<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>81213</law_id><section_number>55.1-117</section_number><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</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-700</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" 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="1" identifier="1">Creation and Limitation of Estates</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Creation and Transfer of Estates</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No trust relating to real estate shall fail nor shall any use relating to real estate be defeated because no beneficiaries are specified by name in the recorded deed of conveyance to the trustee or because no duties are imposed upon the trustee. The power conferred by any such instrument on a trustee to sell, lease, encumber, or otherwise dispose of property described in such instrument shall be effective, and no person dealing with such a trustee shall be required to make further inquiry as to the right of such trustee to act, nor shall he be required to inquire as to the <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of any proceeds.
		In any case under this section where there is a recorded deed of conveyance to a trustee, the interest of the beneficiaries thereunder shall be deemed to be personal property. <span class="dictionary">Judgments</span> against a beneficiary and consensual <span class="dictionary">liens</span> against real property of a beneficiary do not attach to real property that is the subject of such a deed of conveyance unless the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> is docketed or the <span class="dictionary">lien</span> recorded in the county or city where the property is located (i) before recordation of the deed creating the land trust and (ii) while the beneficiary has record title to the real property.
		In any case under this section where there is a recorded deed of conveyance to a trustee and the trustee named in the deed declines to serve, resigns, is disqualified or removed, or is adjudicated incapacitated and there is (a) no successor trustee named in the deed, (b) no successor trustee designated by the terms of the trust instrument, or (c) no procedure set forth in the deed or trust instrument to designate a successor trustee, the beneficiaries of the trust, by majority decision, shall name a successor trustee. However, if the identities of the beneficiaries of the trust cannot be identified from the recorded deed of conveyance or a majority of the beneficiaries are unable to agree upon a successor trustee, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county or city in which the deed was recorded, upon the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> of any <span class="dictionary">party</span> interested in the administration of the trust, shall appoint a successor trustee whenever the <span class="dictionary">court</span> considers the appointment necessary for the administration of the trust. The name and address of any successor trustee so named or appointed shall be recorded with the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county or city in which the deed was recorded, and such successor trustee shall succeed to all the rights, powers, and <span class="dictionary">privileges</span>, and shall be subject to all the duties, liabilities, and responsibilities imposed upon, the original trustee unless the deed of conveyance expressly provides to the contrary.
		Nothing in this section shall be construed to (1) affect any right that a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> may otherwise have against a trustee or beneficiary except as provided in this section, (2) enlarge upon the power of a corporation to act as trustee under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Entities authorized to engage in trust business" href="/6.2-1001/">6.2-1001</a>, or (3) affect the rule against perpetuities.</p></section></text><history>1962, c. 452, &#xA7; 55-17.1; 1975, c. 375; 1993, c. 454; 2011, c. 661; 2012, c. 558; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
