Alaska § 13.16.705 - Inheritance of Native corporation stock.

§ 13.16.705. Inheritance of Native corporation stock.

 (a) The settlement common stock or other inalienable stock in a corporation organized under the laws of Alaska under 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) is not subject to probate nor shall its value be considered in determining the value of an estate or allowance under this title. Upon death of the holder, if the stock does not pass by the testamentary disposition clause on the stock certificate or by the form authorized under (b) of this section, properly executed, it passes by will or intestate succession. In such a case, the determination of the person entitled to the stock shall be made by the corporation that initially issued the stock or its designated agent. The determination shall be made on the basis of an affidavit, furnished to the corporation that initially issued the stock, or its agent, showing the right of the person entitled to the stock to receive it. The affidavit, accepted in good faith by the corporation or its agent, has the same effect as an affidavit under AS 13.16.685 , and the person entitled to the stock, if the affidavit is not accepted, has the remedy set out in AS 13.16.685 . In case of dispute as to the person entitled to receive the stock, a person claiming ownership may bring an independent action in the superior court.

 (b) Unless a separate form is provided that substantially satisfies the requirements of this subsection and that is distributed to the same extent as the certificate, each certificate representing the stock shall bear provisions, on its reverse side, containing blanks to be filled in by the owner, constituting a last will and testament for the purposes of this section and 43 U.S.C. 1606(h) insofar as the shares represented by that certificate are concerned. The clause may be signed by the owner, dated, and notarized. This testamentary disposition may be changed from time to time or revoked, and it governs unless there is a subsequently executed certificate, form, or formal will making specific disposition of the stock.

 (c) When ownership of stock passes by devise or inheritance or as a result of court action, the stock shall be partitioned, insofar as practicable, in whole shares among those entitled to them.

 (d) If a deceased shareholder has failed to dispose of the stock by will and has no heirs under the applicable laws of intestacy, the shares escheat to the corporation.

 (e) The situs of the stock is Alaska.

 (f) This section applies to stock as long as the stock remains inalienable.

 (g) Where appropriate, terms used in this section have the meanings given in AS 13.06.050 . In this section, “stock” means the settlement common stock or other inalienable stock of a corporation organized under the laws of the state under 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act), and includes membership in a corporation organized under AS 10.20 and inchoate rights to stock.