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Chesterfield County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Chesterfield County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Chesterfield Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division |
| Courthouse address | 9500 Courthouse Road, first floor, Chesterfield, VA 23832 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 125, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Probate packets may be addressed to Chesterfield Circuit Court Clerk's Office, ATTN: Probate Division, 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832. |
| Probate phone | 804-706-7680 |
| Main clerk phone | (804) 748-1241 |
| Probate email | [email protected] |
| Probate fax for advance information | 804-717-6797. This is for the advance packet, not for case filings. |
| Hours | Public service hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Recording hours end at 3:30 p.m.; documents presented after recording hours are recorded the next business day. |
| Probate tax and clerk charges | The clerk lists the state probate tax as $1 per $1,000 of probate assets, the same rate as 10 cents per $100, and estates of $15,000 or less pay no state probate tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A county or city may add a local probate tax equal to one third of the state amount (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), so ask the Probate Division to total the charges when it schedules your appointment. |
| Local forms | Yes. Chesterfield publishes a Probate and Estate Administration Information handout, an online Pre-Probate and Estate Asset Worksheet, and a Mail-In Probate Service Request. |
| Electronic filing | No electronic filing for probate. Opening an estate is an in-person appointment with the Probate Division after the advance packet is reviewed. |
| Case information | No free public portal shows the estate file. The clerk's free index covers civil and criminal cases, while recorded wills from 1994 forward are in the clerk's paid Secure Remote Access subscription or available in person in the Record Room. |
| Remote appearance | Remote qualification is not available. A personal appearance is required if someone is qualifying. The Probate Division offers mail-in will recording only when nobody is qualifying as executor or administrator. |
| Website | Chesterfield wills and estate administration |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you contact the Chesterfield Probate Division, identify what was in the decedent's name alone, what passed by beneficiary designation or survivorship, what debts exist, and whether any Chesterfield real estate must be sold or only placed in the title chain. Chesterfield asks for that information before it will schedule a probate appointment, and it uses the asset values to prepare the paperwork, calculate probate tax, and discuss bond.
Sunset's estate settlement tools can help you organize the asset list before the packet goes to the clerk. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts that might otherwise be missed, which matters in Chesterfield because the appointment is scheduled only after the Probate Division has reviewed the information you provide.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Chesterfield County estates are opened at the Chesterfield Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division, on the first floor of the Courts Building at 9500 Courthouse Road in Chesterfield. That clerk serves Chesterfield County only.
Virginia venue is the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443). Chesterfield's own guidance adds a practical point: assisted living counts as a residence for probate purposes, but if the decedent died while in a nursing home, the person's residence before entering the nursing home determines the jurisdiction.
The Twelfth Judicial Circuit includes Chesterfield County and the City of Colonial Heights (Va. Code § 17.1-506). The City of Colonial Heights has its own Clerk of the Circuit Court and its own courthouse, so a Colonial Heights estate is not opened at the Chesterfield counter.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the information Chesterfield asks for before scheduling: your contact information, a copy of the death certificate, a copy of the will and codicils if any, the name and contact information for each person who wants to qualify, the heirs at law, and an estimated estate value.
- Send the packet to the Probate Division through the online Pre-Probate and Estate Asset Worksheet, by email to [email protected], by fax to 804-717-6797, by mail, or by drop-off in an envelope marked ATTN: Probate Division.
- Wait for the Probate Division to review the packet. Chesterfield says appointments are not scheduled until all necessary information has been provided in advance, and asks families to allow two to three business days for a response.
- When the Probate Division contacts you, discuss whether probate, qualification, mail-in will recording without qualification, or a real-estate-only route fits the estate. Ask the Probate Division to total the probate tax and clerk charges for the appointment (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1712, 58.1-1718).
- Bring the original will and any codicils to the appointment if a will is being probated. Chesterfield says to provide copies before scheduling, safeguard the original, bring the original to the appointment, and not write on the original will.
- Appear in person for qualification if someone is being appointed. In Virginia, the clerk may admit the will to probate and qualify the personal representative, which is Virginia's word for being appointed and sworn in (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Receive the certificate of qualification, the authority document used to deal with banks and other institutions (Va. Code § 64.2-506). Chesterfield's published fee list says two certificates are included in the base fee and additional certificates are $2 each.
