The title of a bona fide purchaser without notice from the heir at law of a person who has died heretofore, or who may die hereafter, having title to any real estate of inheritance in the Commonwealth, shall not be affected by a devise of such real estate made by the decedent, unless within one year after the testator‘s death the will devising the same or, if such will has been probated outside of the Commonwealth, an authenticated copy thereof and the certificate of probate shall be filed for probate before the court or clerk having jurisdiction for that purpose and shall afterwards be admitted to probate and recorded in the proper court or clerk’s office as a will of real estate.

Need help with a review of a will?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In Virginia Code 64.2-456

  • Bona fide purchaser: means a purchaser of property for value who has acted in the transaction in good faith. See Virginia Code 64.2-100
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, government, political subdivision, or any other legal or commercial entity and any successor, representative, agent, agency, or instrumentality thereof. See Virginia Code 1-230
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • real estate: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights and appurtenances thereto and interests therein, other than a chattel interest. See Virginia Code 1-219
  • Testator: A male person who leaves a will at death.

Code 1950, § 64-91; 1968, c. 656, § 64.1-95; 2012, c. 614.