use by trustees generally;

(6) acquire or dispose of an asset, including land in this or another state, for cash or on credit, at public or private sale; and manage, develop, improve, exchange, partition, change the character of, or abandon an estate asset;

(7) make ordinary or extraordinary repairs or alterations in buildings or other structures, demolish any improvements, and raze existing or erect new party walls or buildings;

(8) subdivide, develop, or dedicate land to public use; make or obtain the vacation of plats and adjust boundaries; or adjust differences in valuation on exchange or partition by giving or receiving considerations; or dedicate easements to public use without consideration;

(9) enter for any purpose into a lease as lessor or lessee, with or without option to purchase or renew, for a term within or extending beyond the period of administration;

(10) enter into a lease or arrangement for exploration and removal of minerals or other natural resources or enter into a pooling or unitization agreement;

(11) abandon property when, in the opinion of the personal representative, it is valueless, or is so encumbered, or is in condition that it is of no benefit to the estate;

(12) vote stocks or other securities in person or by general or limited proxy;

(13) pay calls, assessments, and other sums chargeable or accruing against or on account of securities, unless barred by the provisions relating to claims;

(14) hold a security in the name of a nominee or in other form without disclosure of the interest of the estate but the personal representative is liable for any act of the nominee in connection with the security so held;

(15) insure the assets of the estate against damage, loss, and liability and himself or herself against liability as to third persons;

(16) borrow money with or without security to be repaid from the estate assets or otherwise; and advance money for the protection of the estate;

(17) effect a fair and reasonable compromise with any debtor or obligor, or extend, renew, or in any manner modify the terms of any obligation owing to the estate. If the personal representative holds a mortgage, pledge, or other lien upon property of another person, he or she may, in lieu of foreclosure, accept a conveyance or transfer of encumbered assets from the owner thereof in satisfaction of the indebtedness secured by lien;

(18) pay taxes, assessments, compensation of the personal representative, and other expenses incident to the administration of the estate;

(19) sell or exercise stock subscription or conversion rights; consent, directly or through a committee or other agent, to the reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution, or liquidation of a corporation or other business enterprise;

(20) allocate items of income or expense to either estate income or principal, as permitted or provided by law;

(21) employ persons, including attorneys, auditors, investment advisors, or agents, even if they are associated with the personal representative, to advise or assist the personal representative in the performance of his or her administrative duties; act without independent investigation upon their recommendations; and instead of acting personally, employ one or more agents to perform any act of administration, whether or not discretionary;

(22) prosecute or defend claims or proceedings in any jurisdiction for the protection of the estate and of the personal representative in the performance of his or her duties;

(23) sell, mortgage, or lease any real or personal property of the estate or any interest therein for cash, for credit, or for part cash and part credit, and with or without security for unpaid balances;

(24) continue any unincorporated business or venture in which the decedent was engaged at the time of death;

(25) form a business entity that has limited liability, including a limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or corporation, for any business or venture in which the decedent was engaged at the time of death;

(26) provide for exoneration of the personal representative from personal liability in any contract entered into on behalf of the estate;

(27) satisfy and settle claims and distribute the estate as provided in the Nebraska Probate Code.

A successor personal representative has the same power and duty as the original personal representative to complete the administration and distribution of the estate, as expeditiously as possible, but he shall not exercise any power expressly made personal to the executor named in the will.

If two or more persons are appointed corepresentatives and unless the will provides otherwise, the concurrence of all is required on all acts connected with the administration and distribution of the estate. This restriction does not apply when any corepresentative receives and receipts for property due the estate, when the concurrence of all cannot readily be obtained in the time reasonably available for emergency action necessary to preserve the estate, when a corepresentative has been delegated to act for the others, or as provided in section 30-901. Persons dealing with a corepresentative, if actually unaware that another has been appointed to serve with him or her or if advised by the personal representative with whom they deal that he or she has authority to act alone for any of the reasons mentioned herein, are as fully protected as if the person with whom they dealt had been the sole personal representative.

Unless the terms of the will otherwise provide, every power exercisable by personal corepresentatives may be exercised by the one or more remaining after the appointment of one or more is terminated, and if one of two or more nominated as coexecutors is not appointed, those appointed may exercise all the powers incident to the office.

A personal representative is entitled to reasonable compensation for his services. If a will provides for compensation of the personal representative and there is no contract with the decedent regarding compensation, he may renounce the provision before qualifying and be entitled to reasonable compensation. A personal representative also may renounce his right to all or any part of the compensation. A written renunciation of fee may be filed with the court.

If any personal representative or person nominated as personal representative defends or prosecutes any proceeding in good faith, whether successful or not he is entitled to receive from the estate his necessary expenses and disbursements including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred.

(1) After notice to all interested persons or on petition of an interested person or on appropriate motion if administration is supervised, the propriety of employment of any person by a personal representative including any attorney, auditor, investment advisor, or other specialized agent or assistant, the reasonableness of the compensation of any person so employed, or the reasonableness of the compensation determined by the personal representative for his or her own services, may be reviewed by the court. Any person who has received excessive compensation from an estate for services rendered may be ordered to make appropriate refunds.

(2) Factors to be considered as guides in determining the reasonableness of a fee include the following:

(a) The time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the service properly;

(b) The likelihood, if apparent to the personal representative, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude the person employed from other employment;

(c) The fee customarily charged in the locality for similar services;

(d) The amount involved and the results obtained;

(e) The time limitations imposed by the personal representative or by the circumstances;

(f) The nature and length of the relationship between the personal representative and the person performing the services; and

(g) The experience, reputation, and ability of the person performing the services.

(a) Unless notice has already been given under this article and except when an appointment of a personal representative is made pursuant to subdivision (4) of section 30-2408, the clerk of the court upon the appointment of a personal representative shall publish a notice once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county announcing the appointment and the address of the personal representative, and notifying creditors of the estate to present their claims within two months after the date of the first publication of the notice or be forever barred. The first publication shall be made within thirty days after the appointment. The party instituting or maintaining the proceeding or his or her attorney is required to mail the published notice and give proof thereof in accordance with section 25-520.01.

(b) If the decedent was fifty-five years of age or older or resided in a medical institution as defined in subsection (1) of section 68-919, the notice shall also be provided to the Department of Health and Human Services with the decedent's social security number and, if the decedent was predeceased by a spouse, the name and social security number of such spouse. The notice shall be provided to the department in a delivery manner and at an address designated by the department, which manner may include email. The department shall post the acceptable manner of delivering notice on its website. Any notice that fails to conform with such manner is void.

Unless an estate is insolvent the personal representative, with the consent of all successors, may waive any defense of limitations available to the estate. If the defense is not waived, no claim which was barred by any statute of limitations at the time of the decedent's death shall be allowed or paid. The running of any statute of limitations measured from some other event than death and advertisement for claims against a decedent is suspended during the two months following the decedent's death but resumes thereafter as to claims not barred pursuant to the sections which follow. For purposes of any statute of limitations, the proper presentation of a claim under section 30-2486 is equivalent to commencement of a proceeding on the claim.

(a) All claims against a decedent's estate which arose before the death of the decedent, including claims of the state and any subdivision thereof, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract, tort, or other legal basis, if not barred earlier by other statute of limitations, are barred against the estate, the personal representative, and the heirs and devisees of the decedent, unless presented as follows:

(1) Within two months after the date of the first publication of notice to creditors if notice is given in compliance with sections 25-520.01 and 30-2483, except that claims barred by the nonclaim statute at the decedent's domicile before the first publication for claims in this state are also barred in this state. If any creditor has a claim against a decedent's estate which arose before the death of the decedent and which was not presented within the time allowed by this subdivision, including any creditor who did not receive notice, such creditor may apply to the court within sixty days after the expiration date provided in this subdivision for additional time and the court, upon good cause shown, may allow further time not to exceed thirty days;

(2) Within three years after the decedent's death if notice to creditors has not been given in compliance with sections 25-520.01 and 30-2483.

(b) All claims, other than for costs and expenses of administration as defined in section 30-2487, against a decedent's estate which arise at or after the death of the decedent, including claims of the state and any subdivision thereof, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, founded on contract, tort, or other legal basis, are barred against the estate, the personal representative, and the heirs and devisees of the decedent, unless presented as follows:

(1) A claim based on a contract with the personal representative, within four months after performance by the personal representative is due;

(2) Any other claim, within four months after it arises.

(c) Nothing in this section affects or prevents:

(1) Any proceeding to enforce any mortgage, pledge, or other lien upon property of the estate; or

(2) To the limits of the insurance protection only, any proceeding to establish liability of the decedent or the personal representative for which he or she is protected by liability insurance.

Claims against a decedent's estate may be presented as follows:

(1) The claimant may file a written statement of the claim, in the form prescribed by rule, with the clerk of the court. The claim is deemed presented on the filing of the claim with the court. If a claim is not yet due, the date when it will become due shall be stated. If the claim is contingent or unliquidated, the nature of the uncertainty shall be stated. If the claim is secured, the security shall be described. Failure to describe correctly the security, the nature of any uncertainty, and the due date of a claim not yet due does not invalidate the presentation made.

(2) The claimant may commence a proceeding against the personal representative in any court which has subject matter jurisdiction and the personal representative may be subjected to jurisdiction, to obtain payment of his or her claim against the estate, but the commencement of the proceeding must occur within the time limited for presenting the claim. No presentation of claim is required in regard to matters claimed in proceedings against the decedent which were pending at the time of his or her death.

(3) If a claim is presented under subsection (1), no proceeding thereon may be commenced more than sixty days after the personal representative has mailed a notice of disallowance; but, in the case of a claim which is not presently due or which is contingent or unliquidated, the personal representative may consent to an extension of the sixty-day period, or to avoid injustice the court, on petition, may order an extension of the sixty-day period, but in no event shall the extension run beyond the applicable statute of limitations.

(a) If the applicable assets of the estate are insufficient to pay all claims in full, the personal representative shall make payment in the following order:

(1) Costs and expenses of administration;

(2) Reasonable funeral expenses;

(3) Debts and taxes with preference under federal law;

(4) Reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last illness of the decedent, including compensation of persons attending the decedent and claims filed by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 68-919;

(5) Debts and taxes with preference under other laws of this state;

(6) All other claims.

