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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80803</law_id><section_number>64.2-404</section_number><catch_line>Writings intended as wills</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="4">Wills</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Requisites and Execution</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Although a document, or a writing added upon a document, was not executed in compliance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Execution of wills; requirements" href="/64.2-403/">64.2-403</a>, the document or writing shall be treated as if it had been executed in compliance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Execution of wills; requirements" href="/64.2-403/">64.2-403</a> if the proponent of the document or writing establishes by clear and convincing <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the decedent intended the document or writing to constitute (i) the decedent&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">will</span>, (ii) a partial or complete <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of the <span class="dictionary">will</span>, (iii) an addition to or an alteration of the <span class="dictionary">will</span>, or (iv) a partial or complete revival of his formerly revoked <span class="dictionary">will</span> or of a formerly revoked portion of the <span class="dictionary">will</span>. <a id="paragraph-289651" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-404/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The remedy granted by this section (i) may not be used to excuse compliance with any requirement for a testator&#x2019;s signature, except in circumstances where two persons mistakenly sign each other&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">will</span>, or a person signs the self-proving certificate to a <span class="dictionary">will</span> instead of signing the <span class="dictionary">will</span> itself and (ii) is available only in proceedings brought in a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> under the appropriate provisions of this title, filed within one year from the decedent&#x2019;s date of death and in which all interested persons are made parties. <a id="paragraph-289652" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-404/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2007, c. 538, &#xA7; 64.1-49.1; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
