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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>57425</law_id><section_number>64.2-601</section_number><catch_line>Payment or delivery of small asset by affidavit</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>51.1-511</reference><reference>6.2-1367</reference><reference>64.2-600</reference><reference>64.2-602</reference><reference>64.2-603</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="6">Transfers Without Qualification</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Virginia Small Estate Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> having <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of a <span class="dictionary">small asset</span> shall pay or deliver the <span class="dictionary">small asset</span> to the <span class="dictionary">designated successor</span> of the decedent upon being presented an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> made by all of the known <span class="dictionary">successors</span> stating: <a id="paragraph-210423" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> That the <span class="dictionary">value</span> of the decedent&#x2019;s entire personal probate estate as of the date of the decedent&#x2019;s death, wherever located, does not exceed $75,000; <a id="paragraph-210424" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> That at least 60 days have elapsed since the decedent&#x2019;s death; <a id="paragraph-210425" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> That no application for the appointment of a <span class="dictionary">personal representative</span> is pending or has been granted in any <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; <a id="paragraph-210426" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> That the decedent&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">will</span>, if any, was duly probated; <a id="paragraph-210427" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> That the claiming successor is entitled to payment or delivery of the <span class="dictionary">small asset</span>, and the basis upon which such entitlement is claimed; <a id="paragraph-210428" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The names and addresses of all <span class="dictionary">successors</span>, to the extent known; <a id="paragraph-210429" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The name of each successor designated to receive payment or delivery of the <span class="dictionary">small asset</span> on behalf of all <span class="dictionary">successors</span>; and <a id="paragraph-210430" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> That the <span class="dictionary">designated successor</span> shall have a <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> duty to safeguard and promptly pay or deliver the <span class="dictionary">small asset</span> as required by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-210431" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">designated successor</span> may discharge his <span class="dictionary">fiduciary</span> duty to promptly pay or deliver the <span class="dictionary">small asset</span> to a successor who is, or is reasonably believed to be, incapacitated or under a legal disability, by paying or delivering the asset directly to the incapacitated or disabled successor or applying it for such successor&#x2019;s benefit, or by: <a id="paragraph-210432" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Paying it to such successor&#x2019;s conservator or, if no conservator exists, guardian; <a id="paragraph-210433" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Paying it to such successor&#x2019;s custodian under the Virginia Uniform Transfers to <span class="dictionary">Minors</span> Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-1900/">64.2-1900</a> et seq.) or custodial <span class="dictionary">trustee</span> under the Uniform Custodial Trust Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-900/">64.2-900</a> et seq.), and, for that purpose, creating a custodianship or custodial trust; <a id="paragraph-210434" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">designated successor</span> does not know of a conservator, guardian, custodian, or custodial <span class="dictionary">trustee</span>, paying it to an adult relative or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> having legal or physical care or <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of such successor to be expended on such successor&#x2019;s behalf; or <a id="paragraph-210435" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Managing it as a separate fund on such successor&#x2019;s behalf, subject to such successor&#x2019;s continuing right to withdraw the asset. <a id="paragraph-210436" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any successor may be represented and bound under virtual representation provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Representation; basic effect" href="/64.2-714/">64.2-714</a>, <a class="law" title="Representation by fiduciaries and parents or other ancestors" href="/64.2-716/">64.2-716</a>, and <a class="law" title="Representation by person having substantially identical interest" href="/64.2-717/">64.2-717</a> with respect to <span class="dictionary">affidavits</span> required and designations of <span class="dictionary">persons</span> to receive payment or delivery of a <span class="dictionary">small asset</span> under this article. <a id="paragraph-210437" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A transfer agent of any security, upon the surrender of the certificates, if any, evidencing the security, shall change the registered ownership on the books of a corporation from the decedent to the <span class="dictionary">designated successor</span> upon the presentation of an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> as provided in subsection A. <a id="paragraph-210438" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Upon the presentation of an <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> as provided in subsection A, the <span class="dictionary">designated successor</span> may endorse or negotiate any <span class="dictionary">small asset</span> that is a check, draft, or other negotiable instrument that is payable to the decedent or the decedent&#x2019;s estate. Notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Unauthorized signature" href="/8.3A-403/">8.3A-403</a>, <a class="law" title="Presentment warranties" href="/8.3A-417/">8.3A-417</a>, and <a class="law" title="Conversion of instrument" href="/8.3A-420/">8.3A-420</a>, a financial institution accepting such check, draft, or other negotiable instrument presented for deposit in such manner is discharged from all claims for the amount accepted. <a id="paragraph-210439" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-601/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1981, c. 281, &#xA7; 64.1-132.2; 1996, c. 549; 2001, c. 368; 2006, c. 280; 2010, c. 269; 2012, c. 614; 2013, c. 68; 2015, c. 617; 2019, c. 360; 2025, c. 148.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