(b) No preference shall be given in the payment of any claim over any other claim of the same class, and a claim due and payable shall not be entitled to a preference over claims not due.

(c) For purposes of this section and section 30-2485, costs and expenses of administration includes expenses incurred in taking possession or control of estate assets and the management, protection, and preservation of the estate assets, expenses related to the sale of estate assets, and expenses in the day-to-day operation and continuation of business interests for the benefit of the estate.

(a) As to claims presented in the manner described in section 30-2486 within the time limit prescribed in section 30-2485, the personal representative may mail a notice to any claimant stating that the claim has been disallowed. If, after allowing or disallowing a claim, the personal representative changes his or her decision concerning the claim, he or she shall notify the claimant. The personal representative may not change a disallowance of a claim after the time for the claimant to file a petition for allowance or to commence a proceeding on the claim has run and the claim has been barred. Every claim which is disallowed in whole or in part by the personal representative is barred so far as not allowed unless the claimant files a petition for allowance in the court or commences a proceeding against the personal representative not later than sixty days after the mailing of the notice of disallowance or partial allowance if the notice warns the claimant of the impending bar. Failure of the personal representative to mail notice to a claimant of action on his or her claim for sixty days after the time for original presentation of the claim has expired has the effect of a notice of allowance.

(b) At any time within fourteen days of the filing of a petition for allowance of a claim, the personal representative may transfer the claim to the regular docket of the county court by filing with the court a notice of transfer. The county court shall hear and determine the claim in the same manner as actions originally filed in the county court on the regular docket. The county court may order such additional pleadings as are necessary. If the claim is greater than the jurisdictional amount in subdivision (5) of section 24-517 and the personal representative requests transfer of the claim to the district court, upon payment by the personal representative to the clerk of the district court of a docket fee of the district court, the county court shall transfer the claim to the district court as provided in section 25-2706. If the claim is transferred to the district court, a jury trial is allowed unless waived by the parties as provided under section 25-1104.

(c) Upon the petition of the personal representative or of a claimant in a proceeding for the purpose, the court may allow in whole or in part any claim or claims filed with the clerk of the court in due time and not barred by subsection (a) of this section. Notice in this proceeding shall be given to the claimant, the personal representative, and those other persons interested in the estate as the court may direct by order entered at the time the proceeding is commenced.

(d) A final judgment in a proceeding in any court against a personal representative to enforce a claim against a decedent's estate is an allowance of the claim.

(e) Unless otherwise provided in any final judgment in any court entered against the personal representative, allowed claims bear interest at the legal rate for the period commencing sixty days after the time for original presentation of the claim has expired unless based on a contract making a provision for interest, in which case they bear interest in accordance with that provision.

(a) Upon the expiration of two months from the date of the first publication of the notice to creditors, the personal representative shall proceed to pay the claims allowed against the estate in the order of priority prescribed, after making allowance for costs and expenses of administration and after making provision for homestead, family and support allowances, for claims already presented which have not yet been allowed or whose allowance has been appealed, and for unbarred claims which may yet be presented. By petition to the court in a proceeding for the purpose, or by appropriate motion if the administration is supervised, a claimant whose claim has been allowed but not paid as provided herein may secure an order directing the personal representative to pay the claim to the extent that funds of the estate are available for the payment.

(b) The personal representative at any time may pay any enforceable claim which has not been barred, with or without formal presentation, but he is personally liable to any other claimant whose claim is allowed and who is injured by such payment if

(1) the payment was made before the expiration of the time limit stated in subsection (a) and the personal representative failed to require the payee to give adequate security for the refund of any of the payment necessary to pay other claimants; or

(2) the payment was made, due to the negligence or willful fault of the personal representative, in such manner as to deprive the injured claimant of his priority.

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the contract, a personal representative is not individually liable on a contract properly entered into in his fiduciary capacity in the course of administration of the estate unless he fails to reveal his representative capacity and identify the estate in the contract.

(b) A personal representative is individually liable for obligations arising from ownership or control of the estate or for torts committed in the course of administration of the estate only if he is personally at fault.

(c) Claims based on contracts entered into by a personal representative in his fiduciary capacity, on obligations arising from ownership or control of the estate or on torts committed in the course of estate administration, may be asserted against the estate by proceeding against the personal representative in his fiduciary capacity, whether or not the personal representative is individually liable therefor.

(d) Issues of liability as between the estate and the personal representative individually may be determined in a proceeding for accounting, surcharge or indemnification or other appropriate proceeding.

Payment of a secured claim is upon the basis of the amount allowed if the creditor surrenders his security; otherwise payment is upon the basis of one of the following:

(1) if the creditor exhausts his security before receiving payment, upon the amount of the claim allowed less the fair value of the security; or

(2) if the creditor does not have the right to exhaust his security or has not done so, upon the amount of the claim allowed less the value of the security determined by converting it into money according to the terms of the agreement pursuant to which the security was delivered to the creditor, or by the creditor and personal representative by agreement, arbitration, compromise or litigation.

(a) If a claim which will become due at a future time or a contingent or unliquidated claim becomes due or certain before the distribution of the estate, and if the claim has been allowed or established by a proceeding, it is paid in the same manner as presently due and absolute claims of the same class.

(b) In other cases the personal representative or, on petition of the personal representative or the claimant in a special proceeding for the purpose, the court may provide for payment as follows:

(1) if the claimant consents, he may be paid the present or agreed value of the claim, taking any uncertainty into account;

(2) arrangement for future payment, or possible payment, on the happening of the contingency or on liquidation may be made by creating a trust, giving a mortgage, obtaining a bond or security from a distributee, or otherwise.

In allowing a claim the personal representative may deduct any counterclaim which the estate has against the claimant. In determining a claim against an estate a court shall reduce the amount allowed by the amount of any counterclaims and, if the counterclaims exceed the claim, render a judgment against the claimant in the amount of the excess. A counterclaim, liquidated or unliquidated, may arise from a transaction other than that upon which the claim is based. A counterclaim may give rise to relief exceeding in amount or different in kind from that sought in the claim.

No execution may issue upon nor may any levy be made against any property of the estate under any judgment against a decedent or a personal representative, but this section shall not be construed to prevent the enforcement of mortgages, pledges or other liens existing at the time of death upon real or personal property in an appropriate proceeding.

When a claim against the estate has been presented, the personal representative may, if it appears for the best interest of the estate, compromise the claim, whether due or not due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated.

If any assets of the estate are encumbered by mortgage, pledge, lien, or other security interest, the personal representative may pay the encumbrance or any part thereof, renew or extend any obligation secured by the encumbrance or convey or transfer the assets to the creditor in satisfaction of his lien, in whole or in part, whether or not the holder of the encumbrance has filed a claim, if it appears to be for the best interest of the estate. Payment of an encumbrance does not increase the share of the distributee entitled to the encumbered assets unless the distributee is entitled to exoneration.

(a) All assets of estates being administered in this state are subject to all claims, allowances and charges existing or established against the personal representative wherever appointed.

(b) If the estate either in this state or as a whole is insufficient to cover all family exemptions and allowances determined by the law of the decedent's domicile, prior charges and claims, after satisfaction of the exemptions, allowances and charges, each claimant whose claim has been allowed either in this state or elsewhere in administrations of which the personal representative is aware is entitled to receive payment of an equal proportion of his claim. If a preference or security in regard to a claim is allowed in another jurisdiction but not in this state, the creditor so benefited is to receive dividends from local assets only upon the balance of his claim after deducting the amount of the benefit.

(c) In case the family exemptions and allowances, prior charges and claims of the entire estate exceed the total value of the portions of the estate being administered separately and this state is not the state of the decedent's last domicile, the claims allowed in this state shall be paid their proportion if local assets are adequate for the purpose, and the balance of local assets shall be transferred to the domiciliary personal representative. If local assets are not sufficient to pay all claims allowed in this state the amount to which they are entitled, local assets shall be marshaled so that each claim allowed in this state is paid its proportion as far as possible, after taking into account all dividends on claims allowed in this state from assets in other jurisdictions.

The estate of a nonresident decedent being administered by a personal representative appointed in this state shall, if there is a personal representative of the decedent's domicile willing to receive it, be distributed to the domiciliary personal representative for the benefit of the successors of the decedent unless (1) by virtue of the decedent's will, if any, and applicable choice of law rules, the successors are identified pursuant to the local law of this state without reference to the local law of the decedent's domicile; (2) the personal representative of this state, after reasonable inquiry, is unaware of the existence or identity of a domiciliary personal representative; or (3) the court orders otherwise in a proceeding for a closing order under section 30-24,115 or incident to the closing of a supervised administration. In other cases, distribution of the estate of a decedent shall be made in accordance with the other parts of this article.

In the absence of administration, the heirs and devisees are entitled to the estate in accordance with the terms of a probated will or the laws of intestate succession. Devisees may establish title by the probated will to devised property. Persons entitled to property by homestead allowance, exemption or intestacy may establish title thereto by proof of the decedent's ownership, his death, and their relationship to the decedent. Successors take subject to all charges incident to administration, including the claims of creditors and allowances of surviving spouse and dependent children, and subject to the rights of others resulting from abatement, retainer, advancement, and ademption.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and except as provided in connection with the share of the surviving spouse who elects to take an elective share, shares of distributees abate, without any preference or priority as between real and personal property, in the following order: (1) property not disposed of by the will; (2) residuary devises; (3) general devises; (4) specific devises. For purposes of abatement, a general devise charged on any specific property or fund is a specific devise to the extent of the value of the property on which it is charged, and upon the failure or insufficiency of the property on which it is charged, a general devise to the extent of the failure or insufficiency. Abatement within each classification is in proportion to the amounts of property each of the beneficiaries would have received if full distribution of the property had been made in accordance with the terms of the will.

(b) If the will expresses an order of abatement, or if the testamentary plan or the express or implied purpose of the devise would be defeated by the order of abatement stated in subsection (a), the shares of the distributees abate as may be found necessary to give effect to the intention of the testator.

(c) If the subject of a preferred devise is sold or used incident to administration, abatement shall be achieved by appropriate adjustments in, or contribution from, other interests in the remaining assets.

