Probate in Colonial Heights City runs through the Circuit Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Colonial Heights City, settling their estate runs through the Circuit Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Colonial Heights City · 12th Judicial Circuit
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Verified July 5, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Colonial Heights City, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 550 Boulevard, Colonial Heights. The court sits in the 12th Judicial Circuit.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Virginia intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Virginia estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 6 monthsVa. Code §§ 64.2-554, 64.2-556(A) (six months from qualification before distribution may be compelled or ordered over creditors), 64.2-508.1(C)(4) (elective published notice: claims due at least six months from first publication); § 64.2-529 (separate 12-month personal-liability shield for the personal representative); § 64.2-550 (debts-and-demands hearing before the commissioner of accounts)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Colonial Heights City, Virginia comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Circuit Court at 550 Boulevard, Colonial Heights. The court is part of the 12th Judicial Circuit.
Virginia charges $0 - $30 (based on estate value)Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Circuit Court accepts e-filing (https://www.vacourts.gov/online/vjefs/home). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Virginia are negotiated, typically 2.5%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)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.9%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)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort — the states that do set a schedule pay 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 estate value. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Va. Code §§ 64.2-504(A) (bond required at qualification), 64.2-505(A)(2) (security waived when the will so directs)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Virginia typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate documents in Colonial Heights City can be filed in person at the Circuit Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 12th Judicial Circuit.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Circuit Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Colonial Heights City Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Criminal cases set by the Clerk on designated days: general criminal cases on Mondays and Tuesdays, civil cases on Thursdays. Sessions begin at 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. depending on the docket.
SourceBefore You Go
An appointment is required to file in person. Probate is handled by appointment only; appointments last approximately 45 minutes to an hour. To start, fax the will and death certificate to 804-524-8726 with a cover sheet containing your contact information (do not write on the will itself), or call 804-520-9364 if you lack a fax or there is no will. The Clerk admits or denies wills to probate and qualifies executors, administrators, guardians, and conservators.
To file at the Circuit Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Clerk of Circuit Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for Colonial Heights City are recorded with the Clerk of Circuit Court, led by Clerk Stacy L. Stafford, at 550 Boulevard, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. Phone: 804-520-9364. 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.
Colonial Heights City accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Colonial Heights City · Clerk · Stacy L. Stafford
Address
Phone
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E-recording
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 deed | Exempt |
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
Verified September 9, 2026 · Source
Virginia uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Colonial Heights City — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Virginia are based on reasonable compensation — typically 2.5%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)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 3.9%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)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Colonial Heights City firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Solo PracticePetersburg, VA
Petersburg firm serving the Southside corridor — Prince George, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, and Sussex. Handles wills, estate planning, and probate alongside real estate and civil litigation. One of the few estate practices with an office directly in the Petersburg area.
PracticesEstate PlanningMedical DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmColonial Heights, VA
Colonial Heights firm serving the Tri-Cities region — Petersburg and Hopewell — since 1982. Handles wills and estate planning, estate administration, and guardianship matters alongside its litigation practice. Offers flexible appointment scheduling and a service-member discount.
PracticesEstate PlanningGuardianshipProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmRichmond, VA
Richmond-area estate practice that meets clients at home or by video rather than requiring office visits. Prepares wills, trusts, advance medical directives, and powers of attorney on flat fees, and assists with probate across the region. Mobile and remote service is the firm's defining feature.
PracticesEstate PlanningMedical DirectivesPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts
FirmRichmond, VA
Richmond firm serving the city and Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties for more than 35 years. Handles wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and estate administration through the Virginia probate courts. Offers a free initial case evaluation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmRichmond, VA
Richmond firm on Westerre Parkway serving the metro area. Handles wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives, plus adult guardianship and contested estate and fiduciary litigation. Offers a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationTrust LitigationGuardianshipand 2 more
FirmFairfax, VA
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningPowers Of AttorneyProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
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.
Data sourced from Virginia statutes and official state code. How we research.
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Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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Step-by-step tools for families in Colonial Heights City, Virginia.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
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