- Send required notices, record the affidavit of notice when required, and administer the estate. After qualification, the inventory goes to the Commissioner of Accounts within four months after qualification, and the first account is due within 16 months under Va. Code § 64.2-1304.
- File the inventory, accounts, and any statement in lieu with the Commissioner of Accounts at 9512 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 110, not with the clerk's counter. The commissioner reviews and settles fiduciary accounts as part of estate settlement.
- Close the estate through the commissioner of accounts process, a statement in lieu when available, or the appropriate creditor and distribution process if the estate requires it.
Executor duties
Chesterfield's local layer is about routing and preparation. The clerk keeps the original will after it is admitted, so send copies before the appointment and bring the original to the appointment. The clerk also says staff cannot give legal advice, so questions about powers of sale, title, heirship, bond, or disputes may need an attorney or accountant.
| Local duty | Where it goes in Chesterfield County |
|---|---|
| Advance packet | Probate Division, by the county's online worksheet, [email protected], fax 804-717-6797, mail, or drop-off before an appointment is scheduled. |
| Original will | Bring it to the scheduled appointment. Chesterfield says the original is kept by the clerk. |
| Bond and surety discussion | Handled at the qualification appointment. Chesterfield says all fiduciaries are bonded, the bond is set above the estate value and payable to the Commonwealth, and the probate clerk discusses whether surety applies. |
| Inventory and accounts | Commissioner of Accounts for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, 9512 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 110, Chesterfield, VA 23832, mailing P.O. Box 998, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-796-4891. |
| Recorded documents | Recording hours end at 3:30 p.m. Documents presented after recording hours are recorded the next business day. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Chesterfield County
Chesterfield has local probate intake materials in addition to the statewide Virginia Circuit Court forms. The local materials do not replace the CC forms. Chesterfield says no estate-related Virginia Supreme Court forms need to be completed before you ask for an appointment, because the official paperwork is prepared at the scheduled appointment.
| Form or resource | How it is used in Chesterfield County |
|---|---|
| Probate and Estate Administration Information Appointment Checklist | The clerk's plain-language handout and estate asset worksheet. Use it to gather the information the Probate Division needs before it will schedule an appointment. |
| Pre-Probate and Estate Asset Worksheet | The county's online intake form for submitting the information needed in advance of scheduling probate. |
| Mail-In Probate Service Request | Used only to request mail-in recording of a will when nobody is qualifying as executor or administrator. |
| Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms | The statewide CC forms Chesterfield links for estate matters, including the list of heirs, notice forms, certificate of qualification, inventory, account, statement in lieu, small estate affidavit, and creditor notice forms. |
| Small estate affidavit, CC-1685 | Chesterfield says staff can provide this form as a courtesy if it may apply, and tells you to check with the financial institution before submitting it. The affidavit goes to the holder of the asset, not to the courthouse. |
| List of Heirs / Real Estate Affidavit, CC-1612 | Chesterfield links this form for an intestate decedent whose only asset that needs to be handled is Chesterfield real estate. |
Fees
Chesterfield publishes a short probate charge list and also links the statewide Circuit Court Fee Schedule. Ask the Probate Division to total the charges for your appointment after it reviews the packet.
| Charge | Chesterfield County detail |
|---|---|
| State probate tax | The clerk lists $1 per $1,000 of probate assets, which is the statewide 10 cents per $100 rate. Estates of $15,000 or less pay no state probate tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). |
| Local probate tax | A Virginia county or city may add a local probate tax equal to one third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718). Ask the Probate Division on 804-706-7680 to total your charges when it schedules your appointment. |
| Will or clerk's order recording | $18 up to 10 pages, according to the clerk's current published probate charge list. |
| List of heirs | $18 when recorded with a will, and $44 when recorded without a will, according to the clerk's current published probate charge list. |
| Real estate affidavit | $44, according to the clerk's current published probate charge list. |
| Transfer fee | $1 if the decedent had an interest in Chesterfield real estate. |
| Qualification fee | The clerk lists a clerk's fee of $0 to $30, assessed based on estate value. The statewide qualification fee tiers are set by Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3). |
| Certificate of qualification | $2 each, with two included in the base fee, according to the clerk's current published probate charge list. |
| Copies | Copies are $0.50 per page, and certified copies add $2 per document. |
| Credit card convenience fee | $2 on credit card transactions, under Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(27). |
| Payment methods | Cash, check, credit card, and money order. Checks and money orders are payable to the Chesterfield Circuit Court Clerk. Personal checks and in-person card payments require government-issued photo identification. |
Timeline
- Submit the advance information packet first, using the county's online worksheet, [email protected], fax 804-717-6797, mail, or drop-off.
