Fredericksburg firm serving Stafford, Spotsylvania, and the surrounding counties since 1992. Drafts wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives and handles estate administration, alongside real estate and business matters. Offers a free initial telephone consultation.
Probate in Stafford County
Probate Court Record
Stafford County Circuit Court
Stafford County · 15th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554
Website
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Stafford County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Stafford County? →Settling an estate in Stafford County →
Probate Firms Serving Stafford County
Elder-law and estate-planning firm serving Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and King George counties, with an additional office in the Washington, DC metro area. Handles trust and estate administration, probate, Medicaid and long-term-care asset protection, and special-needs planning. Offers free consultations by phone, video, or in person.
Woodbridge firm serving Prince William County and Northern Virginia, with estate probate as a standalone practice area. Advises executors and administrators on managing an estate and meeting the circuit court's probate requirements, and drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Clients work directly with an attorney and paralegal, in local courts for over 33 years.
Virginia Beach boutique estate firm, with offices in Williamsburg and McLean, serving eastern Virginia and the DC area. Handles trust and probate administration, estate planning, elder law, asset protection, and charitable-entity work for families across generations. Offers a free consultation.
Fairfax estate-planning, probate, and business-law firm serving Northern Virginia, with offices in the Glen Allen, Leesburg, and Alexandria areas. Its attorneys guide executors and administrators through probate and estate administration, and handle wills, trusts, and estate litigation. Offers a free initial consultation and conducts remote video meetings for clients who cannot meet in person.
Alexandria firm serving Northern Virginia families with estate planning and probate administration. Handles wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and estate administration. Most planning meetings are conducted virtually, with an in-person signing ceremony, accommodating clients who prefer remote work.
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
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
