<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 29A-3-108 - Probate, testacy, and appointment proceedings--Ultimate time limit. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2052092Normal { text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2052092SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2052092CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2052092Normal-000000 { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2052092DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2052092Normal-000001 { margin-left: 0.70in; text-indent: -0.45in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2052092DefaultParagraphFont-000002 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2052092Normal-000003 { text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2052092000004 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2052092SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2052092SCL-000005 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=29A-3-108"><span class="s2052092SENU">29A-3-108</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052092SENU">. </span><span class="s2052092CL">Probate, testacy, and appointment proceedings--Ultimate time limit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal-000000"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">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:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal-000001"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">(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;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal-000001"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    Appropriate probate, appointment, or testacy proceedings may be maintained in relation to the estate of an absentee for whom a conservator has been appointed, at any time within three years after the conservator becomes able to establish the death of the protected person;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal-000001"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">(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;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal-000001"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">(4)    An informal or formal appointment or formal testacy proceeding may be commenced thereafter if no proceedings concerning the succession or estate administration have occurred within the three</span><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont-000002">-</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">year period. If proceedings are brought under this exception, the personal representative shall have no right to possess estate assets as provided in § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=29A-3-709"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">29A-3-709</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont"> beyond that necessary to confirm title thereto in the rightful successors to the estate and no claims other than expenses of administration may be presented against the estate; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal-000001"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">(5)    If no informal probate has occurred within three years of the decedent's death, a formal testacy proceeding may be commenced at any time thereafter for the sole purpose of establishing an instrument to direct or control the ownership of property passing or distributable after the decedent's death from one other than the decedent when the property is to be appointed by the terms of the decedent's will or is to pass or be distributed as a part of the decedent's estate or its transfer is otherwise to be controlled by the terms of the decedent's will.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal-000003"><span class="s2052092DefaultParagraphFont">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.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052092000004"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052092Normal"><span class="s2052092SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052092SCL-000005"> SL 1994, ch 232, § 3-108.</span></p></div></body></html>