- Allow two to three business days for a probate staff member to review the packet and contact you. The appointment is scheduled after that review.
- Bring the original will and any codicils to the appointment if a will is being probated. Chesterfield says the original will is kept by the clerk.
- If nobody is qualifying and the only task is recording the will, ask for the mail-in will-recording service instead. Do not mail the original will until the Probate Division has reviewed the information and sent instructions.
- Present documents for recording before 3:30 p.m. if you need same-day recording. Documents presented after recording hours are recorded the next business day.
- After qualification, send the inventory and accounts to the Commissioner of Accounts at 9512 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 110. The first account is due within 16 months under Va. Code § 64.2-1304.
Local nuance
Chesterfield County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a family |
|---|---|
| Appointment after review | Chesterfield will not schedule the probate appointment until the Probate Division has received and reviewed the required information. The clerk asks families to allow two to three business days for a response. |
| No forms before scheduling | The clerk says the official paperwork is prepared at the appointment. Your first task is to provide the information packet, not to complete the statewide CC forms on your own. |
| Mail-in will recording is limited | The Probate Division offers mail-in will recording only when nobody is qualifying as executor or administrator. Remote qualification is not available. |
| No will safekeeping | Chesterfield does not file wills for safekeeping after execution. Wills are recorded after the person has died. |
| Commissioner is nearby, not in the courthouse | The Commissioner of Accounts is at 9512 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 110, near the courthouse. Inventories and accounts go there, not to the clerk's counter. |
| Two clocks at the clerk's office | Public service hours run to 4 p.m., but recording hours end at 3:30 p.m. |
| Parking | The clerk says parking is free in any area that is not gated, reserved, or designated for jurors. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the home passed by right of survivorship, Chesterfield's probate focus is on assets in the decedent's name alone. Send the Probate Division the advance packet first, wait for the two to three business day response, bring the original will if there is one, and qualify only if assets need a personal representative. After qualification, the inventory and accounts go to the Commissioner of Accounts at 9512 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 110. | Sunset helps identify which accounts were solely held, which passed outside probate, and what values belong in the packet before the Probate Division schedules the appointment. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If no one needs to qualify, ask the Probate Division whether the small estate affidavit or the mail-in will-recording service fits. Chesterfield staff can provide the small estate affidavit as a courtesy and tells families to check with the financial institution before submitting it. If qualification is needed, Chesterfield says remote qualification is not available and a personal appearance is required. A nonresident fiduciary should raise the consent to service of process and bond questions before booking travel (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411). | Sunset helps assemble the account list, prepare the local intake packet, and organize questions for the Probate Division so an out-of-state trip is not wasted. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the house must be sold, qualification is often needed so a personal representative can act. Chesterfield asks for real estate in Chesterfield, elsewhere in Virginia, and elsewhere in the United States as separate items in the advance packet. If the child died intestate and the only asset to handle is Chesterfield real estate, the clerk points families to the list of heirs or real estate affidavit route and suggests checking with an attorney or title company first. | Sunset helps value and document the assets, build the packet for the Probate Division, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when a sale or title question needs legal help. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield Circuit Court, wills and estate administration | The clerk's local probate page explains appointments, advance packet requirements, mail-in will recording without qualification, real-estate-only options, fees, and the Commissioner of Accounts. Clerk staff cannot give legal advice. | Probate Division, 804-706-7680, [email protected], fax 804-717-6797, 9500 Courthouse Road, first floor, Chesterfield |
| Probate and Estate Administration Information handout | The clerk's handout and asset worksheet for gathering information before the appointment is scheduled. | Use with the Probate Division's online worksheet or email intake. |
| Pre-Probate and Estate Asset Worksheet | The county's online intake form for the information required before the Probate Division schedules an appointment. | Online submission |
| Commissioner of Accounts for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit | Receives and reviews inventories, accounts, and statements in lieu after qualification. The office is a private law office near the courthouse, not part of the clerk's office. | 9512 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 110, Chesterfield, VA 23832, mailing P.O. Box 998, Chesterfield, VA 23832, 804-796-4891, fax 804-796-4892 |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory, Supreme Court of Virginia | Statewide directory and fee schedule guidance for commissioners of accounts. | Search by jurisdiction |
| Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms | Statewide CC forms for fiduciary matters, including estate notices, list of heirs, certificate of qualification, inventory, account, statement in lieu, and creditor notice forms. | Online forms index |
| Virginia Judiciary self-help, probate in Virginia | Statewide self-help overview of Virginia probate. | Online self-help |
| Circuit Court Fee Schedule, Office of the Executive Secretary | Statewide circuit court fee schedule, revised 07/2026, including probate tax, tax in lieu, transfer fee, and the note that the technology trust fund fee does not apply to wills. | Online PDF |
| Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Richmond office | General civil legal aid for low-income residents. CVLAS lists Chesterfield County in its Richmond office service area and lists administration of estates and estate disputes among matters where it usually provides legal advice only. | 115 S. 15th Street, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23219, 804-648-1012 or 800-868-1012, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, real estate, vehicles, and debts before the Chesterfield packet goes to the Probate Division. That makes the first estate settlement step more accurate because Chesterfield schedules the appointment only after reviewing the information you provide.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information the Chesterfield Probate Division asks for, including heirs, the will, contact information, asset categories, and questions to raise with the clerk about probate tax, bond, and qualification.
