TIOFEB 18 PH & 07 ‘Tie Unrren Srares Viner Iscanns ‘Cunote Amalie, VI 0802 0-7 to0n February 10, 2010 VIA MESSENGER Honorable Louis P. Hill President 28th Legislature of the Virgin Islands Capito! Building ‘St. Thomas, VI 00802 RE: Governor's actions on Bill No. 28-0087 Dear Senator Hill: Please be advised that [ have today acted on the above-referenced Bill. Pursuant to ‘Section 9(€) of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands of 1934 ("Revised Organic Act’), 1s amended, I now retum this document tothe 28th Legislature in your eae. 1 approved Bill 28-0087 today after careful consideration. | am informed that few other Jutisdictions have adopted the Uniform Probate Code in whole. Indeed, many have tailored ‘only those provisions needed to improve the law and procedure of their states. Some slates have struggled with particular provisions ofthis Uniform Code. However, I also realize that our own probate statute desperately needs updating and revision to ameliorate, among, other things, the tremendous backlog of eases in our courts. Therefore, I am hopeful that the many of the provisions of the bill as enacted, will be an ai. ‘Even in reaching the conclusion to approve the bill, however, I must note that this wide- ‘ranging legislation was not broadly and sufficiently reviewed and commented on. ‘Thus we ean be assured thet, given the broad reach and effect ofthe legislation, concems will be raised by the community and by those in the legal and accounting professions once the new practice is implemented. We should ot be surprised if there is then a call for amendments and specific tailoring ofthe provisions of the uniform act. Therefore, I urge the Legislature to promptly and fully consider such concerns as soon as they become apparent and to act without delay to make this law the best it can be forthe benefit of our residents sAI3034 j=6— Lien ane SHV 11 aascio7 Hg poe sino ISSd 3AVHaS‘Governor de Jongh o Senator Hi Res Bill No. 28-0087 ebnary 10,2010, Page? Lastly, in approving Bill 28-0087, Iam also approving the Uniform Power of Attomey ‘Act, Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act andthe Uniform Custodial Trust ‘Act contained therein, Ea EnclosuresACTNO, 7150 BILL NO. 28-0087 ‘TWENTY-EIGHT LEGISLATURE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS Regular Session 2009 ‘An Act ameading tie 15 of the Virgin Islands Code relating to affsrs of decedent, and relating to the affairs of fiduciaries, enacting the Virgin Islands Uniform Probate Code; consolidating nd revising aspects of the Inw eating to wills and intestacy and the administration and distribution of cstutes of decedent, the powers and precedures of tho Court concerned with the affairs of docedents and eonsin others; providing forthe validity and effect of certain non-estamentary wansfers, contracts and deposits Which relate to death and appear to have testamentary effect providing certain procedures to facilitate enforcement of testamentary and other tute; making uniform the law with respect to decedents and certain ethers; and repeling inconsistent law 0~ ‘Beit enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: SECTION 1. Tite 15 Virgin Islands Code chapters 1 through 51; and chapter and 63 are repealed and reenacted with amendments tha read as follows “TITILE 15 VIRGIN ISLANDS CODE SUBTITLE 1 VIRGIN ISLANDS UNIFORM PROBATE AND FIDUCIRY RELATIONS cop |ENERAL PROVISIONS, DEFINITIONS AND PROBATE JURISDICTION OF ‘COURT PARTI SHORT TITLE, CONSTRUCTION, GENERAL PROVISIONS §1-101. Short