Va. Code Ann. tit. 64.2, ch. 25

in effect

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2500 Definitions

As used in this chapter: "Decedent" means any person whose life has been taken as a result of murder or voluntary manslaughter. "Property" includes any real and personal property and any right or interest therein. "Slayer" means any person (i) who is convicted of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of the decedent or, (ii) in the absence of such conviction, who is determined, whether before or after his death, by a court of appropriate jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence to have committed one of the offenses listed in clause (i) resulting in the death of the decedent. For the purposes of clause (ii), the party seeking to establish that a decedent was slain by such person shall have the burden of proof. 1981, c. 469, § 55-401; 1987, c. 498; 2008, cc. 822 , 830 ; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2501 Slayer not to acquire property as result of slaying

A slayer, or any transferee, assignee, or other person claiming through the slayer, shall not in any way acquire any property or receive any benefits as the result of the death of the decedent, but such property or benefits shall pass as provided in this chapter. 1981, c. 469, § 55-402; 2008, cc. 822 , 830l; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2502 Property passing by will or intestate succession; surviving spouse

A. The slayer shall be deemed to have predeceased the decedent as to property that would have passed from the estate of the decedent to the slayer by intestate succession or that the slayer would have acquired by statutory right as the decedent's surviving spouse. An heir or distributee who establishes his kinship to the decedent by way of his kinship to a slayer shall be deemed to be claiming from the decedent and not through the slayer. B. The slayer shall be deemed to have predeceased the decedent as to property that would have passed to the slayer by the will of the decedent; however, the antilapse provisions of § 64.2-418 are applicable to such property. 1981, c. 469, §§ 55-403, 55-404; 1990, c. 831; 2008, cc. 822 , 830 ; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2503 Concurrent ownership with or without survivorship

A. The death of the decedent caused by the slayer results in the vesting of the slayer's interest in property held by the decedent and the slayer as tenants by the entirety or any other form of ownership with the right of survivorship in the estate of the decedent as though the slayer had predeceased the decedent. B. The death of the decedent caused by the slayer results in the severance of the slayer's interest in property held by the decedent and the slayer as joint tenants, joint owners, or joint obligees without the right of survivorship and the share of the decedent passes as a part of his estate. 1981, c. 469, §§ 55-405, 55-406; 1992, c. 521; 2008, cc. 822 , 830 ; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2504 Reversions and vested remainders

Property in which the slayer holds a reversion or vested remainder and would have obtained the right of present possession upon the death of the decedent shall pass to the estate of the decedent, if the decedent held the particular estate, during the period of the life expectancy of the decedent, or if the particular estate is held by a third person and measured by the life of the decedent, it shall remain in the possession of the third person during the period of the life expectancy of the decedent. 1981, c. 469, § 55-407; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2505 Interests dependent on survivorship or continuance of life

Any interest in property, whether vested or not, held by the slayer subject to be divested, diminished in any way, or extinguished if the decedent survives him or lives to a certain age shall be held by the slayer during his lifetime or until the decedent would have reached such age, but shall then pass as if the decedent had died immediately after the death of the slayer or the reaching of such age. 1981, c. 469, § 55-408; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2506 Contingent remainders and future interests

A. As to any contingent remainder or executory or other future interest held by the slayer subject to become vested in him or increased in any way for him upon the death of the decedent, the slayer shall be deemed to have predeceased the decedent if the interest would not have become vested or increased if the slayer had predeceased the decedent. B. Notwithstanding subsection A, any contingent remainder or executory or other future interest shall not be vested in the slayer or increased in any way for him during the period of the life expectancy of the decedent. 1981, c. 469, § 55-409; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2507 Powers of appointment

