Probate in Louisa County

Probate Court Record

Louisa County Circuit Court

Louisa County · 16th Judicial Circuit

Hours

8:30 AM-5:00 PM

Office

100 West Main Street, Louisa, VA 23093

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Louisa County →

Verified October 16, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Louisa County? →Settling an estate in Louisa County →

Probate Firms Serving Louisa County

Henrico firm, with a Williamsburg office, serving the greater Richmond region within roughly 90 minutes of the city. Estate-side work covers estate planning, elder law and asset protection, and estate and fiduciary litigation, alongside family law. Offers fixed fees quoted in advance, free consultations, and estate-planning workshops held online or in person.

Serves 11 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planning+3

Peninsula firm headquartered in Yorktown, with offices in Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Saluda, serving the greater Tidewater region. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, Medicaid and elder-law matters, and special-needs and estate-tax planning. Established 1978, and offers a free case consultation.

Since 1978Serves 7 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planning+3

Williamsburg-anchored estate firm serving the Historic Triangle and central Virginia, with offices in Richmond and satellite locations including Glen Allen and Charlottesville. Handles probate, estate and trust administration, will and trust updates, powers of attorney, and inheritance matters for estates large and small. Offers a free consultation and an ongoing plan-maintenance service.

Since 2009Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateAsset ProtectionPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts

Charlottesville firm with a statewide Virginia practice and a second office in Harrisonburg, serving Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Handles probate and estate administration — locating assets, paying creditors and taxes, and distributing to heirs — plus trust and estate litigation, guardianship, and Medicaid planning. Offers a free consultation and will meet clients at home.

Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateElder LawMedical DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts

All 5 Virginia probate firms serving Louisa County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Virginia

Free Virginia forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Virginia.

$12/month

Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

Get Started
Free

Last Will and Testament

In Virginia, a will is signed before 2Va. Code § 64.2-403Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyVa. Code § 64.2-403Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

Get Started

All Virginia forms

Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Virginia

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Virginia: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Virginia.

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Virginia costs an estimated $29,411Va. Code §§ 64.2-105(B)(12) (fiduciary employs and compensates counsel), 64.2-1208(A) (commissioner of accounts allows reasonable expenses; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2.5%Modeled estimate under Va. Code §§ 64.2-105(B)(12) (fiduciary employs and compensates counsel), 64.2-1208(A) (commissioner of accounts allows reasonable expenses; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.9%Modeled estimate under Va. Code §§ 64.2-105(B)(12) (fiduciary employs and compensates counsel), 64.2-1208(A) (commissioner of accounts allows reasonable expenses; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.

Calculate Costs

How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Virginia: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysVa. Code § 64.2-1300Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 6 monthsVa. Code §§ 64.2-508.1, 64.2-528, 64.2-529, 64.2-550, 64.2-552, 64.2-556Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

See the Steps

How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Virginia pays executors reasonable compensationVa. Code § 64.2-1208(A) (commissioner of accounts allows reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, typically 2.2%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.8%Estimated from the 16 state statutes that set an executor fee schedule (median and interquartile range at this estate value)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate.

Calculate the Fee

Do I Need Probate?

In Virginia, estates with personal property of $75,000Va. Code § 64.2-600Verified Sep 9, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate AffidavitVa. Code § 64.2-600Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, 60 daysVa. Code § 64.2-600Verified Sep 9, 2026View source after death.

Get the Answer

What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In Virginia, the 6 monthsVa. Code §§ 64.2-554, 64.2-556(A) (six months from qualification), 64.2-508.1(C)(4) (published notice); § 64.2-529 (12-month liability shield); § 64.2-550 (debts-and-demands hearing)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source period after first publication of the creditor notice protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.

Check the Rules

Can I Self-File Probate?

In Virginia, informal probate is not available, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.

Get the Answer

All Virginia tools