Back to Virginia
Buchanan County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Buchanan County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Buchanan County Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | 1012 Walnut Street, Grundy, VA 24614 |
| Mailing address | Post Office Box 929, Grundy, VA 24614-7115 |
| Phone | (276) 935-6567 |
| Fax | (276) 935-7086 |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. No separate probate intake cutoff is published. |
| Probate tax and fees | The Commonwealth probate tax is set by Va. Code § 58.1-1712, and qualification and recording fees are set by Va. Code § 17.1-275. Ask the clerk whether Buchanan County charges the optional county probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718. |
| Local forms | No Buchanan County probate packet or county-specific cover sheet is published. Use the statewide Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms. |
| E-filing status | Buchanan participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings. VJEFS is for Virginia State Bar members and their staff, and qualification before the clerk is not handled through VJEFS. |
| Case access | No free public internet portal is published for Buchanan County estate files. OCIS is not a probate records system. |
| Remote appearance | No Buchanan County remote qualification practice is published. Remote civil hearings are discretionary when authorized by the court under Va. Code § 17.1-513.2. |
| Website | Buchanan Circuit Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the clerk in Grundy, make a working list of the assets, debts, real estate, account holders, heirs and beneficiaries. Virginia estate settlement starts with knowing whether the estate actually needs qualification, whether a will must be recorded, and whether the commissioner of accounts will later supervise an inventory and account.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions, helping families find accounts, insurance, investments and other assets before they choose a Buchanan County estate settlement path.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Buchanan County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Grundy serves Buchanan County probate matters, including Grundy and communities such as Vansant, Hurley, Whitewood, Rowe and Council. Buchanan County is in the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit and has its own clerk's office at 1012 Walnut Street.
Venue is based on the decedent, not on where a family member lives. A will is offered for probate in the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence, and a person who entered a nursing home or similar institution is presumed to have kept the same legal residence as before unless that presumption is rebutted (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the original will, certified death certificate, names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries, asset information, debt information, and any information about Buchanan County real estate.
- Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (276) 935-6567 before traveling to Grundy. Ask what the clerk wants you to bring, whether an appointment is needed, and whether Buchanan County charges the optional county probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718.
- Use the statewide Virginia circuit court forms. Common forms include CC-1650 for probate information, CC-1651 for the probate tax return when required, CC-1611 for the list of heirs, CC-1610 for a nonresident fiduciary, and CC-1625 for the certificate of qualification.
- File at the clerk's office at 1012 Walnut Street in Grundy, or mail only what the clerk tells you may be handled by mail. In Virginia, the clerk may admit the will to probate and qualify the executor or administrator without a judge in an ordinary uncontested estate (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the Commonwealth probate tax and statutory clerk charges that apply. The probate tax is imposed by Va. Code § 58.1-1712, recording and qualification fees are set by Va. Code § 17.1-275, and any county tax must be based on Va. Code § 58.1-1718.
- Do not expect a hearing date for a routine opening. A judge becomes involved if someone contests the will, appeals the clerk's order, asks for a show-cause procedure, or brings another disputed matter under the Virginia statutes.
- After qualification, send the required notice of probate or qualification within 30 days and record the affidavit of notice within four months (Va. Code § 64.2-508). Keep copies of what you send.
- Work with the commissioner of accounts for the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit after qualification. The inventory is returned to the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order conferring authority, and the first account is due within 16 months of qualification under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300 and 64.2-1304.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Buchanan County
Buchanan County does not publish a county-specific probate packet or cover sheet. The clerk uses the statewide Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms, and you should call the Grundy clerk's office before filing to ask which forms fit your facts.
