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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>369844</law_id><section_number>55.1-302</section_number><catch_line>Construction of generic terms</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="120" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Property Conveyances</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="3" identifier="3">Form and Effect of Deeds and Covenants; Liens</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Form and Effect of Deeds; Easements</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>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 <span class="dictionary">intent</span> appears on the face of the deed. In determining the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> of a grantor, adopted persons are presumptively included in such terms as &#x201C;children,&#x201D; &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">issue</span>,&#x201D; &#x201C;kindred,&#x201D; &#x201C;heirs,&#x201D; &#x201C;relatives,&#x201D; &#x201C;descendants,&#x201D; or similar words of classification and are presumptively excluded by such terms as &#x201C;natural children,&#x201D; &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">issue</span> of the body,&#x201D; &#x201C;blood kindred,&#x201D; &#x201C;heirs of the body,&#x201D; &#x201C;blood relatives,&#x201D; &#x201C;descendants of the body,&#x201D; or similar words of classification.</p></section></text><history>1987, c. 604, &#xA7; 55-49.1; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