Unless a different intention is indicated by the will, the amount of a noncontingent indebtedness of a successor to the estate if due, or its present value if not due, shall be offset against the successor's interest; but the successor has the benefit of any defense which would be available to him in a direct proceeding for recovery of the debt.

General pecuniary devises bear interest at the legal rate beginning one year after the first appointment of a personal representative until payment, unless a contrary intent is indicated by the will.

A provision in a will purporting to penalize any interested person for contesting the will or instituting other proceedings relating to the estate is unenforceable if probable cause exists for instituting proceedings.

(a) Unless a contrary intention is indicated by the will, the distributable assets of a decedent's estate shall be distributed in kind to the extent possible through application of the following provisions:

(1) A specific devisee is entitled to distribution of the thing devised to him, and a spouse or child who has selected particular assets of an estate as provided in section 30-2323 shall receive the items selected.

(2) Any homestead or family allowance or devise payable in money may be satisfied by value in kind provided

(i) the person entitled to the payment has not demanded payment in cash;

(ii) the property distributed in kind is valued at fair market value as of the date of its distribution, and

(iii) no residuary devisee has requested that the asset in question remain a part of the residue of the estate.

(3) For the purpose of valuation under paragraph (2), securities regularly traded on recognized exchanges, if distributed in kind, are valued at the price for the last sale of like securities traded on the business day prior to distribution or, if there was no sale on that day, at the median between amounts bid and offered at the close of that day. Assets consisting of sums owed the decedent or the estate by solvent debtors as to which there is no known dispute or defense are valued at the sum due with accrued interest or discounted to the date of distribution. For assets which do not have readily ascertainable values, a valuation as of a date not more than thirty days prior to the date of distribution, if otherwise reasonable, controls. For purposes of facilitating distribution, the personal representative may ascertain the value of the assets as of the time of the proposed distribution in any reasonable way, including the employment of qualified appraisers, even if the assets may have been previously appraised.

(4) The residuary estate shall be distributed in kind if there is no objection to the proposed distribution and it is practicable to distribute undivided interests. In other cases, residuary property may be converted into cash for distribution.

(b) After the probable charges against the estate are known, the personal representative may mail or deliver a proposal for distribution to all persons who have a right to object to the proposed distribution. The right of any distributee to object to the proposed distribution on the basis of the kind or value of asset he is to receive, if not waived earlier in writing, terminates if he fails to object in writing received by the personal representative within thirty days after mailing or delivery of the proposal.

If distribution in kind is made, the personal representative shall execute an instrument or deed of distribution assigning, transferring, or releasing the assets to the distributee as evidence of the distributee's title to the property. If the distribution is of real property, the deed of distribution shall be recorded with the register of deeds in each county in which such real property is situated and shall indicate the court in which probate proceedings were conducted.

Proof that a distributee has received an instrument or deed of distribution of assets in kind, or payment in distribution, from a personal representative is conclusive evidence that the distributee has succeeded to the interest of the estate in the distributed assets, as against all persons interested in the estate, except that the personal representative may recover the assets or their value if the distribution was improper.

Unless the distribution or payment no longer can be questioned because of adjudication, estoppel, or limitation, a distributee of property improperly distributed or paid, or a claimant who was improperly paid, is liable to return the property improperly received and its income since distribution if he has the property. If he does not have the property, then he is liable to return the value as of the date of disposition of the property improperly received and its income and gain received by him.

If property distributed in kind or a security interest therein is acquired by a purchaser or lender for value from a distributee who has received an instrument or deed of distribution from the personal representative, the purchaser or lender takes title free of any claims of the estate and incurs no personal liability to the estate, whether or not the distribution was proper. To be protected under this provision, a purchaser or lender need not inquire whether a personal representative acted properly in making the distribution in kind.

When two or more heirs or devisees are entitled to distribution of undivided interests in any real or personal property of the estate, the personal representative or one or more of the heirs or devisees may petition the court, prior to the formal or informal closing of the estate, to make partition. After notice to the interested heirs or devisees, the court shall partition the property in the same manner as provided by the law for civil actions of partition. The court may direct the personal representative to sell any property which cannot be partitioned without prejudice to the owners and which cannot conveniently be allotted to any one party.

Subject to the rights of creditors and taxing authorities, competent successors may agree among themselves to alter the interests, shares, or amounts to which they are entitled under the will of the decedent, or under the laws of intestacy, in any way that they provide in a written contract executed by all who are affected by its provisions. The personal representative shall abide by the terms of the agreement subject to his obligation to administer the estate for the benefit of creditors, to pay all taxes and costs of administration, and to carry out the responsibilities of his office for the benefit of any successors of the decedent who are not parties. Personal representatives of decedents' estates are not required to see to the performance of trusts if the trustee thereof is another person who is willing to accept the trust. Accordingly, trustees of a testamentary trust are successors for the purposes of this section. Nothing herein relieves trustees of any duties owed to beneficiaries of trusts.

(a) Before distributing to a trustee, the personal representative may require that the trust be registered if the state in which it is to be administered requires registration and that the trustee inform the beneficiaries as provided in section 30-3878.

(b) If the trust instrument does not excuse the trustee from giving bond, the personal representative may petition the appropriate court to require that the trustee post bond if he or she apprehends that distribution might jeopardize the interests of persons who are not able to protect themselves, and he or she may withhold distribution until the court has acted.

(c) No inference of negligence on the part of the personal representative shall be drawn from his or her failure to exercise the authority conferred by subsections (a) and (b).

Disposition of unclaimed assets, fees, legacies, devises, and distributive shares shall be subject to the provisions of sections 25-2714 to 25-2717.

A personal representative may discharge his obligation to distribute to any person under legal disability by distributing to his conservator, or any other person authorized by this code or otherwise to give a valid receipt and discharge for the distribution.

Estate taxes shall be apportioned as provided in section 77-2108.

(a) A personal representative or any interested person may petition for an order of complete settlement of the estate. The personal representative may petition at any time, and any other interested person may petition after one year from the appointment of the original personal representative except that no petition under this section may be entertained until the time for presenting claims which arose prior to the death of the decedent has expired. The petition may request the court to determine testacy, if not previously determined, to consider the final account or compel or approve an accounting and distribution, to construe any will or determine heirs and adjudicate the final settlement and distribution of the estate. After notice to all interested persons and hearing, the court may enter an order or orders, on appropriate conditions, determining the persons entitled to distribution of the estate and, as circumstances require, approving settlement and directing or approving distribution of the estate and discharging the personal representative from further claim or demand of any interested person.

(b) If one or more heirs or devisees were omitted as parties in, or were not given notice of, a previous formal testacy proceeding, the court, on proper petition for an order of complete settlement of the estate under this section, and after notice to the omitted or unnotified persons and other interested parties determined to be interested on the assumption that the previous order concerning testacy is conclusive as to those given notice of the earlier proceeding, may determine testacy as it affects the omitted persons and confirm or alter the previous order of testacy as it affects all interested persons as appropriate in the light of the new proofs. In the absence of objection by an omitted or unnotified person, evidence received in the original testacy proceeding shall constitute prima facie proof of due execution of any will previously admitted to probate, or of the fact that the decedent left no valid will if the prior proceedings determined this fact.

A personal representative administering an estate under an informally probated will or any devisee under an informally probated will may petition for an order of settlement of the estate which will not adjudicate the testacy status of the decedent. The personal representative may petition at any time, and a devisee may petition after one year, from the appointment of the original personal representative, except that no petition under this section may be entertained until the time for presenting claims which arose prior to the death of the decedent has expired. The petition may request the court to consider the final account or compel or approve an accounting and distribution, to construe the will and adjudicate final settlement and distribution of the estate. After notice to all devisees and the personal representative and hearing, the court may enter an order or orders, on appropriate conditions, determining the persons entitled to distribution of the estate under the will and, as circumstances require, approving settlement and directing or approving distribution of the estate and discharging the personal representative from further claim or demand of any devisee who is a party to the proceeding and those he represents. If it appears that a part of the estate is intestate, the proceedings shall be dismissed or amendments made to meet the provisions of section 30-24,115.

(a) Unless prohibited by order of the court and except for estates being administered in supervised administration proceedings, a personal representative may close an estate by filing with the court no earlier than five months after the date of original appointment of a general personal representative for the estate, a verified statement stating that he, or a prior personal representative whom he has succeeded, has:

(1) published notice to creditors as provided by section 30-2483 and that the first publication occurred more than four months prior to the date of the statement;

(2) fully administered the estate of the decedent by making payment, settlement or other disposition of all claims which were presented, expenses of administration and estate, inheritance and other death taxes, except as specified in the statement, and that the assets of the estate have been distributed to the persons entitled. If any claims remain undischarged, the statement shall state whether the personal representative has distributed the estate subject to possible liability with the agreement of the distributees or it shall state in detail other arrangements which have been made to accommodate outstanding liabilities; and

(3) sent a copy thereof to all distributees of the estate and to all creditors or other claimants of whom he is aware whose claims are neither paid nor barred and has furnished a full account in writing of his administration to the distributees whose interests are affected thereby.

(b) If no proceedings involving the personal representative are pending in the court one year after the closing statement is filed, the appointment of the personal representative terminates.

After assets of an estate have been distributed and subject to section 30-24,120, an undischarged claim not barred may be prosecuted in a proceeding against one or more distributees. No distributee shall be liable to claimants for amounts in excess of the value of his distribution as of the time of distribution. As between distributees, each shall bear the cost of satisfaction of unbarred claims as if the claim had been satisfied in the course of administration. Any distributee who shall have failed to notify other distributees of the demand made upon him by the claimant in sufficient time to permit them to join in any proceeding in which the claim was asserted against him loses his right of contribution against other distributees.

Unless previously barred by adjudication and except as provided in the closing statement, the rights of successors and of creditors whose claims have not otherwise been barred against the personal representative for breach of fiduciary duty are barred unless a proceeding to assert the same is commenced within six months after the filing of the closing statement. The rights barred by reason of the filing of the closing statement do not include rights to recover from a personal representative for fraud, misrepresentation, or inadequate disclosure related to the settlement of the decedent's estate.

