2010 Wyoming Statutes
Title 2 - Wills, Decedents' Estates And Probate Code
Chapter 13 - Simultaneous Death

CHAPTER 13 - SIMULTANEOUS DEATH

 

2-13-101. Short title.

 

(a) This act may be cited as the "Uniform Simultaneous Death Act".

 

(b) "This act", when used in chapter 13 of the Probate Code, means W.S. 2-13-101 through 2-13-107.

 

2-13-102. Applicability of provisions.

 

This act does not apply in the case of wills, living trusts, deeds or contracts of insurance wherein provision is made for distribution of property different from the provisions of this act.

 

2-13-103. Disposition of property based on presumption of survivorship.

 

Where the title to property or the devolution thereto 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 this act.

 

2-13-104. Beneficiaries.

 

Where two (2) 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 successively beneficiaries and those portions shall be distributed respectively to those who would have taken in the event that each designated beneficiary had survived.

 

2-13-105. Joint tenants or tenants by the entirety.

 

Where there is no sufficient evidence that two (2) joint tenants or tenants by the entirety have died otherwise than simultaneously the property so held shall be distributed one-half (1/2) as if one (1) had survived and one-half (1/2) as if the other had survived. If there are more than two (2) joint tenants and all of them have so died the property thus distributed shall be in the proportion that one (1) bears to the whole number of joint tenants.

 

2-13-106. Life or accident insurance proceeds.

 

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.

 

2-13-107. Construction and interpretation.

 

This act shall be so construed and interpreted as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law in those states which enact it.