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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>86984</law_id><section_number>64.2-416</section_number><catch_line>Devises, bequests, and distributions that fail; how to pass</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="3">Construction and Effect</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For the purposes of this section, the terms &#x201C;revocable,&#x201D; &#x201C;settlor,&#x201D; &#x201C;trust instrument,&#x201D; and &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">trustee</span>&#x201D; have the same meanings as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-701/">64.2-701</a>. <a id="paragraph-311467" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-416/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Unless a contrary intention appears in the <span class="dictionary">will</span> or trust instrument, and except as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="When children or descendants of beneficiary to take estate or trust" href="/64.2-418/">64.2-418</a>: <a id="paragraph-311468" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-416/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If a devise, bequest, or distribution other than a residuary devise, bequest, or distribution fails for any reason, it shall become a part of the residue; and <a id="paragraph-311469" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-416/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If the residue is devised, bequeathed, or otherwise required to be distributed to two or more persons and the share of one fails for any reason, such share shall pass to the other residuary devisees, legatees, or beneficiaries in proportion to their interests in the residue. <a id="paragraph-311470" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-416/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disclaimer of interest in property" href="/64.2-2604/">64.2-2604</a> and <a class="law" title="Disclaimer of rights of survivorship in jointly held property" href="/64.2-2605/">64.2-2605</a> and unless a contrary intention appears in the <span class="dictionary">will</span>, if a testator makes a bequest, not exceeding the <span class="dictionary">value</span> of $100, to a legatee and such legatee refuses to take <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of such bequest, then the bequest shall fail and becomes a part of the residue of the testator&#x2019;s estate. <a id="paragraph-311471" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-416/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Subsection B applies to trusts and trust provisions only to the extent the trust instrument or provision is revocable immediately before the settlor&#x2019;s death on or after July 1, 2018, and the devise, bequest, or distribution occurs by reason of the settlor&#x2019;s death. <a id="paragraph-311472" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-416/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1985, c. 592, &#xA7; 64.1-65.1; 2003, c. 253; 2012, c. 614; 2014, c. 532; 2018, c. 44.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
