{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/55.1-302.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/55.1-302.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/55.1-302.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/55.1-302.html"}],"law_id":369844,"edition_id":2,"section_id":369844,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-302","catch_line":"Construction of generic terms","history":"1987, c. 604, \u00a7 55-49.1; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"In the interpretation of deeds, adopted persons and persons born out of wedlock are included in class gift terminology or terms of relationship in accordance with rules for determining relationships for purposes of intestate succession unless a contrary intent appears on the face of the deed. In determining the intent of a grantor, adopted persons are presumptively included in such terms as “children,” “issue,” “kindred,” “heirs,” “relatives,” “descendants,” or similar words of classification and are presumptively excluded by such terms as “natural children,” “issue of the body,” “blood kindred,” “heirs of the body,” “blood relatives,” “descendants of the body,” or similar words of classification.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1379828,"text":"In the interpretation of deeds, adopted persons and persons born out of wedlock are included in class gift terminology or terms of relationship in accordance with rules for determining relationships for purposes of intestate succession unless a contrary intent appears on the face of the deed. In determining the intent of a grantor, adopted persons are presumptively included in such terms as “children,” “issue,” “kindred,” “heirs,” “relatives,” “descendants,” or similar words of classification and are presumptively excluded by such terms as “natural children,” “issue of the body,” “blood kindred,” “heirs of the body,” “blood relatives,” “descendants of the body,” or similar words of classification.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52680,"edition_id":2,"name":"Form and Effect of Deeds; Easements","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52679,"metadata":{"child_laws":18,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:02:58","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:21","permalink":{"id":1471989,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52680,"identifier":"1","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1","url":"\/55.1\/I\/3\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52679,"edition_id":2,"name":"Form and Effect of Deeds and Covenants; Liens","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52601,"metadata":{"child_laws":67,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:02:58","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:21","permalink":{"id":1471987,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52679,"identifier":"3","token":"55.1\/I\/3","url":"\/55.1\/I\/3\/","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":369838,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-300","catch_line":"Form of a deed","url":"\/55.1-300\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-300","metadata":false},{"id":369837,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-300.1","catch_line":"Certificate of Release of Certain Prohibited Covenants","url":"\/55.1-300.1\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-300.1","metadata":false},{"id":369843,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-301","catch_line":"How construed","url":"\/55.1-301\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-301","metadata":false},{"id":369844,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-302","catch_line":"Construction of generic terms","url":"\/55.1-302\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-302","metadata":false},{"id":369845,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-303","catch_line":"Appurtenances, etc., included in deed of land","url":"\/55.1-303\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-303","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Oreze Healthcare v. Eastern Shore Community Svcs Board","case_number":"220072","citation":null,"date":"2023-05-04","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9396634\/oreze-healthcare-v-eastern-shore-community-svcs-board\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":369846,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-304","catch_line":"Relocation of easement","url":"\/55.1-304\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-304","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Darlene S. Smith v. Allen Creek Associates, LLC","case_number":"0850243","citation":null,"date":"2025-08-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/10656500\/darlene-s-smith-v-allen-creek-associates-llc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":369847,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-305","catch_line":"Enjoyment of easement","url":"\/55.1-305\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-305","metadata":false},{"id":369849,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-306","catch_line":"Utility easements","url":"\/55.1-306\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-306","metadata":false},{"id":369848,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-306.1","catch_line":"Utility easements; expansion of broadband","url":"\/55.1-306.1\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-306.1","metadata":false},{"id":369850,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-307","catch_line":"Public road easements; maintenance and improvements","url":"\/55.1-307\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-307","metadata":false},{"id":369851,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-308","catch_line":"Private roads; public use; maintenance and improvements","url":"\/55.1-308\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-308","metadata":false},{"id":369852,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-309","catch_line":"Deeds good between parties","url":"\/55.1-309\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-309","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":369853,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-310","catch_line":"Conveyance of property not owned but subsequently acquired","url":"\/55.1-310\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-310","metadata":false},{"id":369859,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-311","catch_line":"Vendor's equitable lien abolished","url":"\/55.1-311\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-311","metadata":false},{"id":369860,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-312","catch_line":"Certain deeds to county real estate validated","url":"\/55.1-312\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-312","metadata":false},{"id":369861,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-313","catch_line":"Validation of sales, etc., by county courts prior to 1860","url":"\/55.1-313\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-313","metadata":false},{"id":369862,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-314","catch_line":"Deeds and writings executed for persons in military service, etc., under defective powers","url":"\/55.1-314\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-314","metadata":false},{"id":369863,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-315","catch_line":"Effect of option; recording","url":"\/55.1-315\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-315","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":369843,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-301","catch_line":"How construed","url":"\/55.1-301\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-301","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":369845,"structure_id":52680,"section_number":"55.1-303","catch_line":"Appurtenances, etc., included in deed of land","url":"\/55.1-303\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-303","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Oreze Healthcare v. Eastern Shore Community Svcs Board","case_number":"220072","citation":null,"date":"2023-05-04","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9396634\/oreze-healthcare-v-eastern-shore-community-svcs-board\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-302\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1987. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 604 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1987 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1472003,"object_type":"law","relational_id":369844,"identifier":"55.1-302","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-302","url":"\/55.1-302\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-302\/","token":"55.1\/I\/3\/1\/55.1-302","dublin_core":{"Title":"Construction of generic terms","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-302","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In the interpretation of deeds, adopted persons and persons born out of wedlock are included in class gift terminology or terms of relationship in accordance with rules for determining relationships for purposes of intestate succession unless a contrary intent<\/span> appears on the face of the deed. In determining the intent<\/span> of a grantor, adopted persons are presumptively included in such terms as “children,” “issue<\/span>,” “kindred,” “heirs,” “relatives,” “descendants,” or similar words of classification and are presumptively excluded by such terms as “natural children,” “issue<\/span> of the body,” “blood kindred,” “heirs of the body,” “blood relatives,” “descendants of the body,” or similar words of classification.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSTRUCTION OF GENERIC TERMS (\u00a7 55.1-302)\n\nIn the interpretation of deeds, adopted persons and persons born out of wedlock\nare included in class gift terminology or terms of relationship in accordance\nwith rules for determining relationships for purposes of intestate succession\nunless a contrary intent appears on the face of the deed. In determining the\nintent of a grantor, adopted persons are presumptively included in such terms as\n“children,” “issue,” “kindred,”\n“heirs,” “relatives,” “descendants,” or\nsimilar words of classification and are presumptively excluded by such terms as\n“natural children,” “issue of the body,” “blood\nkindred,” “heirs of the body,” “blood relatives,”\n“descendants of the body,” or similar words of classification.\n\nHISTORY: 1987, c. 604, \u00a7 55-49.1; 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"}}