Estate Planning for Virginia Beach City, Virginia Property Owners

For most Virginia Beach City 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 Virginia Beach City 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 Virginia Beach City 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, Virginia Beach City 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 Virginia Beach City

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Virginia Beach City 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 →Virginia Beach Citysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Virginia Beach City are recorded with the Clerk of Circuit Court, led by Clerk Tina E. Sinnen, at 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Building 10 & 10B, 3rd Floor, Virginia Beach, VA 23456. Phone: 757-385-4181. Hours: 8:30AM - 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.

Virginia Beach City accepts electronic recording through CSC.

Recording Office Record

Clerk of Circuit Court

Virginia Beach City · Clerk · Tina E. Sinnen

Address

2425 Nimmo Parkway, Building 10 & 10B, 3rd FloorVirginia Beach, VA 23456

Hours

8:30AM - 4:00PM

E-recording

Available via CSCE-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

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Verified September 9, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Virginia Beach City

FirmVirginia Beach, VA

Alperin Law

Serves 5 counties

Estate planning and elder law firm in Virginia Beach serving families across Hampton Roads, with offices in Norfolk, Newport News, Suffolk, and Chesapeake. Handles estate and trust administration, probate, asset protection, Medicaid and long-term-care planning, special-needs planning, and veterans benefits. Offers a free initial consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawMedicaid Planningand 2 more

Office
500 Viking Drive, Suite 202Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Free consultation

Solo PracticeChesapeake, VA

Dominic P. Lascara, PLC

Since 2007 · Serves 5 counties

Chesapeake firm serving the Hampton Roads cities, handling probate and estate administration for families settling estates. Drafts wills and trusts, nominates guardians and executors, and provides elder-law services including Medicaid planning, durable powers of attorney, and advance directives. Solo practice with nearly three decades of experience.

PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
652 Independence Parkway, Suite 120Chesapeake, VA 23320

FirmVirginia Beach, VA

J.S. Burton, PLC

Serves 4 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawAsset Protectionand 2 more

Office
477 Viking Drive, Suite 410Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Free consultation

FirmVirginia Beach, VA

Oast & Taylor, PLC

Since 1915 · Serves 5 counties

Virginia Beach elder-law and estate firm with offices across Coastal Virginia (Portsmouth, Chesapeake) and northeastern North Carolina, with roots in the Oast family's Portsmouth practice of 1915. Handles estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, fiduciary litigation, and Medicaid asset protection. Offers in-home consultations for clients with limited mobility.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawGuardianshipand 2 more

Office
277 Bendix Road, Suite 240Virginia Beach, VA 23452

FirmVirginia Beach, VA

Pender & Coward, PC

Since 1889 · Serves 6 counties

Hampton Roads firm with its main office in Virginia Beach, plus Chesapeake and Suffolk, serving the local courts since 1889. Its Trusts & Estates group handles estate and trust administration, probate, asset-protection planning, and guardian and conservator appointments for both modest and substantial estates. Attorneys coordinate with clients' financial and trust advisers.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
222 Central Park Avenue, Suite 400Virginia Beach, VA 23462

FirmChesapeake, VA

Shannon & Associates, P.C.

Serves 6 counties

Chesapeake firm serving the Hampton Roads cities — Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. Estate-side work covers wills, powers of attorney, guardianships, and conservatorships, alongside a family-law and criminal-defense practice. Attorney Kristen M. Shannon is a former state prosecutor.

PracticesEstate PlanningConservatorshipGuardianshipPowers Of AttorneyWills Trusts

Office
840 Greenbrier Circle, Suite 202Chesapeake, VA 23320
See all 14 firms serving Virginia Beach City→

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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