{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/55.1-100.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/55.1-100.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/55.1-100.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/55.1-100.html"}],"law_id":369170,"edition_id":2,"section_id":369170,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-100","catch_line":"Aliens may acquire, hold, and transmit real estate; when reciprocity required","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 66; Code 1950, \u00a7 55-1; 1993, c. 535; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"Any alien, not an enemy, may acquire by purchase or descent and hold real estate in the Commonwealth, and such real estate shall be transmitted in the same manner as real estate held by citizens. However, if, at the time of the transfer, a court of the Commonwealth determines that the laws of a foreign country or sovereignty effectively deny a Virginia resident, legatee, or distributee the benefit, use, or control of money or other property held in such foreign country or sovereignty, a judgment or order issued in the Commonwealth concerning the rights of a resident of that foreign country or sovereignty to the benefit, use, or control of money or property held in the Commonwealth may direct that the money or property be paid into the court for the benefit of the alien. The money or property paid into court shall be paid out only upon order of the court or pursuant to the order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Any of the money or property remaining with the court upon expiration of three years from the decedent’s death shall be paid out by the court as if the alien had predeceased the decedent.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1376863,"text":"Any alien, not an enemy, may acquire by purchase or descent and hold real estate in the Commonwealth, and such real estate shall be transmitted in the same manner as real estate held by citizens. However, if, at the time of the transfer, a court of the Commonwealth determines that the laws of a foreign country or sovereignty effectively deny a Virginia resident, legatee, or distributee the benefit, use, or control of money or other property held in such foreign country or sovereignty, a judgment or order issued in the Commonwealth concerning the rights of a resident of that foreign country or sovereignty to the benefit, use, or control of money or property held in the Commonwealth may direct that the money or property be paid into the court for the benefit of the alien. The money or property paid into court shall be paid out only upon order of the court or pursuant to the order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Any of the money or property remaining with the court upon expiration of three years from the decedent’s death shall be paid out by the court as if the alien had predeceased the decedent.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52603,"edition_id":2,"name":"Creation and Transfer of Estates","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52602,"metadata":{"child_laws":24,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:20","permalink":{"id":1471777,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52603,"identifier":"1","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1","url":"\/55.1\/I\/1\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52602,"edition_id":2,"name":"Creation and Limitation of Estates","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52601,"metadata":{"child_laws":39,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:20","permalink":{"id":1471775,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52602,"identifier":"1","token":"55.1\/I\/1","url":"\/55.1\/I\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52601,"edition_id":2,"name":"Property Conveyances","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52600,"metadata":{"child_laws":142,"child_structures":14},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:20","permalink":{"id":1471773,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52601,"identifier":"I","token":"55.1\/I","url":"\/55.1\/I\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52600,"edition_id":2,"name":"Property and Conveyances","identifier":"55.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":120,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":875,"child_structures":101},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:01:36","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:20","permalink":{"id":1471771,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52600,"identifier":"55.1","token":"55.1","url":"\/55.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":369170,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-100","catch_line":"Aliens may acquire, hold, and transmit real estate; when reciprocity required","url":"\/55.1-100\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-100","metadata":false},{"id":369182,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-101","catch_line":"When deed or will necessary to convey estate; no parol partition or gift valid","url":"\/55.1-101\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-101","metadata":false},{"id":369191,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-102","catch_line":"When gift of personal property invalid","url":"\/55.1-102\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-102","metadata":false},{"id":369192,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-103","catch_line":"Suicide or attainder of felony","url":"\/55.1-103\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-103","metadata":false},{"id":369193,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-104","catch_line":"Estates to lie in grant as well as in livery","url":"\/55.1-104\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-104","metadata":false},{"id":369194,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-105","catch_line":"Same estates may be created by deed as by will","url":"\/55.1-105\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-105","metadata":false},{"id":369195,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-106","catch_line":"Power of disposal in life tenant not to defeat remainder unless exercised; power of disposal held by fiduciary","url":"\/55.1-106\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-106","metadata":false},{"id":369196,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-107","catch_line":"Default or surrender of tenant for life not to prejudice remainderman","url":"\/55.1-107\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-107","metadata":false},{"id":369197,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-108","catch_line":"Conveyance of estate or interest in property by grantor to himself and another","url":"\/55.1-108\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-108","metadata":false},{"id":369198,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-109","catch_line":"Deed valid for grantor's right; operation