Unless previously adjudicated in a formal testacy proceeding or in a proceeding settling the accounts of a personal representative or otherwise barred, the claim of any claimant to recover from a distributee who is liable to pay the claim, and the right of any heir or devisee, or of a successor personal representative acting in their behalf, to recover property improperly distributed or the value thereof from any distributee is forever barred at the later of (1) three years after the decedent's death; or (2) one year after the time of distribution thereof. This section does not bar an action to recover property or value received as the result of fraud.

After his appointment has terminated, the personal representative, his sureties, or any successor of either, upon the filing of a verified application showing, so far as is known by the applicant, that no action concerning the estate is pending in any court, is entitled to receive a certificate from the registrar that the personal representative appears to have fully administered the estate in question. The certificate evidences discharge of any lien on any property given to secure the obligation of the personal representative in lieu of bond or any surety, but does not preclude action against the personal representative or the surety.

If other property of the estate is discovered after an estate has been settled and the personal representative discharged or his appointment terminated, the court upon petition of any interested person and upon notice may appoint the same or a successor personal representative to administer the subsequently discovered estate. If a new appointment is made, unless the court orders otherwise, the provisions of this code apply as appropriate; but no claim previously barred may be asserted in the subsequent administration.

A compromise of any controversy as to admission to probate of any instrument offered for formal probate as the will of a decedent, the construction, validity, or effect of any probated will, the rights or interests in the estate of the decedent of any successor, or the administration of the estate, if approved in a formal proceeding in the court for that purpose, is binding on all the parties thereto including those unborn, unascertained or who could not be located. An approved compromise is binding even though it may affect a trust or an inalienable interest. A compromise does not impair the rights of creditors or of taxing authorities who are not parties to it.

The procedure for securing court approval of a compromise is as follows:

(1) The terms of the compromise shall be set forth in an agreement in writing which shall be executed by all competent persons and parents acting for any minor child having beneficial interests or having claims which will or may be affected by the compromise. Execution is not required by any person whose identity cannot be ascertained or whose whereabouts is unknown and cannot reasonably be ascertained.

(2) Any interested person, including the personal representative or a trustee, then may submit the agreement to the court for its approval and for execution by the personal representative, the trustee of every affected testamentary trust, and other fiduciaries and representatives.

(3) After notice to all interested persons or their representatives, including the personal representative of the estate and all affected trustees of trusts, the court, if it finds that the contest or controversy is in good faith and that the effect of the agreement upon the interests of persons represented by fiduciaries or other representatives is just and reasonable, shall make an order approving the agreement and directing all fiduciaries under its supervision to execute the agreement. Minor children represented only by their parents may be bound only if their parents join with other competent persons in execution of the compromise. Upon the making of the order and the execution of the agreement, all further disposition of the estate is in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

(a) Thirty days after the death of a decedent, any person indebted to the decedent or having possession of tangible personal property or an instrument evidencing a debt, obligation, stock, or chose in action belonging to the decedent shall make payment of the indebtedness or deliver the tangible personal property or an instrument evidencing a debt, obligation, stock, or chose in action to a person claiming to be the successor of the decedent upon being presented an affidavit made by or on behalf of the successor stating:

(1) the value of all of the personal property in the decedent's estate, wherever located, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars;

(2) thirty days have elapsed since the death of the decedent as shown in a certified or authenticated copy of the decedent's death certificate attached to the affidavit;

(3) the claiming successor's relationship to the decedent or, if there is no relationship, the basis of the successor's claim to the personal property;

(4) the person or persons claiming as successors under the affidavit swear or affirm that all statements in the affidavit are true and material and further acknowledge that any false statement may subject the person or persons to penalties relating to perjury under section 28-915;

(5) no application or petition for the appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted in any jurisdiction; and

(6) the claiming successor is entitled to payment or delivery of the property.

(b) A transfer agent of any security shall change the registered ownership on the books of a corporation from the decedent to the successor or successors upon the presentation of an affidavit as provided in subsection (a).

(c) Upon the presentation of an affidavit as provided in subsection (a), the claiming successor may endorse or negotiate any instrument evidencing a debt belonging to the decedent that is a check, draft, or other negotiable instrument that is payable to the decedent or the decedent's estate. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3-403, 3-417, or 3-420, Uniform Commercial Code, a financial institution accepting such a check, draft, or other negotiable instrument presented for deposit in such manner is discharged from all claims for the amount accepted.

(d) In addition to compliance with the requirements of subsection (a), a person seeking a transfer of a certificate of title to a motor vehicle, motorboat, all-terrain vehicle, utility-type vehicle, or minibike shall be required to furnish to the Department of Motor Vehicles an affidavit showing applicability of this section and compliance with the requirements of this section to authorize the department to issue a new certificate of title.

The person paying, delivering, transferring, or issuing personal property or the evidence thereof pursuant to affidavit is discharged and released to the same extent as if he dealt with a personal representative of the decedent. He is not required to see to the application of the personal property or evidence thereof or to inquire into the truth of any statement in the affidavit. If any person to whom an affidavit is delivered refuses to pay, deliver, transfer, or issue any personal property or evidence thereof, it may be recovered or its payment, delivery, transfer, or issuance compelled upon proof of their right in a proceeding brought for the purpose by or on behalf of the persons entitled thereto. Any person to whom payment, delivery, transfer or issuance is made is answerable and accountable therefor to any personal representative of the estate or to any other person having a superior right.

If it appears from the inventory and appraisal that the value of the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, costs and expenses of administration, reasonable funeral expenses, and reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last illness of the decedent, the personal representative, without giving notice to creditors, may immediately disburse and distribute the estate to the persons entitled thereto and file a closing statement as provided in section 30-24,128.

(a) Unless prohibited by order of the court and except for estates being administered by supervised personal representatives, a personal representative may close an estate administered under the summary procedures of section 30-24,127 by filing with the court, at any time after disbursement and distribution of the estate, a verified statement stating that:

(1) to the best knowledge of the personal representative, the value of the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances, did not exceed homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, costs and expenses of administration, reasonable funeral expenses, and reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last illness of the decedent;

(2) the personal representative has fully administered the estate by disbursing and distributing it to the persons entitled thereto; and

(3) the personal representative has sent a copy of the closing statement to all distributees of the estate and to all creditors or other claimants of whom he is aware whose claims are neither paid nor barred and has furnished a full account in writing of his administration to the distributees whose interests are affected.

(b) If no actions or proceedings involving the personal representative are pending in the court one year after the closing statement is filed, the appointment of the personal representative terminates.

(c) A closing statement filed under this section has the same effect as one filed under section 30-24,117.

(a) Thirty days after the death of a decedent, any person claiming as successor to the decedent's interest in real property in this state may file or cause to be filed on his or her behalf, with the register of deeds office of a county in which the real property of the decedent that is the subject of the affidavit is located, an affidavit describing the real property owned by the decedent and the interest of the decedent in the property. The affidavit shall be signed by all persons claiming as successors or by parties legally acting on their behalf and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the affidavit. The affidavit shall state:

(1) the value of the decedent's interest in all real property in the decedent's estate located in this state does not exceed fifty thousand dollars. The value of the decedent's interest shall be determined from the value of the property shown on the assessment rolls for the year in which the decedent died less real estate taxes and interest thereon if any is due at the time of death;

(2) thirty days have elapsed since the death of the decedent as shown in a certified or authenticated copy of the decedent's death certificate attached to the affidavit;

(3) no application or petition for the appointment of a personal representative is pending or has been granted in the State of Nebraska;

(4) the claiming successor is entitled to the real property either by reason of the homestead allowance, exempt property allowance, or family allowance, by intestate succession, or by devise under the will of the decedent. If claiming by devise under the will of the decedent, a copy of such will shall be attached to the affidavit;

(5) the claiming successor has made an investigation and has been unable to determine any subsequent will;

(6) no other person has a right to the interest of the decedent in the described property;

(7) the claiming successor's relationship to the decedent and the value of the entire estate of the decedent subject to probate; and

(8) the person or persons claiming as successors under the affidavit swear or affirm that all statements in the affidavit are true and material and further acknowledge that any false statement may subject the person or persons to penalties relating to perjury under section 28-915.

(b) The recorded affidavit and certified or authenticated copy of the decedent's death certificate shall also be recorded by the claiming successor in any other county in this state in which the real property of the decedent that is the subject of the affidavit is located.

(a) A successor named in an affidavit under section 30-24,129 shall have the same protection as a distributee who has received a deed of distribution from a personal representative as provided in section 30-24,106.

(b) A purchaser of real property from or lender to a person named as a successor in an affidavit under section 30-24,129 shall have the same protection as a person purchasing from or lending to a distributee who has received a deed of distribution from a personal representative as provided in section 30-24,108.

(c) Nothing in this section affects or prevents any proceeding to enforce any mortgage, pledge, or other lien upon the real property described in the affidavit.

In this article

(1) Local administration means administration by a personal representative appointed in this state pursuant to appointment proceedings described in Article 24.

(2) Local personal representative includes any personal representative appointed in this state pursuant to appointment proceedings described in Article 24 and excludes foreign personal representatives who acquire the power of a local personal representative pursuant to section 30-2506.

(3) Resident creditor means a person domiciled in, or doing business in this state, who is, or could be, a claimant against an estate of a nonresident decedent.

At any time after the expiration of sixty days from the death of a nonresident decedent, any person indebted to the estate of the nonresident decedent or having possession or control of personal property, or of an instrument evidencing a debt, obligation, stock or chose in action belonging to the estate of the nonresident decedent may pay the debt, deliver the personal property, or the instrument evidencing the debt, obligation, stock or chose in action, to the domiciliary foreign personal representative of the nonresident decedent upon being presented with proof of his appointment and an affidavit made by or on behalf of the representative stating:

(1) the date of the death of the nonresident decedent,

(2) that no local administration, or application or petition therefor, is pending in this state,

(3) that the domiciliary foreign personal representative is entitled to payment or delivery.

Payment or delivery made in good faith on the basis of the proof of authority and affidavit releases the debtor or person having possession of the personal property to the same extent as if payment or delivery had been made to a local personal representative.

