What you need to know
Clerk of the Circuit Court · Code of Virginia Title 64.2
Where Probate Is Handled in Virginia
Virginia probate is handled through the Circuit Court. The clerk commonly handles routine probate matters and appointments of executors and administrators. Families may therefore interact directly with the clerk as part of routine estate administration.
Simplified Estates in Virginia
Virginia's Small Estate Act may allow qualifying estates with up to $75,000 in personal property to use a simplified process. Waiting periods and other requirements can apply. The $75,000 simplified estate process applies to qualifying personal property, so the nature of the assets involved matters when determining whether the procedure may be available.
If There Is No Will
Virginia law determines who inherits probate assets when there is no valid will. A surviving spouse's share can depend on whether the person had children and whether those children were also children of the surviving spouse. Family structure can therefore affect how probate assets are distributed when someone dies without a will.
The Executor or Administrator
Virginia generally allows reasonable compensation for executors and administrators. Local guidance may be used to help determine an appropriate amount. The compensation available can therefore depend on the work involved and the guidance applicable to the estate.
Rights of a Surviving Spouse
A surviving spouse may have rights to claim part of the estate. They may also have protections involving the family home and certain property. The amount can depend on the circumstances, including the length of the marriage. These protections can affect what the surviving spouse receives and how the estate is ultimately distributed.
Creditor Claims
Virginia does not use one simple deadline for every creditor. Timing depends on the type of claim, how notice is provided, and the procedure being used. That makes creditor timing more nuanced than in states where one primary published-notice period can be used as a general starting point.
Virginia Estate and Inheritance Taxes
Virginia does not have a current state estate or inheritance tax. Families therefore do not have a separate Virginia estate or inheritance tax to account for as part of the state probate process.
Key things to know
The essentials for a Virginia estate.
Worth knowing
Virginia probate is handled through the Circuit Court.
Worth knowing
The clerk commonly handles routine probate matters and appointments.
Worth knowing
The Virginia Small Estate Act may provide a simplified process for qualifying estates with up to $75,000 in personal property.
Worth knowing
Waiting periods and other requirements can apply to the simplified process.
Worth knowing
Virginia creditor timing cannot accurately be reduced to one standard number.
Worth knowing
A surviving spouse may have rights involving the estate, family home, and certain property.
Worth knowing
Virginia does not have a current state estate or inheritance tax.
Compare to other states
Probate rules shift meaningfully once you cross a state line.
General information as of 2026-09-17, not legal advice for a specific estate. Dollar thresholds are indexed and change over time — confirm current figures before relying on any of them.