Current through 2024, ch. 69
Section 45-2-301 - Entitlement of spouse; premarital willA. If a testator's surviving spouse married the testator after the testator executed his will, the surviving spouse is entitled to receive, as an intestate share, no less than the value of the share of the estate he would have received if the testator had died intestate as to that portion of the testator's estate, if any, that neither is devised to a child of the testator who was born before the testator married the surviving spouse and who is not a child of the surviving spouse nor is devised to a descendant of such a child or passes pursuant to Section 45-2-603 or 45-2-604 NMSA 1978 to such a child or to a descendant of such a child, unless: (1) it appears from the will or other evidence that the will was made in contemplation of the testator's marriage to the surviving spouse; (2) the will expresses the intention that it is to be effective notwithstanding any subsequent marriage; or (3) the testator provided for the spouse by transfer outside the will and the intent that the transfer be in lieu of a testamentary provision is shown by the testator's statements or is reasonably inferred from the amount of the transfer or other evidence. B. In satisfying the share provided by this section, devises made by the will to the testator's surviving spouse, if any, are applied first, and other devises, other than a devise to a child of the testator who was born before the testator married the surviving spouse and who is not a child of the surviving spouse or a devise or substitute gift pursuant to Section 45-2-603 or 45-2-604 NMSA 1978 to a descendant of such a child, abate as provided in Section 45-3-902 NMSA 1978. 1953 Comp., § 32A-2-301, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 257, § 2-301; 1977, ch. 121, § 5; repealed and reenacted by Laws 1993, ch. 174, § 17; 1995, ch. 210, § 5.