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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55857</law_id><section_number>8.01-54</section_number><catch_line>Judgment to distribute recovery when verdict fails to do so</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.01-53</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Actions</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Death by Wrongful Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> may and the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall in all cases specify the amount or the proportion to be received by each of the beneficiaries, if there be any. No <span class="dictionary">verdict</span> shall be set aside for failure to make such specification. <a id="paragraph-204615" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-54/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If either <span class="dictionary">party</span> shall so request the case shall be submitted to the <span class="dictionary">jury</span> with instructions to specify the distribution of the award, if any. If the <span class="dictionary">jury</span> be unable to agree upon or fail to make such distribution, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall specify the distribution and enter <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> accordingly. For the purpose of distribution the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may hear additional <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>. <a id="paragraph-204616" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-54/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The amount recovered in any such <span class="dictionary">action</span> shall be paid to the personal representative who shall first pay the costs and reasonable attorney&#x2019;s fees and then distribute the amount specifically allocated to the payment of hospital, medical, and funeral expenses. The remainder of the amount recovered shall thereafter be distributed by the personal representative, as specified in subsections A and B above, to the beneficiaries set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Class and beneficiaries; when determined" href="/8.01-53/">8.01-53</a>; provided that any distribution made to any such beneficiaries shall be free from all debts and liabilities of the decedent. If there be no such beneficiaries, the amount so recovered shall be <span class="dictionary">assets</span> in the hands of the personal representative to be disposed of according to <span class="dictionary">law</span>. <a id="paragraph-204617" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.01-54/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 8-638; 1954, c. 333; 1973, c. 401; 1977, c. 617.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