| Form | Use in Buchanan County |
|---|---|
| CC-1650, Probate Information Form | Information the clerk commonly needs for a probate or qualification appointment. |
| CC-1651, Probate Tax Return | Used when a probate tax return is required under Va. Code § 58.1-1714. |
| CC-1611, List of Heirs | Filed at qualification, or with a will when nobody qualifies, under Va. Code § 64.2-509. |
| CC-1610, Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process | Used when a nonresident fiduciary qualifies under Va. Code § 64.2-1426. |
| CC-1625, Certificate / Letter of Qualification | The authority document issued by the clerk after qualification. |
| CC-1670, Inventory of Decedent's Estate | Returned to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk, under Va. Code § 64.2-1300. |
| CC-1680, Account for Decedent's Estate | Returned to the commissioner of accounts; the first account is due within 16 months under Va. Code § 64.2-1304. |
| CC-1685, Small Estate Affidavit | Presented to the bank or other holder when the statewide small-estate affidavit route fits. It is not filed with the Buchanan County clerk. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Archetype | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Call the clerk in Grundy before going in, then bring the will, death certificate, asset information and heir information to 1012 Walnut Street. The clerk records the will and handles qualification if needed. Buchanan County real estate can affect the probate tax calculation under Va. Code §§ 58.1-1712 and 58.1-1713 even when title questions are handled separately. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, real estate issues and beneficiary information before you decide whether qualification is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Buchanan County does not publish a self-service online qualification process. Call (276) 935-6567 to ask what can be handled by mail. A nonresident may qualify, but must sign CC-1610 and should expect surety questions under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411. If the statewide small-estate affidavit route fits, the affidavit is presented to the bank or holder, not filed at the Grundy counter. | Sunset can help sort assets and generate a probate packet, then connect you with a Virginia probate attorney if distance, surety or signatures become difficult. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a home must be sold through the estate, call the clerk and plan for qualification in Grundy. After qualification, the commissioner of accounts for the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit supervises the inventory and account. The inventory is due within four months, and the first account is due within 16 months under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300 and 64.2-1304. | Sunset helps gather asset details, prepare the family for the clerk appointment and organize the estate settlement tasks that continue after qualification. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Publishes the clerk's address, phone, fax, hours and circuit information. | Buchanan Circuit Court |
| Virginia Judiciary fiduciary forms | Statewide probate and fiduciary forms used in Buchanan County. | Fiduciary forms |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory | Find the current commissioner of accounts for Buchanan County and learn how that office supervises fiduciaries after qualification. | Commissioners of Accounts directory |
| Virginia Judiciary self-help probate forms | Plain-language index to Virginia probate forms. | Probate forms self-help |
| Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society | General civil legal aid for qualifying low-income residents in Buchanan County. Its public service descriptions cover civil matters such as family, consumer, domestic violence and employment issues, so ask at intake whether an estate issue is in scope. | Eligibility information; intake at 1-888-201-2772 |
When to hire an attorney
A Buchanan County probate attorney can be helpful when real estate must be sold, heirs disagree, a nonresident fiduciary needs help with surety, a creditor claim is disputed, or the commissioner of accounts asks for corrected inventory or accounting work. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help is the next step.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps organize assets, debts, insurance and real estate information before you call the Buchanan County clerk.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a working probate packet, including the details needed for Virginia's statewide forms and the questions to ask the clerk in Grundy.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate settlement needs legal advice, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Virginia probate attorney who understands clerk qualification and commissioner of accounts supervision.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the estate settlement path, organize documents and prepare for the next step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Buchanan County?
File with the Buchanan County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 1012 Walnut Street in Grundy, or mail only what the clerk tells you may be handled by mail. The mailing address is Post Office Box 929, Grundy, VA 24614-7115.
Does Buchanan County have a separate probate office?
No separate probate office is published for Buchanan County. Virginia probate is handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the Buchanan clerk's general office number is (276) 935-6567.
Is there electronic filing for a Buchanan County estate?
Buchanan participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings, but VJEFS is limited to Virginia State Bar members and their staff. Qualification as personal representative is handled with the clerk, not through VJEFS.
Can I view a Buchanan County estate file on the internet?
No free public internet portal is published for Buchanan County estate files. OCIS is not a probate records system, so call the clerk if you need to know how to inspect a recorded will, list of heirs or estate document.
Do I need a hearing to open an estate in Buchanan County?
Usually no. In an uncontested Virginia estate, the clerk may admit the will to probate and qualify the executor or administrator under Va. Code § 64.2-444. A judge becomes involved only if the matter is disputed or another statute requires court action.
What forms does Buchanan County require?
Buchanan County does not publish a county-specific probate packet. Use the statewide Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms, including CC-1650, CC-1611, CC-1610 when a fiduciary is not a Virginia resident, CC-1625 after qualification, and the commissioner of accounts forms when administration continues.
How much will I pay at the Buchanan County clerk's office?
The Commonwealth probate tax is imposed by Va. Code § 58.1-1712, and statutory recording and qualification fees are set by Va. Code § 17.1-275. Ask the clerk whether Buchanan County charges the optional county probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718 before you bring payment.
Do I have to travel to Grundy if I live out of state?
Call (276) 935-6567 before making travel plans. No Buchanan County online qualification process is published, but the clerk can tell you what, if anything, may be handled by mail. A nonresident fiduciary must file CC-1610 and should expect surety questions under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.