Payment or delivery under section 30-2503 may not be made if a resident creditor of the nonresident decedent has notified the debtor of the nonresident decedent or the person having possession of the personal property belonging to the nonresident decedent that the debt should not be paid nor the property delivered to the domiciliary foreign personal representative.

If no local administration or application or petition therefor is pending in this state, a domiciliary foreign personal representative may file with a court in this state in a county in which property belonging to the decedent is located, authenticated copies of his appointment and of any official bond he has given.

A domiciliary foreign personal representative who has complied with section 30-2505 may exercise as to assets in this state all powers of a local personal representative and may maintain actions and proceedings in this state subject to any conditions imposed upon nonresident parties generally.

The power of a domiciliary foreign personal representative under section 30-2502 or 30-2506 shall be exercised only if there is no administration or application therefor pending in this state. An application or petition for local administration of the estate terminates the power of the foreign personal representative to act under section 30-2506, but the local court may allow the foreign personal representative to exercise limited powers to preserve the estate. No person who, before receiving actual notice of a pending local administration, has changed his position in reliance upon the powers of a foreign personal representative shall be prejudiced by reason of the application or petition for, or grant of, local administration. The local personal representative is subject to all duties and obligations which have accrued by virtue of the exercise of the powers by the foreign personal representative and may be substituted for him in any action or proceedings in this state.

In respect to a nonresident decedent, the provisions of Article 24 of this code govern (1) proceedings, if any, in a court of this state for probate of the will, appointment, removal, supervision, and discharge of the local personal representative, and any other order concerning the estate; and (2) the status, powers, duties and liabilities of any local personal representative and the rights of claimants, purchasers, distributees and others in regard to a local administration.

A foreign personal representative submits himself personally to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state in any proceeding relating to the estate by (1) filing authenticated copies of his appointment as provided in section 30-2505, (2) receiving payment of money or taking delivery of personal property under section 30-2502, or (3) doing any act as a personal representative in this state which would have given the state jurisdiction over him as an individual. Jurisdiction under (2) is limited to the money or value of personal property collected.

In addition to jurisdiction conferred by section 30-2509, a foreign personal representative is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state to the same extent that his decedent was subject to jurisdiction immediately prior to death.

Service of process may be made upon the foreign personal representative who has submitted himself or herself to the jurisdiction of the court under section 30-2509 or is subject to jurisdiction under section 30-2510 in the manner provided for service of a summons in a civil action.

An adjudication rendered in any jurisdiction, which has an applicable provision of law similar in reciprocal effect to this provision, in favor of or against any personal representative of the estate is as binding on the local personal representative as if he were a party to the adjudication.

Unless otherwise apparent from the context, in the Nebraska Probate Code:

(1) Incapacitated person means any person who is impaired by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, or other cause (except minority) to the extent that the person lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning himself or herself;

(2) A protective proceeding is a proceeding under the provisions of section 30-2630 to determine that a person cannot effectively manage or apply his or her estate to necessary ends, either because the person lacks the ability or is otherwise inconvenienced, or because the person is a minor, and to secure administration of the person's estate by a conservator or other appropriate relief;

(3) A protected person is a minor or other person for whom a conservator has been appointed or other protective order has been made;

(4) A ward is a person for whom a guardian has been appointed. A minor ward is a minor for whom a guardian has been appointed solely because of minority;

(5) Full guardianship means the guardian has been granted all powers which may be conferred upon a guardian by law;

(6) Guardian means any person appointed to protect a ward and may include the Public Guardian;

(7) Public Guardian is as defined in section 30-4103;

(8) Limited guardianship means any guardianship which is not a full guardianship;

(9) Conservator means any person appointed to protect a protected person and may include the Public Guardian;

(10) For purposes of article 26 of the Nebraska Probate Code, interested person means children, spouses, those persons who would be the heirs if the ward or person alleged to be incapacitated died without leaving a valid will who are adults and any trustee of any trust executed by the ward or person alleged to be incapacitated. After the death of a ward, interested person also includes the personal representative of a deceased ward's estate, the deceased ward's heirs in an intestate estate, and the deceased ward's devisees in a testate estate. The meaning of interested person as it relates to particular persons may vary from time to time and must be determined according to the particular purposes of, and matter involved in, any proceeding. If there are no persons identified as interested persons above, then interested person shall also include any person or entity named as a devisee in the most recently executed will of the ward or person alleged to be incapacitated; and

(11) Guardian ad litem means an attorney appointed by the court in a guardianship, conservatorship, or other protective proceeding pursuant to sections 30-4201 to 30-4210 to represent the interests of a person who has been alleged to be incapacitated, ward, person to be protected, or minor.

The Public Guardian shall approve training curricula for persons appointed as guardians and conservators. Such training curricula shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) The rights of wards under sections 30-2601 to 30-2661 and the Public Guardianship Act specifically and under the laws of the United States generally;

(2) The duties and responsibilities of guardians;

(3) Reporting requirements;

(4) Least restrictive options in the areas of housing, medical care, and psychiatric care; and

(5) Resources to assist guardians in fulfilling their duties.

The Legislature recognizes the need for providing mechanisms for intervening in the lives of certain persons who are impaired by reason of disability. It is the intent of the Legislature to authorize the use of guardianships and conservatorships for such intervention. It is also the intent of the Legislature to encourage the least restrictive alternative possible on the impaired person's exercise of personal and civil rights consistent with the impaired person's need for services by encouraging judges to utilize limited guardianships if appropriate.

(a) The court has jurisdiction over protective proceedings and guardianship proceedings.

(b) When both guardianship and protective proceedings as to the same person are commenced or pending in the same court, the proceedings may be consolidated.

During the pendency of any proceeding under sections 30-2601 to 30-2661 after a guardian or conservator is appointed, upon application by any interested person and if the accompanying affidavit of such person or his or her agent shows to the court that the ward's or protected person's safety, health, or financial welfare is at issue, the court may issue ex parte orders to address the situation. Ex parte orders issued under this section shall remain in full force and effect for no more than ten days or until a hearing is held thereon, whichever is earlier. Anyone who violates such order after service shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor. Any interested person that submits an affidavit under this section in bad faith, or submits an affidavit under this section that lacks a factual basis as determined by the court, shall be ordered to pay the opposing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

(1) A person, except for a financial institution as that term is defined in section 8-101.03 or its officers, directors, employees, or agents or a trust company, who has been nominated for appointment as a guardian or conservator shall obtain a national criminal history record check through a process approved by the State Court Administrator and a report of the results and file such report with the court at least ten days prior to the appointment hearing date, unless waived or modified by the court (a) for good cause shown by affidavit filed simultaneously with the petition for appointment or (b) in the event the protected person requests an expedited hearing under section 30-2630.01.

(2) An order appointing a guardian or conservator shall not be signed by the judge until such report has been filed with the court and reviewed by the judge. Such report, or the lack thereof, shall be certified either by affidavit or by obtaining a certified copy of the report. No report or national criminal history record check shall be required by the court upon the application of a petitioner for an emergency temporary guardianship or emergency temporary conservatorship. The court may waive the requirements of this section for good cause shown.

Any person under a duty to pay or deliver money or personal property to a minor may perform this duty, in amounts not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars per annum, by paying or delivering the money or property to:

(1) The minor, if he or she has attained the age of eighteen years or is married;

(2) Any person having the care and custody of the minor with whom the minor resides;

(3) A guardian of the minor; or

(4) A financial institution incident to a deposit in a federally insured savings account in the sole name of the minor and giving notice of the deposit to the minor.

This section does not apply if the person making payment or delivery has actual knowledge that a conservator has been appointed or proceedings for appointment of a conservator of the estate of the minor are pending. The persons, other than the minor or any financial institution under subdivision (4) of this section, receiving money or property for a minor are obligated to apply the money to the support and education of the minor but may not pay themselves except by way of reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for goods and services necessary for the minor's support. Any excess sums shall be preserved for future support of the minor, and any balance not so used and any property received for the minor must be turned over to the minor when he or she attains majority. Persons who pay or deliver in accordance with provisions of this section are not responsible for the proper application thereof.

A parent or a guardian of a minor or incapacitated person, by a properly executed power of attorney, may delegate to another person, for a period not exceeding six months, any of his or her powers regarding care, custody, or property of the minor child or ward, except his or her power to consent to marriage or adoption of a minor ward. A parent or guardian of a minor who is at least eighteen years of age and who is not a ward of the state, by a properly executed power of attorney, may delegate to such minor, for a period not exceeding one year, the parent's or guardian's power to consent to such minor's own health care and medical treatment.

A person becomes a guardian of a minor by acceptance of a testamentary appointment or upon appointment by the court. The guardianship status continues until terminated, without regard to the location from time to time of the guardian and minor ward.

The parent of a minor may appoint by will a guardian of an unmarried minor. Subject to the right of the minor under section 30-2607, a testamentary appointment becomes effective upon filing the guardian's acceptance in the court in which the will is probated if, before acceptance, both parents are dead or the surviving parent is adjudged incapacitated. If both parents are dead, an effective appointment by the parent who died later has priority. This state recognizes a testamentary appointment effected by filing the guardian's acceptance under a will probated in another state which is the testator's domicile. Upon acceptance of appointment, written notice of acceptance must be given by the guardian to the minor and to the person having his care, or to his nearest adult relation.

A minor of fourteen or more years may prevent an appointment of his testamentary guardian from becoming effective, or may cause a previously accepted appointment to terminate, by filing with the court in which the will is probated a written objection to the appointment before it is accepted or within thirty days after notice of its acceptance. An objection may be withdrawn. An objection does not preclude appointment by the court in a proper proceeding of the testamentary nominee, or any other suitable person.

(a) The father and mother are the natural guardians of their minor children and are duly entitled to their custody and to direct their education, being themselves competent to transact their own business and not otherwise unsuitable. If either dies or is disqualified for acting, or has abandoned his or her family, the guardianship devolves upon the other except as otherwise provided in this section.

