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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>375766</law_id><section_number>64.2-101</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="136" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions and General Provisions</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In the interpretation of <span class="dictionary">wills</span> and trusts, 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 <span class="dictionary">will</span> or trust. In determining the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> of a testator or settlor, 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;descendents&#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;descendents of the body&#x201D; or similar words of classification. In the event that a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> makes payment to members of a class to the exclusion of persons born out of wedlock of whose claim of paternity or maternity the <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> has no knowledge, the <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> shall not be held liable to such persons for payments made prior to knowledge of such claim. This section shall apply to all inter vivos trusts executed after July 1, 1978, and to all <span class="dictionary">wills</span> of decedents dying after July 1, 1978, regardless of when executed.</p></section></text><history>1978, c. 647, &#xA7; 64.1-71.1; 1987, c. 604; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