Find a local probate attorney. When a sale, title issue, bond problem, dispute, or out-of-state qualification question needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney familiar with Virginia estate settlement and Chesterfield County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand the next steps in Chesterfield County, and decide when professional help is needed, without paying Sunset a fee for the estate settlement platform.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to open an estate in Chesterfield County?
File through the Probate Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, first floor of the Courts Building, 9500 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832. Chesterfield handles probate by appointment only, and the appointment is scheduled after the Probate Division reviews the advance information packet.
Do I need an appointment for probate in Chesterfield County?
Yes. Chesterfield says probate and estate matters are handled by appointment only. The appointment is not scheduled until all necessary information has been provided to Probate staff in advance, and the clerk asks you to allow two to three business days for a response.
Do I have to fill out Virginia probate forms before the Chesterfield appointment?
No. Chesterfield says you do not need to complete estate-related Virginia Supreme Court forms to initiate probate or get an appointment. Instead, provide the information requested in the local handout or online worksheet, and the official paperwork is prepared at the appointment.
Can I qualify remotely in Chesterfield County?
No. Chesterfield says remote qualification is not currently available and a personal appearance is required. If nobody is qualifying as executor or administrator, the Probate Division offers mail-in will recording, but that service does not appoint a personal representative.
Can a will be recorded by mail in Chesterfield County?
Yes, but only when nobody is qualifying as executor or administrator. Chesterfield says not to request the mail-in service unless you are certain the will is the original document with wet-ink signatures, and not to mail the original will until the Probate Division has reviewed the required information and sent instructions.
Is there electronic filing for Chesterfield County probate?
No. Opening an estate in Chesterfield County is an in-person appointment with the Probate Division, not an online filing. The emailed or faxed packet is used to schedule and prepare the appointment, and the clerk says case filings are accepted by mail, courier, or hand delivery.
Can I see a Chesterfield County estate file online?
No free public portal shows the estate file. The clerk's free online index covers civil and criminal cases from 1990 to current, recorded wills from 1994 forward are available through the clerk's paid Secure Remote Access subscription, and records can be reviewed in person in the Record Room on the ground floor.
What does Chesterfield County probate cost?
The clerk lists the state probate tax as $1 per $1,000 of probate assets, which is the statewide 10 cents per $100 rate, and estates of $15,000 or less pay no state probate tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A county or city may add a local probate tax equal to one third of the state amount (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), so ask the Probate Division to total the charges when it schedules your appointment. The clerk also lists $18 to record a will or clerk's order, a qualification fee of $0 to $30 under Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3), and $2 per certificate of qualification with two included in the base fee.
Does Chesterfield hold wills for safekeeping?
No. Chesterfield says it does not file wills for safekeeping after execution. Wills are recorded or probated only after the person has died.
Where do the inventory and accounts go after qualification?
They go to the Commissioner of Accounts for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit at 9512 Iron Bridge Road, Suite 110, Chesterfield, VA 23832, not to the clerk's counter. The inventory is due to the commissioner within four months after qualification, and the first account is due within 16 months under Va. Code § 64.2-1304.
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.