Mississippi § 89-21-5 - Time of disclaimer.

§ 89-21-5. Time of disclaimer.

The following rules govern the time when a disclaimer must be filed or delivered: If the property or interest has devolved to the disclaimant under a testamentary instrument or by the laws of intestacy, the disclaimer must be filed, if of a present interest, not later than nine (9) months after the death of the deceased owner or deceased donee of a power of appointment and, if of a future interest, not later than nine (9) months after the event determining that the taker of the property or interest is finally ascertained and his interest is indefeasibly vested. The disclaimer must be filed in the chancery court of the county in which proceedings for the administration of the estate of the deceased owner or deceased donee of the power have been commenced. A copy of the disclaimer must be delivered in person or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the executor of the decedent’s estate, the administrator of the decedent’s estate, or any other fiduciary of the decedent or donee of the power. If a property or interest has devolved to the disclaimant under a nontestamentary instrument or contract, the disclaimer must be delivered or filed and also, if real property or an interest therein is disclaimed, a copy of the disclaimer must be recorded in the office of the chancery clerk of the county in which the property, or interest disclaimed, is located if a present interest, not later than nine (9) months after the effective date of the nontestamentary instrument or contract and, if of a future interest, not later than nine (9) months after the event determining that the taker of the property or interest is finally ascertained and his interest is indefeasibly vested. If the person entitled to disclaim does not know of the existence of the interest, the disclaimer must be delivered or filed and also, if real property or an interest therein is disclaimed, a copy of the disclaimer must be recorded in the office of the chancery clerk of the county in which the property or interest disclaimed is located, if a present interest, not later than nine (9) months after the person learns of the existence of the interest. The effective date of a revocable instrument or contract is the date on which the maker no longer has power to revoke it or to transfer to himself or another the entire legal and equitable ownership of the interest. The disclaimer or a copy thereof must be delivered in person or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person who has legal title to or possession of the interest disclaimed. A surviving joint tenant (or tenant by the entireties) may disclaim as a separate interest any property or interest therein devolving to him by right of survivorship. A surviving joint tenant (or tenant by the entireties) may disclaim the entire interest in any property or interest therein that is the subject of a joint tenancy (or tenancy by the entireties) devolving to him, if the joint tenancy (or tenant by the entireties) was created by act of a deceased joint tenant (or tenant by the entireties), and the survivor did not join in creating the joint tenancy (or tenancy by the entireties), and has not accepted a benefit under it. If real property or an interest therein is disclaimed under subsection (1), a copy of the disclaimer may be recorded in the office of the chancery clerk of the county in which the property or interest disclaimed is located.