Estate Planning for Arlington County, Virginia Property Owners

For most Arlington County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Arlington County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Circuit Court. The two tools that keep a Arlington County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Clerk of Circuit Court, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Arlington County property passes through the Circuit Court — even simple Virginia probates run 6+ months. Virginia also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Arlington County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Arlington County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Clerk of Circuit Court during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Virginia transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentVa. Code 64.2-621 to 64.2-638Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathVa. Code 64.2-621 to 64.2-638Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Create a VirginiaTOD deed →Arlington Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Arlington County are recorded with the Clerk of Circuit Court, led by Clerk Paul F. Ferguson, at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201. Phone: 703-228-7010. Hours: 8:00AM - 4:00PM.

The Clerk of Circuit Court charges $26 for 1-10 pages, $40 for 11-30 pages, $60 for 31+ pages. A 2-page transfer on death deed is $29 in recording fees plus the $3 Open-Space Preservation Fee (Virginia Outdoors Foundation), before any required forms the office charges for. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Arlington County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Clerk of Circuit Court

Arlington County · Clerk · Paul F. Ferguson

Address

1425 North Courthouse RoadArlington, VA 22201

Hours

8:00AM - 4:00PM

E-recording

Available via CSC, SimplifileE-recording info →

Recording fees

1-10 pages$26
11-30 pages$40
31+ pages$60
Open-Space Preservation Fee (Virginia Outdoors Foundation)Applies to a TOD deed$3
Land Book Transfer FeeRequired with most deeds$1
Deed Processing Fee$20
Paper-Filing Fee (clerks offering electronic land-record filing)Up to $5.00 per instrument
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

Va. Code 17.1-275 (subdivision A 2), 17.1-279; add-ons at Va. Code 58.1-817, 58.1-3314(3), 17.1-258.3:1 and 2002-2010 Appropriations Act Sec. 3-6.01

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 9, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Arlington County

FirmArlington, VA

Arlington Law Group

Serves 2 counties

Arlington firm on Clarendon Boulevard serving Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax across Virginia, Maryland, and the District. Its probate, estate, and trust administration practice guides personal representatives and trustees through qualification, asset marshalling, and distribution, alongside will and trust drafting.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
1739 Clarendon BoulevardArlington, VA 22209

FirmTysons, VA

Cochran Law Group

Since 2004 · Serves 3 counties

Tysons firm serving Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Builds revocable-trust-centered plans and advanced vehicles — special-needs, charitable, and life-insurance trusts — and handles trust and estate administration, financial powers of attorney, and health-care directives. Founder Deborah Cochran has more than three decades in estate and tax planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationBusiness Succession PlanningCharitable Planning

Office
8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 160Tysons, VA 22182

FirmArlington, VA

Epting Law, PLLC

Serves 2 counties

Arlington firm on Wilson Boulevard serving Arlington, Alexandria, and the Northern Virginia courts. Handles probate and trust administration for executors and trustees, alongside guardianship and conservatorship petitions for incapacitated adults and minors. Attorney Kyle Epting has focused on estate planning and probate for fifteen years, and the firm offers a free initial consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationConservatorshipGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
2300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 700Arlington, VA 22201
Free consultation

FirmAlexandria, VA

Friedman, Grimes, Meinken & Leischner PLLC

Serves 7 counties

Old Town Alexandria firm serving Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William. Walks executors through the appointed tasks of settling an estate, or handles the probate start to finish, and takes trust administration, guardianship and conservatorship, and contested estates. Also licensed in DC and Maryland, which matters when the estate holds property across the line.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationConservatorshipand 3 more

Office
675 N. Washington Street, Suite 450Alexandria, VA 22314

FirmFairfax, VA

Hale Ball Murphy, PLC

Serves 4 counties

Fairfax firm serving Northern Virginia through the Fairfax County Circuit Court and Commissioner of Accounts since 1980. Handles probate and estate administration for executors and heirs, trust administration, estate and trust disputes and litigation, elder law, and special-needs planning. Provides fixed-price quotes for defined estate matters.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningWills Trusts

Office
10511 Judicial DriveFairfax, VA 22030

FirmVienna, VA

Miorini Law, PLLC

Serves 5 counties

Vienna firm serving Fairfax County and the wider Washington region, licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Estate and trust administration and probate are a named practice, alongside elder law, special-needs planning, and international tax and planning for cross-border estates. Offers a complimentary thirty-minute consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationElder Lawand 2 more

Office
8245 Boone Boulevard, Suite 550Vienna, VA 22182
Free consultation
See all 18 firms serving Arlington County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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