2006 Code of Virginia § 55-1 - Aliens may acquire, hold and transmit real estate; when reciprocity required

55-1. Aliens may acquire, hold and transmit real estate; when reciprocityrequired.

Any alien, not an enemy, may acquire by purchase or descent and hold realestate in this Commonwealth; and the same shall be transmitted in the samemanner as real estate held by citizens. However, whenever it appears to acourt of this Commonwealth that the laws of a foreign country or sovereigntyeffectively deny a Virginia resident, legatee or distributee of the benefit,use or control of money or other property held in that jurisdiction, ajudgment, order or decree issued in the Commonwealth concerning the rights ofa resident of that foreign country or sovereignty to the benefit, use orcontrol of money or property held in the Commonwealth, may direct that themoney or property be paid into the court for the benefit of the alien. Themoney or property paid into court shall be paid out only upon order of thecourt or pursuant to the order or judgment of a court of competentjurisdiction. Any of the money or property remaining with the court uponexpiration of three years from the decedent's death shall be paid out by thecourt as if the alien had predeceased the decedent.

(Code 1919, 66; 1993, c. 535.)