Themis Essay 5762

Question 1

A decedent’s personal estate generally includes

Answer 1

property owned outright by the decedent at the time of his death.

Question 2

Property that passes automatically by law upon death

Answer 2

is not included in a decedent’s personal estate.

Question 3

In order to inherit a decedent’s property or for a transfer upon death to occur,

Answer 3

a person must survive the decedent by 120 hours.

Question 4

If co-tenants die within a 120-hour period,

Answer 4

the property is divided among them.

Question 5

Virginia law states that a valid will governs

Answer 5

the disposition of a decedent’s estate.

Question 6

A person must survive the decedent by 120 hours in order to

Answer 6

inherit as a beneficiary under a will.

Question 7

A gift to a predeceased beneficiary

Answer 7

lapses (fails), but if an alternative beneficiary is named, then they will take the gift.

Question 8

“Per stirpes” means

Answer 8

the entire estate is divided by the total number of children who survive or leave surviving issue.

Question 9

Under per stirpes, the surviving children

Answer 9

take the share their parent would have received in equal portions.

Question 10

If a person dies without a will,

Answer 10

Virginia intestacy statutes will govern the distribution of the intestate’s property.

Question 11

If an intestate has surviving descendants but no surviving spouse,

Answer 11

the descendants will inherit the intestate’s entire estate.