(b) In the appointment of a parent as a guardian when the other parent has died and the child was born out of wedlock, the court shall consider the wishes of the deceased parent as expressed in a valid will executed by the deceased parent. If in such valid will the deceased parent designates someone other than the other natural parent as guardian for the minor children, the court shall take into consideration the designation by the deceased parent. In determining whether or not the natural parent should be given priority in awarding custody, the court shall also consider the natural parent's acknowledgment of paternity, payment of child support, and whether the natural parent is a fit, proper, and suitable custodial parent for the child.

(c) The court may appoint a standby guardian for a minor whose parent is chronically ill or near death. The appointment of a guardian under this subsection does not suspend or terminate the parent's parental rights of custody to the minor. The standby guardian's authority would take effect, if the minor is left without a remaining parent, upon (1) the death of the parent, (2) the mental incapacity of the parent, or (3) the physical debilitation and consent of the parent.

(d) The court may appoint a guardian for a minor if all parental rights of custody have been terminated or suspended by prior or current circumstances or prior court order. The juvenile court may appoint a guardian for a child adjudicated to be under subdivision (3)(a) of section 43-247 as provided in section 43-1312.01. A guardian appointed by will as provided in section 30-2606 whose appointment has not been prevented or nullified under section 30-2607 has priority over any guardian who may be appointed by the court, but the court may proceed with an appointment upon a finding that the testamentary guardian has failed to accept the testamentary appointment within thirty days after notice of the guardianship proceeding.

(e) The petition and all other court filings for a guardianship proceeding shall be filed with the clerk of the county court. The party shall state in the petition whether such party requests that the proceeding be heard by the county court or, in cases in which a separate juvenile court already has jurisdiction over the child in need of a guardian under the Nebraska Juvenile Code, such separate juvenile court. Such proceeding is considered a county court proceeding even if heard by a separate juvenile court judge, and an order of the separate juvenile court in such guardianship proceeding has the force and effect of a county court order. The testimony in a guardianship proceeding heard before a separate juvenile court judge shall be preserved as in any other separate juvenile court proceeding.

The venue for guardianship proceedings for a minor is in the place where the minor resides or is present or where property is located if he is a nonresident of this state.

The court may appoint as guardian any person whose appointment would be in the best interests of the minor. The court shall appoint a person nominated by the minor, if the minor is fourteen years of age or older, unless the court finds the appointment contrary to the best interests of the minor.

(a) Notice of the time and place of hearing of a petition for the appointment of a guardian of a minor is to be given by the petitioner in the manner prescribed by section 30-2220 to:

(1) the minor, if he is fourteen or more years of age;

(2) the person who has had the principal care and custody of the minor during the sixty days preceding the date of the petition; and

(3) any living parent of the minor.

(b) Upon hearing, if the court finds that a qualified person seeks appointment, venue is proper, the required notices have been given, the requirements of section 30-2608 have been met, and the welfare and best interests of the minor will be served by the requested appointment, it shall make the appointment. In other cases the court may dismiss the proceedings, or make any other disposition of the matter that will best serve the interest of the minor.

(c) If necessary, the court may appoint a temporary guardian, with the status of an ordinary guardian of a minor, but the authority of a temporary guardian shall not last longer than six months. In an emergency, the court may appoint a temporary guardian of a minor without notice, pending notice and hearing.

(d) If, at any time in the proceeding, the court determines that the interests of the minor are or may be inadequately represented, it may appoint an attorney to represent the minor, giving consideration to the preference of the minor if the minor is fourteen years of age or older.

By accepting a testamentary or court appointment as guardian, a guardian submits personally to the jurisdiction of the court in any proceeding relating to the guardianship that may be instituted by any interested person. Notice of any proceeding shall be delivered to the guardian, or mailed to him by ordinary mail at his address as listed in the court records and to his address as then known to the petitioner. Letters of guardianship must indicate whether the guardian was appointed by will or by court order.

(1) A guardian of a minor has the powers and responsibilities of a parent who has not been deprived of custody of his or her minor and unemancipated child, except that a guardian is not legally obligated to provide from his or her own funds for the ward and is not liable to third persons by reason of the parental relationship for acts of the ward. In particular, and without qualifying the foregoing, a guardian has the following powers and duties:

(a) He or she must take reasonable care of his or her ward's personal effects and commence protective proceedings if necessary to protect other property of the ward.

(b) He or she may receive money payable for the support of the ward to the ward's parent, guardian or custodian under the terms of any statutory benefit or insurance system, or any private contract, devise, trust, conservatorship or custodianship. He or she also may receive money or property of the ward paid or delivered by virtue of section 30-2603. Any sums so received shall be applied to the ward's current needs for support, care and education, except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section. He or she must exercise due care to conserve any excess for the ward's future needs unless a conservator has been appointed for the estate of the ward, in which case such excess shall be paid over at least annually to the conservator. Sums so received by the guardian are not to be used for compensation for his or her services except as approved by order of court. A guardian may institute proceedings to compel the performance by any person of a duty to support the ward or to pay sums for the welfare of the ward.

(c) The guardian is empowered to facilitate the ward's education, social, or other activities and to authorize medical or other professional care, treatment, or advice. A guardian is not liable by reason of this consent for injury to the ward resulting from the negligence or acts of third persons unless it would have been illegal for a parent to have consented. A guardian may consent to the marriage or adoption of his or her ward.

(d) A guardian must report the condition of his or her ward and of the ward's estate which has been subject to his or her possession or control, as ordered by court on petition of any person interested in the minor's welfare or as required by court rule, and upon termination of the guardianship settle his or her accounts with the ward or his or her legal representatives and pay over and deliver all of the estate and effects remaining in his or her hands or due from him or her on settlement to the person or persons who shall be lawfully entitled thereto.

(2) The appointment of a guardian for a minor shall not relieve his or her parent or parents, liable for the support of such minor, from their obligation to provide for such minor. For the purposes of guardianship of minors, the application of guardianship income and principal after payment of debts and charges of managing the estate, in relationship to the respective obligations owed by fathers, mothers, and others, for the support, maintenance and education of the minor shall be:

(a) The income and property of the father and mother of the minor in such manner as they can reasonably afford, regard being had to the situation of the family and to all the circumstances of the case;

(b) The guardianship income, in whole or in part, as shall be judged reasonable considering the extent of the guardianship income and the parents' financial ability;

(c) The income and property of any other person having a legal obligation to support the minor, in such manner as the person can reasonably afford, regard being had to the situation of the person's family and to all the circumstances of the case; and

(d) The guardianship principal, either personal or real estate, in whole or in part, as shall be judged for the best interest of the minor, considering all the circumstances of the minor and those liable for his or her support.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the court may from time to time authorize the guardian to use so much of the guardianship income or principal, whether personal or real estate, as it may deem proper, considering all the circumstances of the minor and those liable for his or her support, if it is shown that (a) an emergency exists which justifies an expenditure, or (b) a fund has been given to the minor for a special purpose and the court can, with reasonable certainty, ascertain such purpose.

(4) The court may require a guardian to furnish a bond in an amount and conditioned in accordance with the provisions of section 30-2640.

(5) A guardian shall not change a ward's place of abode to a location outside of the State of Nebraska without court permission.

A guardian's authority and responsibility terminates upon the death, resignation or removal of the guardian or upon the minor's death, adoption, marriage or attainment of majority, but termination does not affect his liability for prior acts, nor his obligation to account for funds and assets of his ward. Resignation of a guardian does not terminate the guardianship until it has been approved by the court. A testamentary appointment under an informally probated will terminates if the will is later denied probate in a formal proceeding.

(a) The court where the ward resides has concurrent jurisdiction with the court which appointed the guardian, or in which acceptance of a testamentary appointment was filed, over resignation, removal, accounting and other proceedings relating to the guardianship.

(b) If the court located where the ward resides is not the court in which acceptance of appointment is filed, the court in which proceedings subsequent to appointment are commenced shall in all appropriate cases notify the other court, in this or another state, and after consultation with that court determine whether to retain jurisdiction or transfer the proceedings to the other court, whichever is in the best interest of the ward. A copy of any order accepting a resignation or removing a guardian shall be sent to the court in which acceptance of appointment is filed.

(a) Any person interested in the welfare of a ward, or the ward, if fourteen or more years of age, may petition for removal of a guardian on the ground that removal would be in the best interest of the ward. A guardian may petition for permission to resign. A petition for removal or for permission to resign may, but need not, include a request for appointment of a successor guardian.

(b) After notice and hearing on a petition for removal or for permission to resign, the court may terminate the guardianship and make any further order that may be appropriate.

(c) If, at any time in the proceeding, the court determines that the interests of the ward are, or may be, inadequately represented, it may appoint an attorney to represent the minor, giving consideration to the preference of the minor if the minor is fourteen or more years of age.

(a) The parent of an incapacitated person may by will appoint a guardian of the incapacitated person. A testamentary appointment by a parent becomes effective when, after having given seven days' prior written notice of his intention to do so to the incapacitated person and to the person having his care or to his nearest adult relative, the guardian files acceptance of appointment in the court in which the will is informally or formally probated if, prior thereto, both parents are dead or the surviving parent is adjudged incapacitated. If both parents are dead, an effective appointment by the parent who died later has priority unless it is terminated by the denial of probate in formal proceedings.

(b) The spouse of a married incapacitated person may by will appoint a guardian of the incapacitated person. The appointment becomes effective when, after having given seven days' prior written notice of his intention to do so to the incapacitated person and to the person having his care or to his nearest adult relative, the guardian files acceptance of appointment in the court in which the will is informally or formally probated. An effective appointment by a spouse has priority over an appointment by a parent unless it is terminated by the denial of probate in formal proceedings.

(c) This state shall recognize a testamentary appointment effected by filing acceptance under a will probated at the testator's domicile in another state.

(d) On the filing with the court in which the will was probated of written objection to the appointment by the person for whom a testamentary appointment of guardian has been made, the appointment is terminated. An objection does not prevent appointment by the court in a proper proceeding of the testamentary nominee or any other suitable person upon an adjudication of incapacity in proceedings under the succeeding sections of this part.

Unless otherwise provided in the Nebraska Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, the venue for guardianship proceedings for an incapacitated person is in the place where the incapacitated person resides or is present, or where property is located if he or she is a nonresident. If the incapacitated person is admitted to an institution pursuant to order of a court of competent jurisdiction, venue is also in the county in which that court sits.

(a) The person alleged to be incapacitated or any person interested in his or her welfare may petition for a finding of incapacity and appointment of a guardian or a standby guardian. The petition shall be verified and shall contain specific allegations with regard to each of the areas as provided under section 30-2619.01 in which the petitioner claims that the person alleged to be incapacitated lacks sufficient understanding to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning his or her own person. An interested person may file a motion to make more definite and certain requesting a specific description of the functional limitations and physical and mental condition of the person alleged to be incapacitated with the specific reasons prompting the request for guardianship.

(b) Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall set a date for hearing on the issues of incapacity and unless the person alleged to be incapacitated has retained counsel of his or her own choice or has otherwise indicated a desire for an attorney of his or her own choice, the court may appoint an attorney to represent him or her in the proceeding. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem as provided in sections 30-4201 to 30-4210 to advocate for the best interests of the person alleged to be incapacitated.

(c) The person alleged to be incapacitated may be examined by a physician appointed by the court. The physician shall submit his or her report in writing to the court and may be interviewed by a visitor, if so appointed pursuant to sections 30-2619.01 and 30-2624, sent by the court.

(d) The person alleged to be incapacitated is entitled to be present at the hearing in person and to see and hear all evidence bearing upon his or her condition. He or she is entitled to be present by counsel, to compel the attendance of witnesses, to present evidence, to cross-examine witnesses, including the court-appointed physician and the visitor appointed by the court pursuant to sections 30-2619.01 and 30-2624, and to appeal any final orders or judgments. The issue may be determined at a closed hearing only if the person alleged to be incapacitated or his or her counsel so requests.

(e) At any hearing conducted under this section, the court may designate one or more standby guardians of the person whose appointment will become effective immediately upon the death, unwillingness or inability to act, resignation, or removal by the court of the initially appointed guardian and upon compliance with any rules promulgated by the Supreme Court. The standby guardian shall have the same powers and duties as the initially appointed guardian. The standby guardian shall receive a copy of the order establishing or modifying the initial guardianship and the order designating the standby guardian. Upon assuming office, the standby guardian shall so notify the court in writing. Upon notification and upon compliance with any rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, the court shall issue new letters of guardianship that specify that the standby guardianship appointment is permanent. A standby guardian shall complete the training required by section 30-2601.01 at the time or times required by rules promulgated by the Supreme Court or as otherwise provided by order of the county court.

(f) The Public Guardian shall not be appointed as a standby guardian.

Following the filing of a petition, the court may appoint a visitor and direct such visitor to conduct an evaluation of the allegations of incapacity as provided under this section. To conduct the evaluation of the allegations of incapacity, the visitor shall interview the allegedly incapacitated person, the person seeking appointment as guardian, the agencies providing services to the allegedly incapacitated person, and other persons and agencies that may provide relevant information. The visitor shall also visit the present place of abode of the person alleged to be incapacitated and, if any change of residence is anticipated, the place it is proposed that he or she will be detained or reside if the requested appointment is made, and submit his or her report in writing to the court.

As part of the evaluation of allegations of incapacity, a visitor, if appointed, shall obtain evidence relating to the allegedly incapacitated person's ability to make, communicate, or carry out responsible decisions concerning his or her person with regard to:

(1) Selecting his or her place of abode within or without this state;

(2) Arranging for his or her medical care;

(3) Protecting his or her personal effects;

(4) Giving necessary consents, approvals, or releases;

(5) Arranging for training, education, or other habilitating services appropriate to him or her;

(6) Applying for private or governmental benefits to which he or she may be entitled;

(7) Instituting proceedings to compel any person liable for the support of the proposed ward to support him or her if no conservator has been appointed for the proposed ward;

(8) Entering into contractual agreements if no conservator has been appointed for the proposed ward;

(9) Receiving money and tangible property deliverable to him or her and applying such money and property to his or her expenses for room and board, medical care, personal effects, training, education, and habilitative services; and

(10) Any other area of inquiry which the court may direct.

The guardianship evaluation by the visitor shall be conducted with minimum interference with the allegedly incapacitated person's activities. Any interviews and examinations shall take place in the usual residence unless the visitor deems it necessary to conduct the interview or examination elsewhere. In cases of such necessity, the interview or examination shall take place during normal business hours.

The visitor shall file an evaluation report based upon the evaluation of the allegations of incapacity with the court within sixty days of the filing of the guardianship petition. Copies of the evaluation report shall be made available to the guardian ad litem, the proposed ward, and the petitioner. The evaluation report shall contain:

(1) A record of the visitor's interviews;

(2) Evidence obtained in each of the categories listed in section 30-2619.01;

(3) Recommendations as to the need of the proposed ward for a guardian in each of the areas listed in section 30-2619.01;

(4) The visitor's opinion as to the appropriateness of the person seeking appointment as guardian;

(5) Recommendations as to other appropriate candidates; and

(6) The visitor's opinion as to the needed duration of the guardianship.

The petitioner and the proposed ward shall have ten judicial days to file responses to the visitor's evaluation report.

(a) The court may appoint a guardian if it is satisfied by clear and convincing evidence that the person for whom a guardian is sought is incapacitated and that the appointment is necessary or desirable as the least restrictive alternative available for providing continuing care or supervision of the person of the person alleged to be incapacitated. If the court finds that a guardianship should be created, the guardianship shall be a limited guardianship unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that a full guardianship is necessary. If a limited guardianship is created, the court shall, at the time of appointment or later, specify the authorities and responsibilities which the guardian and ward, acting together or singly, shall have with regard to:

(1) Selecting the ward's place of abode within this state or, with court permission, outside of this state;

(2) Arranging for medical care for the ward;

(3) Protecting the personal effects of the ward;

(4) Giving necessary consent, approval, or releases on behalf of the ward;

(5) Arranging for training, education, or other habilitating services appropriate for the ward;

(6) Applying for private or governmental benefits to which the ward may be entitled;

(7) Instituting proceedings to compel any person under a duty to support the ward or to pay sums for the welfare of the ward to perform such duty, if no conservator has been appointed;

(8) Entering into contractual arrangements on behalf of the ward, if no conservator has been appointed; and

(9) Receiving money and tangible property deliverable to the ward and applying such money and property to the ward's expenses for room and board, medical care, personal effects, training, education, and habilitating services, if no conservator has been appointed, or requesting the conservator to expend the ward's estate by payment to third persons to meet such expenses.

(b) In a limited guardianship, the powers shall be endorsed upon the letters of appointment of the guardian and shall be treated as specific limitations upon the general powers, rights, and duties accorded by law to the guardian. In a full guardianship, the letters of appointment shall specify that the guardian is granted all powers conferred upon guardians by law. After appointment, the ward may retain an attorney for the sole purpose of challenging the guardianship, the terms of the guardianship, or the actions of the guardian on behalf of the ward.

(c) A guardian shall not change a ward's place of abode to a location outside of the State of Nebraska without court permission.

The reasonable fees and costs of an attorney, a guardian ad litem, a physician, and a visitor appointed by the court for the person alleged to be incapacitated shall be allowed, disallowed, or adjusted by the court and may be paid from the estate of the ward if the ward possesses an estate or, if not, shall be paid by the county in which the proceedings are brought or by the petitioner as costs of the action. An action under sections 30-2601 to 30-2661 may be initiated or defended in forma pauperis in accordance with sections 25-2301 to 25-2310. The court may assess attorney's fees and costs against the petitioner upon a showing that the action was frivolous in accordance with sections 25-824 to 25-824.03.

By accepting appointment, a guardian submits personally to the jurisdiction of the court in any proceeding relating to the guardianship that may be instituted by any interested person. Notice of any proceeding shall be delivered to the guardian or mailed to him by ordinary mail at his address as listed in the court records and to his address as then known to the petitioner.

The authority and responsibility of a guardian for an incapacitated person terminates upon the death of the guardian or ward, the determination of incapacity of the guardian, or upon removal or resignation as provided in section 30-2623. Testamentary appointment under an informally probated will terminates if the will is later denied probate in a formal proceeding. Termination does not affect his liability for prior acts nor his obligation to account for funds and assets of his ward.

(a) On petition of the ward or any person interested in his welfare, the court may remove a guardian and appoint a successor if in the best interests of the ward. On petition of the guardian, the court may accept his resignation and make any other order which may be appropriate.

(b) An order adjudicating incapacity may specify a minimum period, not exceeding one year, during which no petition for an adjudication that the ward is no longer incapacitated may be filed without special leave. Subject to this restriction, the ward or any person interested in his welfare may petition for an order that he is no longer incapacitated, and for removal or resignation of the guardian. A request for this order may be made by informal letter to the court or judge and any person who knowingly interferes with transmission of this kind of request to the court or judge may be adjudged guilty of contempt of court.

(c) Before removing a guardian, accepting the resignation of a guardian, or ordering that a ward's incapacity has terminated, the court, following the same procedures to safeguard the rights of the ward as apply to a petition for appointment of a guardian, may send a visitor to the residence of the present guardian and to the place where the ward resides or is detained, to observe conditions and report in writing to the court.

A visitor shall be trained in law, nursing, social work, mental health, gerontology, or developmental disabilities and shall be an officer, employee, or special appointee of the court with no personal interest in the proceedings.

Any qualified person may be appointed visitor of a proposed ward, except that it shall be unlawful for any owner, part owner, manager, administrator, or employee, or any spouse of an owner, part owner, manager, administrator, or employee of a nursing home, room and board home, convalescent home, group care home, or institution providing residential care to any person with a physical disability, with an intellectual disability, with an infirmity, or who is aged to be appointed visitor of any such person residing, being under care, receiving treatment, or being housed in any such home or institution within the State of Nebraska.

The court shall select the visitor who has the expertise to most appropriately evaluate the needs of the person who is allegedly incapacitated.

The court shall maintain a current list of persons trained in or having demonstrated expertise in the areas of mental health, intellectual disability, drug abuse, alcoholism, gerontology, nursing, and social work, for the purpose of appointing a suitable visitor.