A. The slayer shall be deemed to have predeceased the decedent as to any exercise in the decedent's will of a power of appointment in favor of the slayer and the appointment shall be deemed to have lapsed. B. Property held either presently or in remainder by the slayer subject to be divested by the exercise by the decedent of a power of revocation or a general power of appointment shall pass to the estate of the decedent. Property held by the slayer subject to be divested by the exercise by the decedent of a power of appointment to a particular person or persons or to a class of persons shall pass to such person or persons or in equal shares to the members of such class of persons, exclusive of the slayer. 1981, c. 469, § 55-410; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2508 Proceeds of insurance; bona fide payment by insurance company or obligor

A. Insurance proceeds payable to the slayer as the beneficiary or assignee of any policy or certificate of insurance or bond or other contractual agreement on the life of the decedent or as the survivor of a joint life policy shall be paid to the estate of the decedent, unless the policy or certificate designates some person as an alternative beneficiary to the slayer. B. If the decedent is the beneficiary or assignee of any policy or certificate of insurance on the life of the slayer, the proceeds shall be paid to the estate of the decedent upon the death of the slayer, unless the policy names some person other than the slayer or his estate as an alternative beneficiary, or unless the slayer, by naming a new beneficiary or by assigning the policy, performs an act that would have deprived the decedent of his interest in the policy if he had been living. C. No insurance company shall be subject to liability on a policy insuring the life of the decedent if (i) as a part of the slayer's plan to murder the decedent, such policy was procured and maintained by the slayer or as a result of actions taken or participated in by the slayer whether directly or indirectly and (ii) the decedent's death resulted from the slayer's act committed within two years from the date such policy was issued by the insurance company. D. Any insurer making payment according to the terms of its policy or contract or any bank or other person performing an obligation for the slayer as one of several joint obligees shall not be subjected to additional liability by the terms of this section if such payment or performance is made without notice of circumstances bringing it within the provisions of this section. 1981, c. 469, § 55-411; 2008, cc. 822 , 830 ; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2509 Persons acquiring from slayer protected

The provisions of this chapter shall not affect the right of any person who, before the interests of the slayer have been adjudicated, acquires from the slayer for adequate consideration property or an interest therein that the slayer would have received except for the terms of this chapter, provided that such property or interest is acquired without notice of circumstances tending to bring it within the provisions of this chapter. All consideration received by the slayer shall be held by him in trust for the persons entitled to the property under the provisions of this chapter, and the slayer shall be liable for any portion of such consideration that he may have dissipated and for any difference between the actual value of the property and the amount of such consideration. 1981, c. 469, § 55-412; 2008, cc. 822 , 830 ; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2510 Admissibility of judicial record determining slayer

The record of the judicial proceeding in which a person is determined to be a slayer shall be admissible in evidence for or against a claimant of property in any civil action arising under this chapter. A conviction shall be conclusive evidence of the guilt of the slayer. 1981, c. 469, § 55-413; 2008, cc. 822 , 830 ; 2012, c. 614 .

Va. Code Ann. § 64.2-2511 Construction

A. This chapter shall not be considered penal in nature, but shall be construed broadly in order to effect the policy of the Commonwealth that no person shall be allowed to profit by his own wrong, wherever committed. In furtherance of this policy, the provisions of this chapter are not intended to be exclusive and all common law rights and remedies that prevent one who has participated in the willful and unlawful killing of another from profiting by his wrong shall continue to exist in the Commonwealth. B. If this chapter or any part thereof is preempted by federal law with respect to a payment, an item of property, or any other benefit covered by this chapter, any person who, not for value, receives a payment, an item of property, or any other benefit to which he is not entitled under this chapter shall return that payment, item of property, or other benefit or be liable for the amount of the payment or the value of the property or benefit to the person who would have been entitled to it were this chapter or part thereof not preempted. C. The Uniform Simultaneous Death Act (§ 64.2-2200 et seq.) shall not apply to cases governed by this chapter. 1981, c. 469, §§ 55-414, 55-415; 1994, c. 475 ; 2007, c. 301 ; 2008, cc. 822 , 830 ; 2012, c. 614 .

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title64.2/chapter25/Fetched: 10/16/2026