Bill Text: VA HB2190 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Wrongful death; beneficiaries.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2021-03-31 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0488) [HB2190 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HB2190-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §8.01-53 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§8.01-53. Class and beneficiaries; when determined.
A. The damages awarded pursuant to §8.01-52 shall be
distributed as specified under §8.01-54 to (i) the surviving spouse, children
of the deceased and children of any deceased child of the deceased, and the
parents of the decedent if any of such parents, within 12 months prior to the
decedent's death, regularly received support or regularly received services
from the decedent for necessaries, including living expenses, food, shelter,
health care expenses, or in-home assistance or care, or (ii) if there be none such
no surviving spouse, children of the deceased, or children of any deceased
child of the deceased, then to the parents, brothers and
sisters of the deceased, and to any other relative who is primarily dependent
on the decedent for support or services and is also a member of the same
household as the decedent or (iii) if the decedent has left both surviving
spouse and parent or parents, but no child or grandchild, the award shall be
distributed to the surviving spouse and such parent or parents or (iv) if there
are survivors under clause (i) or clause (iii), the award shall be distributed
to those beneficiaries and to any other relative who is primarily dependent on
the decedent for support or services and is also a member of the same household
as the decedent or (v) if no survivors exist under clause (i), (ii), (iii), or
(iv), the award shall be distributed in the course of descents as provided for
in §64.2-200. Provided, however, no parent whose parental rights and
responsibilities have been terminated by a court of competent jurisdiction or
pursuant to a permanent entrustment agreement with a child welfare agency shall
be eligible as a beneficiary under this section. For purposes of this section,
a relative is any person related to the decedent by blood, marriage, or
adoption and also includes a stepchild of the decedent.
B. The class and beneficiaries thereof eligible to receive such distribution shall be fixed (i) at the time the verdict is entered if the jury makes the specification, or (ii) at the time the judgment is rendered if the court specifies the distribution.
C. A beneficiary may renounce his interest in any claim brought pursuant to §8.01-50 and, in such event, the damages shall be distributed to the beneficiaries in the same class as the renouncing beneficiary or, if there are none, to the beneficiaries in any subsequent class in the order of priority set forth in subsection A.
