{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/64.2-421.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/64.2-421.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/64.2-421.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/64.2-421.html"}],"law_id":376229,"edition_id":2,"section_id":376229,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-421","catch_line":"Construction of certain conditions of spouse’s survivorship","history":"1997, c. 263, \u00a7 64.1-66.2; 2012, c. 614.","full_text":"A\n\nIf property passes from the decedent or is acquired from the decedent by reason of the decedent’s death under a will or trust that provides that the spouse of the decedent shall survive until the distribution of the gift, the will or trust shall be construed as requiring that the spouse survive until the earlier of the date on which the distribution occurs or the date six months after the date of the death of the testator or decedent, unless the court shall find that the decedent intended a contrary result.\n\nB\n\nThe proceeding to determine whether the decedent intended that the spouse actually survive until the distribution of the gift shall be filed within 12 months following the death of the decedent. It may be filed by the personal representative or any affected beneficiary under the will or other instrument.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1404724,"text":"If property passes from the decedent or is acquired from the decedent by reason of the decedent’s death under a will or trust that provides that the spouse of the decedent shall survive until the distribution of the gift, the will or trust shall be construed as requiring that the spouse survive until the earlier of the date on which the distribution occurs or the date six months after the date of the death of the testator or decedent, unless the court shall find that the decedent intended a contrary result.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1404725,"text":"The proceeding to determine whether the decedent intended that the spouse actually survive until the distribution of the gift shall be filed within 12 months following the death of the decedent. It may be filed by the personal representative or any affected beneficiary under the will or other instrument.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53504,"edition_id":2,"name":"Construction and Effect","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53501,"metadata":{"child_laws":19,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:17:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:07","permalink":{"id":1500189,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53504,"identifier":"3","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3","url":"\/64.2\/II\/4\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53501,"edition_id":2,"name":"Wills","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53471,"metadata":{"child_laws":61,"child_structures":6},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:17:21","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:07","permalink":{"id":1500123,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53501,"identifier":"4","token":"64.2\/II\/4","url":"\/64.2\/II\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53471,"edition_id":2,"name":"Wills and Decedents' Estates","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":53424,"metadata":{"child_laws":210,"child_structures":29},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:16:56","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:06","permalink":{"id":1499913,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53471,"identifier":"II","token":"64.2\/II","url":"\/64.2\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53424,"edition_id":2,"name":"Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries","identifier":"64.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":136,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":776,"child_structures":114},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:16:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:05","permalink":{"id":1499783,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53424,"identifier":"64.2","token":"64.2","url":"\/64.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":376222,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-414","catch_line":"When wills deemed to speak","url":"\/64.2-414\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-414","metadata":false},{"id":376223,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-415","catch_line":"How certain trust provisions, bequests, and devises to be construed; nonademption in certain cases","url":"\/64.2-415\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-415","metadata":false},{"id":376224,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-416","catch_line":"Devises, bequests, and distributions that fail; how to pass","url":"\/64.2-416\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-416","metadata":false},{"id":376225,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-417","catch_line":"When advancement deemed satisfaction of devise or bequest","url":"\/64.2-417\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-417","metadata":false},{"id":376226,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-418","catch_line":"When children or descendants of beneficiary to take estate or trust","url":"\/64.2-418\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-418","metadata":false},{"id":376227,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-419","catch_line":"Provision for omitted children when no child living when will made","url":"\/64.2-419\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-419","metadata":false},{"id":376228,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-420","catch_line":"Provision for omitted children when child living when will made","url":"\/64.2-420\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-420","metadata":false},{"id":376229,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-421","catch_line":"Construction of certain conditions of spouse's survivorship","url":"\/64.2-421\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-421","metadata":false},{"id":376230,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-422","catch_line":"When omitted spouse to take intestate portion","url":"\/64.2-422\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-422","metadata":false},{"id":376231,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-423","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/64.2-423\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-423","metadata":false},{"id":376232,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-424","catch_line":"When direction to purchase annuity binding on legatee","url":"\/64.2-424\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-424","metadata":false},{"id":376233,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-425","catch_line":"Interest on pecuniary legacies","url":"\/64.2-425\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-425","metadata":false},{"id":376234,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-426","catch_line":"Testamentary additions to trusts by testator dying on or after July 1, 1994, and before July 1, 1999","url":"\/64.2-426\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-426","metadata":false},{"id":376235,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-427","catch_line":"Testamentary additions to trusts by testator dying after June 30, 1999","url":"\/64.2-427\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-427","metadata":false},{"id":376236,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-428","catch_line":"Distribution of assets by fiduciaries in satisfaction of pecuniary bequests or transfers in trust of pecuniary amount","url":"\/64.2-428\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-428","metadata":false},{"id":376237,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-429","catch_line":"Construction of trust provisions otherwise eligible for the election permitted under \u00a7 2056(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code","url":"\/64.2-429\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-429","metadata":false},{"id":376238,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-430","catch_line":"Certain marital deduction formula clauses to be construed to refer to federal marital deduction allowable if decedent had died on December 31, 1981","url":"\/64.2-430\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-430","metadata":false},{"id":376239,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-431","catch_line":"Certain powers of appointment construed to refer to federal gift tax exclusion in effect on date of execution","url":"\/64.2-431\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-431","metadata":false},{"id":376240,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-432","catch_line":"Certain formula clauses to be construed to refer to federal estate and generation-skipping transfer tax laws applicable to estates of decedents dying after December 31, 2009, and before January 1, 2011","url":"\/64.2-432\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-432","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":376228,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-420","catch_line":"Provision for omitted children when child living when will made","url":"\/64.2-420\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-420","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":376230,"structure_id":53504,"section_number":"64.2-422","catch_line":"When omitted spouse to take intestate portion","url":"\/64.2-422\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-422","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/64.2-421\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1997. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 263<\/a> 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. 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 2012, chapter 614<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1500219,"object_type":"law","relational_id":376229,"identifier":"64.2-421","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-421","url":"\/64.2-421\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/64.2-421\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/3\/64.2-421","dublin_core":{"Title":"Construction of certain conditions of spouse’s survivorship","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 64.2-421","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If property passes from the decedent or is acquired from the decedent by reason of the decedent’s death under a will<\/span> or trust that provides that the spouse of the decedent shall survive until the distribution of the gift, the will<\/span> or trust shall be construed as requiring that the spouse survive until the earlier of the date on which the distribution occurs or the date six months after the date of the death of the testator or decedent, unless the court<\/span> shall find that the decedent intended a contrary result. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The proceeding to determine whether the decedent intended that the spouse actually survive until the distribution of the gift shall be filed within 12 months following the death of the decedent. It may be filed by the personal representative<\/span> or any affected beneficiary under the will<\/span> or other instrument. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF SPOUSE’S SURVIVORSHIP (\u00a7 64.2-421)\n\nA. If property passes from the decedent or is acquired from the decedent by\nreason of the decedent’s death under a will or trust that provides that\nthe spouse of the decedent shall survive until the distribution of the gift, the\nwill or trust shall be construed as requiring that the spouse survive until the\nearlier of the date on which the distribution occurs or the date six months\nafter the date of the death of the testator or decedent, unless the court shall\nfind that the decedent intended a contrary result.\n\nB. The proceeding to determine whether the decedent intended that the spouse\nactually survive until the distribution of the gift shall be filed within 12\nmonths following the death of the decedent. It may be filed by the personal\nrepresentative or any affected beneficiary under the will or other instrument.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 263, \u00a7 64.1-66.2; 2012, c. 614.","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"}}