CHAPTER 382
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 64.2-552 and 64.2-556 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 64.2 a section numbered 64.2-508.1 , relating to administration of estates; claims against decedent or estate.
[H 307]
Approved April 8, 2026
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 64.2-552 and 64.2-556 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 64.2 a section numbered 64.2-508 .1as follows:
§ 64.2-508.1 . Notice to creditors for presentation of claims against decedent.
A. For purposes of this section, "claim" means all claims against a decedent's estate that arose before the death of the decedent, except a contingent claim based on any warranty made in connection with the conveyance of real estate and claims of the United States and tax claims of the Commonwealth and subdivisions thereof, whether due or to become due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, founded on contract, tort, or other legal basis. "Claim" does not include (i) any mortgage, pledge, security interest, or other lien existing at the date of death of the decedent or (ii) claims of heirs or devisees to their respective shares or interests in the decedent's estate in their capacity as such heirs or devisees.
B. The personal representative of a decedent's estate, upon qualification, may publish a notice to all persons having a claim against the decedent to present such claim on or before the date to be specified in the notice under this section. The notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or county in which the personal representative qualified in accordance with the provisions of § 8.01-324 . At the same time, the personal representative shall personally deliver or send by first class mail a copy of the notice published under this section to the last known address of all persons having a disputed claim against the decedent that are actually known or can be ascertained by the personal representative with reasonable diligence.
C. Any notice published pursuant to this section shall include the following information:
1. The name and date of death of the decedent;