A decedent (pronounced da-See-dunt) is a deceased person. This term is commonly used to refer to a deceased person in the law of wills, trusts, and estates.
In Virginia, the term 'decedent' refers to an individual who has passed away. In the context of wills, trusts, and estates law, the decedent is the person whose estate is being managed or distributed after death. Virginia law outlines specific procedures for handling a decedent's estate, including the appointment of an executor or administrator if the decedent had a will, or the appointment of an administrator if there was no will. The executor or administrator is responsible for collecting and managing the decedent's assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries according to the decedent's will or Virginia's intestacy laws if there is no will. These laws are codified in the Virginia Code, particularly in Title 64.2, which covers Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries.