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§ 8.01-76.How proceeds from disposition to be secured and applied; when same may be paid over.

Chapter 3. Actions · Article 8. Actions for the Sale, Lease, Exchange, Redemption and Other Disposition of · Last amended 2018 · Last verified July 16, 2026

In one sentenceSection 8.01-76 requires proceeds and income from the sale, lease, or other disposition of a disabled person’s land to be invested under court supervision and secured, while letting the court pay a bonded fiduciary, apply funds to the person’s needs, disburse smaller amounts directly, or move the funds into a special needs trust.

Full Text of § 8.01-76

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The proceeds of sale, or rents, income, or royalties, arising from the sale or lease, or other disposition, of lands of persons under a disability, whether in a suit for sale or lease thereof, or in a suit for partition, or in condemnation proceedings, shall be invested under the direction of the court for the use and benefit of the persons entitled to the estate; and in case of a trust estate subject to the uses, limitations, and conditions, contained in the writing creating the trust. The court shall take ample security for all investments so made, and from time to time require additional security, if necessary, and make any proper order for the faithful application and safe investment of the fund, and for the management and preservation of any properties or securities in which the same has been invested, and for the protection of the rights of all persons interested therein, whether such rights be vested or contingent, but nothing hereinbefore contained shall prevent the court having charge thereof from directing such funds to be paid over to the legally appointed and qualified fiduciary, as defined in § 8.01-67, of the person under a disability, whenever the court is satisfied that such fiduciary has executed sufficient bond; or from applying at any time all or any portion thereof to the proper needs and requirements of the person under a disability. However, if such funds do not exceed the amount set forth in subsection B of § 8.01-606, the court, in its discretion and without the intervention of a fiduciary, may pay such funds to any person deemed appropriate by the court for the use and benefit of a person under a disability, whether such person resides within or without the Commonwealth. Such funds not in excess of the amount set forth in subsection B of § 8.01-606 shall, when paid over to such person deemed appropriate, be treated as personal property.
Upon request of the legally appointed and qualified fiduciary of the person under the disability or the guardian ad litem of the person under the disability, or upon the court's own motion, the court may order that such funds be distributed to a special needs trust as defined in § 64.2-779.10.

Plain-English Summary

This section governs what happens to money generated for a person under a disability, whatever proceeding produced it — a sale or lease suit under this article, a partition, or a condemnation. The proceeds of sale, along with any rents, income, or royalties, must be invested under the court’s direction for the benefit of the people entitled to the estate, and, where a trust is involved, subject to the terms of the instrument that created it.

The court carries ongoing responsibility for that money. It must take ample security for every investment, demand more security later if needed, and enter whatever orders are necessary to manage and preserve the invested property and protect the rights of everyone interested in it, vested or contingent. Even so, the court can direct the funds to the disabled person’s legally appointed and bonded fiduciary once satisfied the bond is sufficient, or apply all or part of the funds directly to that person’s needs at any time. And when the funds fall at or below the threshold set in § 8.01-606(B), the court may skip the fiduciary and pay an appropriate person directly for the disabled person’s benefit, wherever that person lives; funds handled that way are treated as personal property.

A second, later-added provision lets the court order the funds moved into a special needs trust as defined in § 64.2-779.10, either on the fiduciary’s request, the guardian ad litem’s request, or the court’s own motion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of proceedings does this section cover?

Any sale or lease suit under this article, a partition suit, or a condemnation proceeding — whenever the property involved belongs to a person under a disability, the resulting proceeds, rents, income, or royalties are handled under this section.

Does the court have to invest the money itself?

The investment happens under the court’s direction, with ample security taken and additional security required later if necessary, but the court can also direct the funds to the disabled person’s bonded fiduciary or apply them directly to that person’s needs.

Can the money go to someone without a fiduciary being appointed?

Yes, but only for smaller amounts. If the funds do not exceed the threshold in § 8.01-606(B), the court may pay them to a person it considers appropriate for the disabled person’s benefit, without involving a fiduciary, and the funds are then treated as personal property.

Can these funds be placed in a special needs trust?

Yes. The court may order the funds distributed to a special needs trust under § 64.2-779.10, at the request of the fiduciary or guardian ad litem, or on its own motion.

What if the property involved is subject to a trust?

The investment stays subject to the uses, limitations, and conditions written into the instrument that created the trust estate.

Amendment History

Code 1950, § 8-685; 1952, c. 360; 1968, c. 380; 1970, c. 355; 1972, c. 159; 1974, c. 139; 1977, c. 617; 1978, c. 419; 1981, c. 129; 2018, c. 124.

Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026. · Official source
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