Vermont Statutes
Chapter 42 - Descent and Survivors' Rights
§ 323. Written waiver of spousal rights

§ 323. Written waiver of spousal rights
(a) At any time before or during a marriage, a spouse may waive the right to an elective share of a deceased spouse’s estate, waive the right to a homestead or other allowance, and waive any other spousal rights or interest in property, in whole or in part, by a written instrument signed by the waiving spouse.
(b) A written waiver of spousal rights is presumed to be valid unless the party contesting the waiver demonstrates that:
(1) the waiver was not voluntary, or was made as a result of fraud, duress, or coercion;
(2) the waiver was unconscionable when signed or is unconscionable in its application due to a material change in circumstances that arose subsequent to the execution of the instrument through no fault or no action of the contesting party;
(3) before signing the waiver, the waiving spouse was not provided fair and reasonable disclosure of the property and financial obligations of the decedent; or
(4) before signing the waiver, the waiving spouse did not have an opportunity for meaningful access to independent counsel.
(c) A waiver under this section may be signed on behalf of a waiving spouse by a guardian or by an agent or an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney that:
(1) expressly grants the authority to make the election; or
(2)(A) grants the agent or attorney-in-fact the authority to act in the management and disposition of the principal’s property that is as broad or comprehensive as the principal could exercise for himself or herself; and
(B) does not expressly exclude the authority to make the election.
(d) An agent or attorney-in-fact may petition the Probate Division of the Superior Court to determine whether a power of attorney described in subdivision (c)(2) grants the agent or attorney-in-fact authority that is as broad or comprehensive as that which the principal could exercise for himself or herself. (Added 2017, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 3.)

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