reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 15 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 15. Validity of wills executed without the Islands

 A will executed without the Virgin Islands in the mode prescribed by the law, either of the place where executed or of the testator's domicile, shall be deemed to be legally executed, and shall be of the same force and effect as if executed in the mode prescribed by the laws of the Virgin Islands, provided such will is in writing and subscribed by the testator.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 16 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 16. Wills which may be proved

 A will of real or personal property, executed as prescribed by the laws of the Virgin Islands, or a will of real or personal property executed without the Virgin Islands in the mode prescribed by the law, either of the place where executed or of the testator's domicile, provided such will is in writing and subscribed by the testator, may be admitted to probate in the Virgin Islands.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 17 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 17. Effect of change of residence

 The right to have a will admitted to probate, the validity of the execution thereof, or the validity or construction of any provision contained therein, is not affected by a change of the testator's residence made since the execution of the will.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 18 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 18. Child born after making of will

 (a) Whenever a testator shall have a child born after the making of a last will, either in the lifetime or after the death of such testator, and shall die leaving such child, so afterborn, unprovided for by any settlement, and neither provided for, nor in any way mentioned in such will, every such child shall succeed to the same portion of such parent's real and personal estate, as would have descended or been distributed to such child, if such parent had died intestate, and shall be entitled to recover the same portion from the devisees and legatees, in proportion to and out of the parts devised and bequeathed to them by such will. (b) The word “child” as used in subsection (a) of this section shall be construed to include an illegitimate child, provided that in cases where such testator is the father, he admitted of record paternity of such child by signing the official birth certificate or paternity has been established by DNA testing; or he was adjudged the father of such child by a court of competent jurisdiction; or by written acknowledgment he recognized such child as his.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 19 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 19. Devise or bequest to subscribing witness

 If any person shall be a subscribing witness to the execution of any will, wherein any beneficial devise, legacy, interest or appointment of any real or personal estate shall be made to such witness, and such will cannot be proved without the testimony of such witness, the said devise, legacy, interest or appointment shall be void, so far only as concerns such witness, or any claiming under him; and such person shall be a competent witness, and compellable to testify respecting the execution of such will, in like manner as if no such devise or bequest has been made. Except as hereinafter provided in this section, no subscribing witness to a will shall be entitled to receive any beneficial devise, legacy, interest or appointment of any real or personal estate thereunder unless there are two other subscribing witnesses to the will who are not beneficiaries thereunder. But if such witness would have been entitled to any share of the testator's estate, in case the will was not established, then so much of the share that would have descended, or have been distributed to such witness, shall be saved to him, as will not exceed the value of the devise or bequest made to him in the will, and he shall recover the same of the devisees or legatees named in the will, in proportion to, and out of, the parts devised and bequeathed to them.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 20 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 20. Action by after-born child, or by subscribing witness

 A child, born after the making of a will, who is entitled to succeed to a part of the real or personal property of the testator, or a subscribing witness to a will, who is entitled to succeed to a share of such property, may maintain an action against the legatees or devisees, as the case requires, to recover his or her share of the property; and he or she is subject to the same liabilities and has the same rights, and is entitled to the same remedies, to compel a distribution or partition of the property, or a contribution from other persons interested in the estate, or to gain possession of the property, as any other person who is so entitled to succeed.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 21 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 21. Devise or bequest to descendant or to relative not to lapse

 Whenever any estate, real or personal, shall be devised or bequeathed to a child or other descendant or relative of the testator, and such legatee or devisee shall die during the lifetime of the testator, leaving a child or other descendant who shall survive such testator, such devise or legacy shall not lapse, but the property so devised or bequeathed shall vest in the surviving child or other descendant of the legatee or devisee, as if such legatee or devisee had survived the testator and had died intestate.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 22 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 22. Safe keeping of wills by district court

 The clerk of the district court, upon being paid the fees allowed therefor by law, shall receive and deposit in his office, any last will or testament of a resident of the Virgin Islands which any person shall deliver to him for that purpose, and shall give a written receipt therefor to the person depositing the same. A subscribing witness to any last will or testament may make and sign an affidavit before any officer authorized to administer oaths setting forth such facts as he would be required to testify to in order to prove such will. Such affidavit may be written upon said will, or on some paper securely attached thereto, and may be filed for safe keeping with the last will or testament to which it relates. There may also be filed with such will, affidavits of qualified physicians licensed or permitted to practice in the Virgin Islands, certifying that the maker of said will was of sound mind at the time of its execution, together with any facts supporting such opinion.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 23 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 23. Sealing and indorsing wills received for safe keeping

 A will delivered to the clerk of the district court for safe keeping shall be inclosed in a sealed wrapper, so that the contents thereof can not be read, and shall have indorsed thereon the name of the testator, his place of residence, and the day, month and year when delivered; and shall not, on any pretext whatever, be opened, read or examined, until delivered to a person entitled to the same, as hereinafter directed.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 24 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 24. Delivery of wills received for safe keeping

