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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54444</law_id><section_number>64.2-449</section_number><catch_line>Procedure in probate proceedings</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-448</reference></referred_to_by><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="5">Probate</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In every probate proceeding, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or clerk may require all testamentary papers of the testator be produced and may compel the production of the <span class="dictionary">will</span> of a testator that is in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of any person. <a id="paragraph-199809" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-449/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">summons</span> may be served by an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of publication on any person interested in the probate of the <span class="dictionary">will</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Service by publication; when available" href="/8.01-316/">8.01-316</a>. <a id="paragraph-199810" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-449/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may appoint a <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span> for any person interested in the probate of the <span class="dictionary">will</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Guardian ad litem for persons under disability; when guardian ad litem need not be appointed for person under disability" href="/8.01-9/">8.01-9</a>. <a id="paragraph-199811" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-449/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The record of the <span class="dictionary">testimony</span> given by witnesses in <span class="dictionary">court</span> on the <span class="dictionary">motion</span> to admit a <span class="dictionary">will</span> to probate and any out of <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">depositions</span> of witnesses who cannot be produced at a <span class="dictionary">jury trial</span> may be admitted as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> and given such weight as the jury deems proper. <a id="paragraph-199812" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-449/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 64-77, 64-82, 64-87; 1968, c. 656, &#xA7;&#xA7; 64.1-81, 64.1-86, 64.1-91; 2012, c. 614; 2015, c. 631.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