of warranty","url":"\/55.1-109\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-109","metadata":false},{"id":369199,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-110","catch_line":"Conveyance, devise, or grant without words of limitation","url":"\/55.1-110\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-110","metadata":false},{"id":369202,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-111","catch_line":"Fee tail converted into fee simple","url":"\/55.1-111\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-111","metadata":false},{"id":369203,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-112","catch_line":"Estate of freehold to one with remainder to heirs, etc.; rule in Shelley's Case abolished","url":"\/55.1-112\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-112","metadata":false},{"id":369204,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-113","catch_line":"Doctrine of worthier title abolished","url":"\/55.1-113\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-113","metadata":false},{"id":369205,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-114","catch_line":"When contingent remainder not to fail","url":"\/55.1-114\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-114","metadata":false},{"id":369206,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-115","catch_line":"When remainders not defeated","url":"\/55.1-115\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-115","metadata":false},{"id":369207,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-116","catch_line":"In what conveyances possession transferred to the use","url":"\/55.1-116\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-116","metadata":false},{"id":369208,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-117","catch_line":"Land trusts not to fail because no beneficiaries are specified by name and no duties laid on trustee; when interest of beneficiaries deemed personal property; liens","url":"\/55.1-117\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-117","metadata":false},{"id":369209,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-118","catch_line":"Deed of release effectual","url":"\/55.1-118\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-118","metadata":false},{"id":369210,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-119","catch_line":"When person not a party, etc., may take or sue under instrument","url":"\/55.1-119\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-119","metadata":false},{"id":369211,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-120","catch_line":"Informalities in deeds made by attorneys-in-fact","url":"\/55.1-120\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-120","metadata":false},{"id":369225,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-121","catch_line":"Time for objections to irregularities in advertising sales made by trustees","url":"\/55.1-121\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-121","metadata":false},{"id":369236,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-122","catch_line":"Recovery at death of life tenant of taxes paid on life estate","url":"\/55.1-122\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-122","metadata":false},{"id":369247,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-123","catch_line":"Removal of a cloud on title; nature of plaintiff's title","url":"\/55.1-123\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-123","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":369182,"structure_id":52603,"section_number":"55.1-101","catch_line":"When deed or will necessary to convey estate; no parol partition or gift valid","url":"\/55.1-101\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-101","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-100\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1993, chapter 535; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1471779,"object_type":"law","relational_id":369170,"identifier":"55.1-100","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-100","url":"\/55.1-100\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-100\/","token":"55.1\/I\/1\/1\/55.1-100","dublin_core":{"Title":"Aliens may acquire, hold, and transmit real estate; when reciprocity required","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-100","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any alien, not an enemy, may acquire by purchase or descent and hold real estate in the Commonwealth, and such real estate shall be transmitted in the same manner as real estate held by citizens. However, if, at the time of the transfer, a court<\/span> of the Commonwealth determines that the laws<\/span> of a foreign country or sovereignty effectively deny a Virginia resident, legatee, or distributee the benefit, use, or control of money or other property held in such foreign country or sovereignty, a judgment<\/span> or order<\/span> issued in the Commonwealth concerning the rights of a resident of that foreign country or sovereignty to the benefit, use, or control of money or property held in the Commonwealth may direct that the money or property be paid into the court<\/span> for the benefit of the alien. The money or property paid into court<\/span> shall be paid out only upon order<\/span> of the court<\/span> or pursuant to the order<\/span> or judgment<\/span> of a court<\/span> of competent jurisdiction<\/span>. Any of the money or property remaining with the court<\/span> upon expiration of three years from the decedent’s death shall be paid out by the court<\/span> as if the alien had predeceased the decedent.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nALIENS MAY ACQUIRE, HOLD, AND TRANSMIT REAL ESTATE; WHEN RECIPROCITY REQUIRED\n(\u00a7 55.1-100)\n\nAny alien, not an enemy, may acquire by purchase or descent and hold real estate\nin the Commonwealth, and such real estate shall be transmitted in the same\nmanner as real estate held by citizens. However, if, at the time of the\ntransfer, a court of the Commonwealth determines that the laws of a foreign\ncountry or sovereignty effectively deny a Virginia resident, legatee, or\ndistributee the benefit, use, or control of money or other property held in such\nforeign country or sovereignty, a judgment or order issued in the Commonwealth\nconcerning the rights of a resident of that foreign country or sovereignty to\nthe benefit, use, or control of money or property held in the Commonwealth may\ndirect that the money or property be paid into the court for the benefit of the\nalien. The money or property paid into court shall be paid out only upon order\nof the court or pursuant to the order or judgment of a court of competent\njurisdiction. Any of the money or property remaining with the court upon\nexpiration of three years from the decedent’s death shall be paid out by\nthe court as if the alien had predeceased the decedent.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 66; Code 1950, \u00a7 55-1; 1993, c. 535; 2019, c. 712.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}