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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62978</law_id><section_number>64.2-306</section_number><catch_line>Charging spouse with the value of property received; liability of others for balance of elective share</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Wills and Decedents' Estates</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Rights of Married Persons</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Elective Share of Surviving Spouse</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In determining the elective share, the <span class="dictionary">value</span> of property included in the augmented estate that passes or has passed to the surviving spouse, or that would have passed to the spouse but was disclaimed, is applied first to satisfy the elective share in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to reduce any contributions due from other recipients of transfers included in the augmented estate. <a id="paragraph-229720" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The recipients of the remaining property of the augmented estate are liable to contribute the balance of the elective share and any interest thereon in proportion to the <span class="dictionary">value</span> of their interests. <a id="paragraph-229721" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The only persons subject to contribution to make up the elective share are (i) an original transferee from or appointee of the decedent, and any subsequent gratuitous inter vivos donee or person claiming by <span class="dictionary">will</span> or intestate succession, to the extent such person has the property or its proceeds on or after the date of the decedent&#x2019;s death, and (ii) a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span>, as to the property under the <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span>&#x2019;s control at or after the time a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> receives notice that a surviving spouse has claimed an elective share in the decedent&#x2019;s estate. A corporate <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> shall not be considered to have notice until it receives notice at its address as shown in the decedent&#x2019;s estate papers in the clerk&#x2019;s office or, if there are no such papers or no address is shown therein, at the office of its registered agent.
			No other <span class="dictionary">party</span> is subject to contribution to make up the elective share even though the <span class="dictionary">party</span> makes a payment or transfers an item of property or other benefit to any person with actual knowledge that a surviving spouse has claimed an elective share in the decedent&#x2019;s estate. <a id="paragraph-229722" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Upon the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> of the surviving spouse, the decedent&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">personal representative</span>, or any <span class="dictionary">party in interest</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the administration of the decedent&#x2019;s estate shall determine the amount of the elective share and the ratable portion of the elective share attributable to each person liable to contribution. Such <span class="dictionary">petition</span> may be brought against fewer than all persons from whom relief could be sought, but no person is subject to contribution in any amount greater than that which he would have been if relief had been secured against all persons subject to contribution. <a id="paragraph-229723" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Within 30 days after the <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s determination of the contributions due under subsection D becomes final and not subject to further <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>, any person liable to the surviving spouse for contribution may file with the <span class="dictionary">court</span> a written statement specifying any of the following methods for satisfying his contribution and interest liability: <a id="paragraph-229724" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Conveyance to the surviving spouse of a portion of the property included in the augmented estate equal in <span class="dictionary">value</span> to his liability on the date the contribution statement is filed, or if, on the date of filing, the <span class="dictionary">value</span> of the property included in the augmented estate is less than his liability, conveyance to the surviving spouse of the entire property included in the augmented estate in full satisfaction; <a id="paragraph-229725" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#E1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Payment of the <span class="dictionary">value</span> of his liability in cash or, upon agreement of the surviving spouse, other property; or <a id="paragraph-229726" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#E2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Partial conveyance and partial payment under subdivisions 1 and 2, provided that the <span class="dictionary">value</span> conveyed and paid is equal to his liability.
				In the event a contribution statement is not filed within 30 days, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall enter an <span class="dictionary">order</span> specifying the method by which a person&#x2019;s liability to the surviving spouse shall be satisfied. <a id="paragraph-229727" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-306/#E3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, c. 831, &#xA7; 64.1-16.2; 1992, cc. 617, 647; 2007, c. 308; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