 A will received by the clerk of the district court for safe keeping shall be delivered only— (1) to the testator in person; or, (2) upon his written order, duly proved by the oath of a subscribing witness; or, (3) after his death to the persons named in the indorsement on the wrapper of such will, if any such indorsement be made thereon.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 25 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 25. Opening wills received by court for safe keeping

 If a will has been deposited with the clerk of the district court for safe keeping and has not been delivered as provided in section 24 of this title, the clerk of the court, after the death of the testator, shall publicly open and examine the same, and make known the contents thereof, and shall file the same in his office, there to remain until it shall have been duly proved, if capable of proof, and then to be delivered to the person entitled to the custody thereof; or until required by the authority of some competent court to produce the same in such court.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 26 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 26. Revocation and cancellation of written wills

 No will in writing, except in the cases hereinafter mentioned, nor any part thereof, shall be revoked, or altered, otherwise than by some other will in writing, or some other writing of the testator, declaring such revocation or alteration, and executed with the same formalities with which the will itself was required by law to be executed; or unless such will be burnt, torn, canceled, obliterated or destroyed, with the intent and for the purpose of revoking the same, by the testator himself, or by another person in his presence, by his direction and consent; and when so done by another person, the direction and consent of the testator, and the fact of such injury or destruction, shall be proved by at least two witnesses.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 28 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 28. Bond or agreement to convey property devised or bequeathed

 A bond, covenant, or agreement made for a valuable consideration by a testator, to convey any property devised or bequeathed in any last will previously made, shall not be deemed a revocation of such previous devise or bequest, but such property shall pass by the devise or bequest, subject to the same remedies on such bond, covenant, or agreement, for specific performance or otherwise, against devisees or legatees, as might be had by law against the heirs of the testator, or his next of kin, if the same had descended to them.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 29 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 29. Charge or incumbrance not a revocation

 A charge or incumbrance upon any real or personal estate for the purpose of securing the payment of money or the performance of any covenant or agreement shall not be deemed a revocation of any will relating to the same estate previously executed. The devises and legacies therein contained shall pass and take effect subject to such charge or incumbrance.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 30 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 30. Conveyance, when not deemed a revocation

 A conveyance, settlement, deed, or other act of a testator, by which his estate or interest in property, previously devised or bequeathed by him, shall be altered, but not wholly divested, shall not be deemed a revocation of the devise or bequest of such property; but such devise or bequest shall pass to the devisee or legatee, the actual estate or interest of the testator, which would otherwise descend to his heirs, or pass to his next of kin; unless in the instrument by which such alteration is made, the intention is declared, that it shall operate as a revocation of such previous devise or bequest.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 31 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 31. Conveyance, when deemed a revocation

 If the provisions of the instrument by which the alteration referred to in section 30 of this title is made are wholly inconsistent with the terms and nature of such previous devise or bequest, such instrument shall operate as a revocation thereof, unless such provisions depend on a condition or contingency, and such condition is not performed, or such contingency does not happen.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 32 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 32. Effect of cancellation of revocation of second will

 If, after making any will, the testator duly makes and executes a second will, the destruction, canceling or revocation of such second will, shall not revive the first will, unless it appears by the terms of such revocation, that it was his intention to revive and give effect to his first will; or unless after such destruction, canceling or revocation, he duly republishes his first will.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 33 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 33. Record of wills of real property

 A will of real property, which has been at any time, either before or after this Code takes effect, duly proved in the district court, with the certificate of proof thereof annexed thereto or indorsed thereon, or a certified copy of the will, may be recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds in the judicial division in which the real property is situated, in the same manner as a deed of real property. Where the will relates to real property, the executor or administrator, with the will annexed, shall cause the same, or a certified copy thereof, to be so recorded in the office of recorder of deeds in each judicial division in which real property of the testator is situated, within twenty days after letters are issued to him. An exemplification of the record of such a will, from any office where the same has been so recorded, either before or after this Code takes effect, may be in like manner recorded in the office of any recorder of deeds. Such a record or exemplification, or an exemplification of the record thereof, shall be received in evidence, as if the original will was produced and proved.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 34 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 34. Index of wills by recorder of deeds

 Upon recording a will or exemplification, as prescribed in section 33 of this title, the recorder of deeds must note and index it in the same books, and substantially in the same manner, as if it were a deed recorded in his office.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 35 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 35. Recording will established or proved without the Territory

