Bill Text: VA HB2190 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Enrolled
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-Enrolled.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,
only if there is a surviving spouse, children of the deceased, or children of
any deceased child of the deceased, 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 is 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.