SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[P E R F E C T E D]
SENATE BILL NO. 997
90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CASKEY.
Read 1st time February 10, 2000, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
Read 2nd time February 14, 2000, and referred to the Committee on Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence.
Reported from the Committee February 21, 2000, with recommendation that the bill do pass and be placed on the Consent Calendar.
Taken up February 28, 2000. Read 3rd time and placed upon its final passage; bill passed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4479S.01P
AN ACT
To repeal section 473.340, RSMo 1994, relating to trusts and estates, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject.
Section A. Section 473.340, RSMo 1994, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 473.340, to read as follows:
473.340. 1. Any personal representative, administrator, creditor, beneficiary or other person who claims an interest in property which is claimed to be an asset of an estate or which is claimed should be an asset of an estate may file a verified petition in the probate division of the circuit court in which said estate is pending seeking determination of the title, or right of possession thereto, or both. The petition shall describe the property, if known, shall allege the nature of the interest of the petitioner and that title or possession of the property, or both, are being adversely withheld or claimed. The court may order the joinder, as a party, of any person who may claim an interest in or who may have possession of any such property.
2. Service of summons, petition and answer thereto together with all subsequent proceedings shall be governed by the Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure. Any party may demand a jury trial.
3. Upon a trial of the issues, the court shall determine the persons who have an interest in said property together with the nature and extent of any such interest. The court shall direct the delivery or transfer of the title or possession, or both, of said property to the person or persons entitled thereto and may attach the person of any party refusing to make delivery as directed. If the party found to have adversely withheld the title or possession, or both, of said property has transferred or otherwise disposed of the same, the court shall render a money judgment for the value thereof with interest thereon from the date the property, or any interest therein, was adversely withheld. In addition to a judgment for title and possession, or either, or for the value thereof, the court may enter a judgment for all losses, expenses and damages sustained, if any, and exemplary damages, but not including attorney fees, if it finds that the property was wrongfully detained, transferred or otherwise disposed of.
4. If the court finds that a complete determination of the issues cannot be had without the presence of other parties, the court may order them to be brought in by an amended or supplemental petition. The court shall order the joinder of the personal representative of the estate if he is not named as a party.