{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/64.2-454.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/64.2-454.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/64.2-454.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/64.2-454.1.html"}],"law_id":376262,"edition_id":2,"section_id":376262,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-454.1","catch_line":"Will contest; presumption of undue influence","history":"2022, c. 265.","full_text":"In any case contesting the validity of a decedent’s will where a presumption of undue influence arises, the finder of fact shall presume that undue influence was exerted over the decedent unless, based on all the evidence introduced at trial, the finder of fact finds that the decedent did intend it to be his will.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1404833,"text":"In any case contesting the validity of a decedent’s will where a presumption of undue influence arises, the finder of fact shall presume that undue influence was exerted over the decedent unless, based on all the evidence introduced at trial, the finder of fact finds that the decedent did intend it to be his will.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":53506,"edition_id":2,"name":"Probate","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":5,"parent_id":53501,"metadata":{"child_laws":13,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:17:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:07","permalink":{"id":1500309,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53506,"identifier":"5","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5","url":"\/64.2\/II\/4\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53501,"edition_id":2,"name":"Wills","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":53471,"metadata":{"child_laws":61,"child_structures":6},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:17:21","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:07","permalink":{"id":1500123,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53501,"identifier":"4","token":"64.2\/II\/4","url":"\/64.2\/II\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53471,"edition_id":2,"name":"Wills and Decedents' Estates","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":53424,"metadata":{"child_laws":210,"child_structures":29},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:16:56","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:06","permalink":{"id":1499913,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53471,"identifier":"II","token":"64.2\/II","url":"\/64.2\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53424,"edition_id":2,"name":"Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries","identifier":"64.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":136,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":776,"child_structures":114},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:16:27","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:37:05","permalink":{"id":1499783,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53424,"identifier":"64.2","token":"64.2","url":"\/64.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":376251,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-443","catch_line":"Jurisdiction of probate of wills","url":"\/64.2-443\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-443","metadata":false},{"id":376252,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-444","catch_line":"Clerks may probate wills","url":"\/64.2-444\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-444","metadata":false},{"id":376253,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-445","catch_line":"Appeal from order of clerk","url":"\/64.2-445\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-445","metadata":false},{"id":376254,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-446","catch_line":"Motion for probate; process against persons interested in probate","url":"\/64.2-446\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-446","metadata":false},{"id":376255,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-447","catch_line":"Use of depositions","url":"\/64.2-447\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-447","metadata":false},{"id":376256,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-448","catch_line":"Complaint to impeach or establish a will; limitation of action; venue","url":"\/64.2-448\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-448","metadata":false},{"id":376257,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-449","catch_line":"Procedure in probate proceedings","url":"\/64.2-449\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-449","metadata":false},{"id":376258,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-450","catch_line":"Probate of copy of will proved outside the Commonwealth; authenticated copy","url":"\/64.2-450\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-450","metadata":false},{"id":376259,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-451","catch_line":"Appointment of curator; when made; his duties","url":"\/64.2-451\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-451","metadata":false},{"id":376260,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-452","catch_line":"How will may be made self-proved; affidavits of witnesses","url":"\/64.2-452\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-452","metadata":false},{"id":376261,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-453","catch_line":"How will may be made self-proved; acknowledgment of witnesses","url":"\/64.2-453\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-453","metadata":false},{"id":376263,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-454","catch_line":"Appointment of administrator for prosecution of action for personal injury or wrongful death against or on behalf of estate of deceased resident or nonresident","url":"\/64.2-454\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-454","metadata":false},{"id":376262,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-454.1","catch_line":"Will contest; presumption of undue influence","url":"\/64.2-454.1\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-454.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":376263,"structure_id":53506,"section_number":"64.2-454","catch_line":"Appointment of administrator for prosecution of action for personal injury or wrongful death against or on behalf of estate of deceased resident or nonresident","url":"\/64.2-454\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-454","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/64.2-454.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2022. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 265<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1500359,"object_type":"law","relational_id":376262,"identifier":"64.2-454.1","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-454.1","url":"\/64.2-454.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/64.2-454.1\/","token":"64.2\/II\/4\/5\/64.2-454.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Will contest; presumption of undue influence","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 64.2-454.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In any case contesting the validity of a decedent’s will<\/span> where a presumption<\/span> of undue influence arises, the finder of fact<\/span> shall presume that undue influence was exerted over the decedent unless, based on all the evidence<\/span> introduced at trial<\/span>, the finder of fact<\/span> finds that the decedent did intend it to be his will<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nWILL CONTEST; PRESUMPTION OF UNDUE INFLUENCE (\u00a7 64.2-454.1)\n\nIn any case contesting the validity of a decedent’s will where a\npresumption of undue influence arises, the finder of fact shall presume that\nundue influence was exerted over the decedent unless, based on all the evidence\nintroduced at trial, the finder of fact finds that the decedent did intend it to\nbe his will.\n\nHISTORY: 2022, c. 265.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}