 Where real property situated within the Virgin Islands, or an interest therein, is devised or made subject to a power of disposition by a will in writing, subscribed by the testator, duly executed in conformity with the laws of the Virgin Islands or of the place where executed or of the testator's domicile, and established or admitted to probate without the Territory and filed or recorded in the proper office as prescribed by the laws of the State or foreign country where the will was established or probated, or if such real property is cast by descent through lack of a devise thereof or of a power of disposition thereof by such a will in writing, a copy of such will or of the record thereof and of letters testamentary granted thereon or of the record thereof and of the proofs or of the records thereof, or if the proofs are not on file or recorded in such office, of any statement on file or recorded in such office, of the substance of the proofs, or a copy of a petition for letters of administration or of the record thereof and of letters of administration granted thereon or of the record thereof, authenticated as prescribed in section 36 of this title, or if no proofs and no statement of the substance of the proofs be on file or recorded in such office, a copy of such will or of the record thereof, authenticated as prescribed in such section 36, may be recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds in the judicial division in which such real property is situated, except that where it appears that such will was executed without the Territory no copy of proofs or of the record thereof and no statement of the substance of such proofs or of the record thereof shall be required; and such record in the office of the recorder of deeds or an exemplified copy thereof shall be presumptive evidence of such will and of the execution thereof and of the letters testamentary granted thereon and of such petition for letters of administration and of the letters of administration granted thereon, in any action or special proceeding relating to such real property.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 36 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 36. Authentication of papers from without the Territory

 To entitle a copy of a will established or admitted to probate or a copy of a petition for letters of administration or of letters testamentary or of letters of administration, granted in any State of the United States, and of the proofs or of any statement of the substance of the proofs of any such will, or of the record of any such will, petition, letters, proofs or statement to be recorded or used in this Territory as provided in section 35 of this title, such copy shall be authenticated by the seal of the court or officer by which or whom such will was established or admitted to probate or such letters were granted, or having the custody of the same or the record thereof, and the signature of a judge of such court or the signature of such officer and of the clerk of such court or officer if any. To entitle a copy of a will established or admitted to probate or a copy of a petition for letters of administration or of letters testamentary, or of letters of administration granted in a foreign country, and of the proofs or of any statement of the substance of the proofs of any such will, or of the record of any such will, petition, letters, proofs or statement, to be recorded or used in this Territory, as provided in such section, such copy shall be authenticated in the manner prescribed by the laws of the foreign country, and be accompanied by a certificate to the effect that the authentication is in the manner prescribed by the laws of such foreign country. Such certificate may be made by an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in the Virgin Islands, resident in such foreign country, or by a consular officer of the United States resident in such foreign country, under the seal of his office, or by a consular officer of such foreign country, resident in the Virgin Islands, under the seal of his office, or by such other person as the court may deem qualified. In case such certificate is made by a person so deemed qualified by the court, instead of by an officer or person specifically above-described, the judge presiding, shall sign and append to the papers for recording, his statement in writing that he deems such person qualified to make such certificate.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 37 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 37. Validity of purchase notwithstanding devise

 The title of a purchaser in good faith and for a valuable consideration, from the heir of a person who died seized of real property, shall not be affected by a devise of the property made by the latter unless, within two years after the testator's death, the will devising the same is either admitted to probate and recorded as a will of real property in the office of the recorder of deeds in the judicial division in which the property is situated, or established by the final judgment of the district court, in an action brought for that purpose. But if, at the time of the testator's death, the devisee is either within the age of twenty-one years, or insane, or imprisoned on a criminal charge, or in execution upon conviction of a criminal offense, for a term less than for life; or without the Territory; or, if the will was concealed by one or more of the heirs of the testator, the limitation created by this section does not begin until after the expiration of one year from the removal of such a disability, or the delivery of the will to the devisee or his representative, or to the proper recorder of deeds.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 38 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 38. Validity and effect of testamentary dispositions

 The validity and effect of a testamentary disposition of real property, situated within the Virgin Islands, or of an interest in real property so situated, which would descend to the heir of an intestate, and the manner in which such property or such an interest descends, where it is not disposed of by will, are regulated by the laws of the Virgin Islands, without regard to the residence of the decedent. Except where special provision is otherwise made by law, the validity and effect of a testamentary disposition of any other property situated within the Territory, and the ownership and disposition of such property, where it is not disposed of by will, are regulated by the laws of the State or country, of which the decedent was a resident, at the time of his death. Whenever a decedent, being a citizen of the United States or a citizen or a subject of a foreign country, wherever resident, shall have declared in his will and testament that he elects that such testamentary dispositions shall be construed and regulated by the laws of this Territory, the validity and effect of such dispositions shall be determined by such laws.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 39 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 39. Issue to take per stirpes

 If a person dying after the effective date of this Code devises or bequeaths any present or future interest in real or personal property to the “issue” of himself or another, such issue shall, if in equal degree of consanguinity to their common ancestor, take per capita, but if in unequal degree, per stirpes, unless a contrary intent is expressed in the will.
V.I. Code tit. 15, § 40 (2019)
2019 US Virgin Islands Code|Title 15 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations|Part I - Decedents' Estates|Chapter 1 - Wills|§ 40. Testamentary directions to purchase annuities

 If a person dying after the effective date of this Code directs in his will the purchase of an annuity, the person or persons to whom the income thereof is directed to be paid shall not have the right to elect to take the capital sum directed to be used for such purchase in lieu of such annuity except to the extent the will expressly provides for such right, or except to the extent that the will expressly provides that an assignable annuity be purchased. But nothing herein contained shall affect or lessen the rights of election by a surviving spouse against, or in absence of, testamentary provision as provided under section 10 of this title.