(a) In a proceeding for the appointment of a guardian for a person alleged to be incapacitated or the removal of a guardian of a ward other than the appointment of a temporary guardian or temporary suspension of a guardian, notice of hearing shall be given to each of the following:

(1) The ward or the person alleged to be incapacitated and his or her spouse, parents, and adult children;

(2) Any person who is serving as guardian or conservator of the ward or who has care and custody of a person alleged to be incapacitated; and

(3) If no other person is notified under subdivision (1) of this subsection, at least one of the closest adult relatives of the ward or person alleged to be incapacitated, if any can be found.

(b) Notice which is appropriate to the circumstances of the ward or person alleged to be incapacitated shall be served personally at least fourteen days prior to the hearing on the ward or person alleged to be incapacitated and his or her spouse and parents if they can be found within the state. The court may require the petitioner to serve notice in alternative formats or with appropriate auxiliary aids and services if necessary to ensure equally effective communication with the ward or person alleged to be incapacitated, including, but not limited to, the use of braille, sign language, large print, reading aloud, or other reasonable accommodation for the known disabilities of the individual based on the allegations specified in the petition. Waiver of notice by the person alleged to be incapacitated shall not be effective unless he or she attends the hearing and the court determines that the waiver is appropriate.

(c) In addition to notifying him or her of the filing of the petition and the time and place of the hearing on the petition, the notice required to be served upon the person alleged to be incapacitated shall list the following rights of the person:

(1) The right to request the appointment of an attorney;

(2) The right to present evidence in his or her own behalf;

(3) The right to request that the power of the guardian, if appointed, be limited by the court;

(4) The right to be notified regarding how to contact the temporary guardian if a temporary guardian is appointed;

(5) The right to compel attendance of witnesses;

(6) The right to cross-examine witnesses, including the court-appointed physician;

(7) The right to appeal any final order; and

(8) The right to request a hearing closed to the public.

(d) If a temporary guardian has been appointed, the notice required in subsection (c) of this section shall include a notice of such appointment and of the right to request an expedited hearing pursuant to section 30-2626.

(a)(1) If a person alleged to be incapacitated has no guardian and an emergency exists, the court may, pending notice and hearing, exercise the power of a guardian or enter an ex parte order appointing a temporary guardian to address the emergency. The order and letters of temporary guardianship shall specify the powers and duties of the temporary guardian, limiting the powers and duties to those necessary to address the emergency.

(2)(i) For purposes of this subdivision (a)(2):

(A) Benefits means private or government benefits to which a person alleged to be incapacitated may be entitled; and

(B) Covered county means a county containing a city of the metropolitan class or a city of the primary class.

(ii) Subject to subsection (k) of this section, if a person alleged to be incapacitated has no guardian and an emergency exists, the court in a covered county may, pending notice and hearing, enter an ex parte order appointing a temporary guardian for the limited purpose of assisting the person in applying for, validating, and facilitating eligibility for benefits.

(iii) The limited temporary guardian may access personal and financial records of such person as necessary to apply for, validate, and facilitate eligibility for benefits. The order and letters of limited temporary guardianship shall limit the powers and duties to those necessary to carry out this subdivision (a)(2).

(iv) Third parties, including, but not limited to, financial institutions, in possession of such person's financial and personal records related to eligibility for benefits shall provide the limited temporary guardian access to such records. Records to which a limited temporary guardian may be entitled include, but are not limited to, records relating to: Checking, savings, or other bank accounts; household expenses; health, life, or other insurance; wages; pensions; annuities; real property; trusts; burial plans; retirement accounts; stocks and bonds; farm and business equipment; motor vehicles, boats, and motor homes; immigration status; land contracts; promissory notes and loans; social security benefits; credit cards; taxes; or any other asset.

(b) When the court takes action to exercise the powers of a guardian or to appoint a temporary guardian under subsection (a) of this section, an expedited hearing shall be held if requested by the person alleged to be incapacitated, or by any interested person, if the request is filed more than ten business days prior to the date set for the hearing on the petition for appointment of the guardian. If an expedited hearing is to be held, the hearing shall be held within ten business days after the request is received. At the hearing on the temporary appointment, the petitioner shall have the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that temporary guardianship continues to be necessary to address the emergency situation. Unless the person alleged to be incapacitated has counsel of his or her own choice, the court may appoint an attorney to represent the person alleged to be incapacitated at the hearing as provided in section 30-2619.

(c) If an expedited hearing is requested, notice shall be served as provided in section 30-2625. The notice shall specify that a temporary guardian has been appointed and shall be given at least twenty-four hours prior to the expedited hearing.

(d) At the expedited hearing, the court may render a judgment authorizing the temporary guardianship to continue beyond the original ten-day period. The judgment shall prescribe the specific powers and duties of the temporary guardian in the letters of temporary guardianship and shall be effective for a single ninety-day period. For good cause shown, the court may extend the temporary guardianship for successive ninety-day periods.

(e)(1) The temporary guardianship shall terminate at the end of the ninety-day period in which the temporary guardianship is valid or at any time prior thereto if the court deems the circumstances leading to the order for temporary guardianship no longer exist or if an order has been entered as a result of a hearing pursuant to section 30-2619 which has been held during the ninety-day period.

(2) When the duties of a limited temporary guardian appointed pursuant to subdivision (a)(2) of this section have not been completed within ninety days, the court shall accept notification by such guardian as good cause for extending the limited temporary guardianship for an additional ninety days.

(f) If the court denies the request for the ex parte order, the court may, in its discretion, enter an order for an expedited hearing pursuant to subsections (b) through (e) of this section.

(g) If the petitioner requests the entry of an order of temporary guardianship pursuant to subsection (a) of this section without requesting an ex parte order, the court may hold an expedited hearing pursuant to subsections (b) through (e) of this section.

(h) If an appointed guardian is not effectively performing his or her duties and the court further finds that the welfare of the incapacitated person requires immediate action, it may, pending notice and hearing in accordance with section 30-2220, appoint a temporary guardian for the incapacitated person for a specified period not to exceed ninety days. For good cause shown, the court may extend the temporary guardianship for successive ninety-day periods. A temporary guardian appointed pursuant to this subsection has only the powers and duties specified in the previously appointed guardian's letters of guardianship, and the authority of any permanent guardian previously appointed by the court is suspended so long as a temporary guardian has authority.

(i) A temporary guardian may be removed at any time. A temporary guardian shall make any report the court requires, except that a temporary guardian shall not be required to provide the check or report under section 30-2602.02. In other respects the provisions of the Nebraska Probate Code concerning guardians apply to temporary guardians.

(j) The court may appoint the Public Guardian as the temporary guardian pursuant to the Public Guardianship Act.

(k)(1) If the Public Guardian is unable to accept appointment as a limited temporary guardian for the purposes described in subdivision (a)(2) of this section because the Public Guardian has exceeded the average ratio described in subsection (2) of section 30-4115, the court shall appoint an individual to serve as a limited temporary guardian. Appointments of such limited temporary guardians shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated as described in section 81-3141. When such funds have been exhausted in a fiscal year, no further appointments shall be made.

(2) An individual appointed as a limited temporary guardian pursuant to subdivision (a)(2) of this section shall apply to the court for expenses and fees for services performed. The court, upon hearing the application, shall fix reasonable expenses and fees, and the county board shall pay such guardian in the full amount determined by the court. The court shall set such expenses and fees at levels that: (i) Are similar to expenses and fees paid to guardians and guardians ad litem for comparable work in other legal proceedings in the county; and (ii) are intended to incentivize qualified individuals to provide high-quality services as limited temporary guardians.

(3) A county that has paid expenses and fees as provided in subdivision (k)(2) of this section may apply under section 81-3141 for reimbursement.

(a) Any competent person or the Public Guardian may be appointed guardian of a person alleged to be incapacitated, except that it shall be unlawful for any agency providing residential care in an institution or community-based program, or any owner, part owner, manager, administrator, employee, or spouse of an owner, part owner, manager, administrator, or employee of any nursing home, room and board home, assisted-living facility, or institution engaged in the care, treatment, or housing of any person physically or mentally handicapped, infirm, or aged to be appointed guardian of any such person residing, being under care, receiving treatment, or being housed in any such home, facility, or institution within the State of Nebraska. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the spouse, adult child, parent, or other relative of the person alleged to be incapacitated from being appointed guardian or prevent the guardian officer for one of the Nebraska veterans homes as provided in section 80-327 from being appointed guardian or conservator for the person alleged to be incapacitated. It shall be unlawful for any county attorney or deputy county attorney appointed as guardian for a person alleged to be incapacitated to circumvent his or her duties or the rights of the ward pursuant to the Nebraska Mental Health Commitment Act by consenting to inpatient or outpatient psychiatric treatment over the objection of the ward.

(b) Persons who are not disqualified under subsection (a) of this section and who exhibit the ability to exercise the powers to be assigned by the court have priority for appointment as guardian in the following order:

(1) A person nominated most recently by one of the following methods:

(i) A person nominated by the incapacitated person in a power of attorney or a durable power of attorney;

(ii) A person acting under a power of attorney or durable power of attorney; or

(iii) A person nominated by an attorney in fact who is given power to nominate in a power of attorney or a durable power of attorney executed by the incapacitated person;

(2) The spouse of the incapacitated person;

(3) An adult child of the incapacitated person;

(4) A parent of the incapacitated person, including a person nominated by will or other writing signed by a deceased parent;

(5) Any relative of the incapacitated person with whom he or she has resided for more than six months prior to the filing of the petition;

(6) A person nominated by the person who is caring for him or her or paying benefits to him or her;

(7) The Public Guardian.

(c) When appointing a guardian, the court shall take into consideration the expressed wishes of the allegedly incapacitated person. The court, acting in the best interest of the incapacitated person, may pass over a person having priority and appoint a person having lower priority or no priority. With respect to persons having equal priority, the court shall select the person it deems best qualified to serve.

(d) In its order of appointment, unless waived by the court, the court shall require any person appointed as guardian to successfully complete within three months of such appointment a training program approved by the Public Guardian. If the person appointed as guardian does not complete the training program, the court shall issue an order to show cause why such person should not be removed as guardian.

(e) The court may require a guardian to furnish a bond in an amount and conditioned in accordance with the provisions of sections 30-2640 and 30-2641. The Public Guardian shall not be required to post bond.