Calling to pass Kim’s Law, which would revoke the legal rights of domestic violence perpetrators who kill their partners—preventing them from controlling burial decisions and/or shared property.

I am calling on lawmakers in Virginia to pass Kim’s Law, a bill that would protect the dignity of domestic violence victim's families after death.

Currently, in Virginia, a person who kills their partner still retain legal rights over their victim’s body and shared possessions—forcing grieving families to seek permission from the perpetrator to bury or cremate their loved one.

This is not only unjust—it is cruel.

I am South African, and I run a South African women’s support group here in Virginia. Recently I witnessed a heartbreaking situation where a family was unable to cremate their loved one immediately because they were legally required to obtain permission from her killer.

She was South African and one of my ladies in my group. Because her family was still in South Africa, they asked me and her aunt to deal with everything for them this side. As their only contact here in Virginia and the leader of the group, it was an honor for me to take responsibility and arrange everything for them. 

But unfortunately, we had to ask her killer permission to cremate her and even after the family arrived later from South Africa for the cremation service they needed to obtain permission from her killer to enter their rental home and collect Kim’s belongings. This added unimaginable pain to an already devastating loss. No family should ever have to endure such a cruel and unjust barrier to laying their loved one to rest. 

Kim’s Law would:

• Strip perpetrators of any rights over the victim’s remains and burial decisions.
• Prevent them from inheriting or controlling shared property.
• Empower families to make decisions without interference from the abuser.

Please sign this petition to demand justice and dignity for victims of domestic violence and their devastated families.