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City of Falls Church, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | City of Falls Church information |
|---|---|
| Court | Arlington County Circuit Court, serving Arlington County and the City of Falls Church in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit |
| Clerk counter | 1425 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201. The general clerk office is Suite 6700. Probate and estate qualification appointments use Suite 6300 when directed by the clerk. |
| Mailing address | 1425 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 6700, Arlington, VA 22201 |
| Phone | (703) 228-7010 |
| [email protected] | |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. No lunch closure or probate intake cutoff is published in the court listing. |
| Probate tax and clerk fees | Virginia probate tax is 10 cents per $100 under Va. Code § 58.1-1712. A city may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718. Because the City of Falls Church is legally separate from Arlington County, ask the clerk to calculate the City of Falls Church total when you schedule. |
| Local forms | Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court CC forms. Ask the Arlington and Falls Church probate counter whether it wants any local cover sheet or intake document. |
| Electronic filing | VJEFS is an attorney and staff civil filing system. It is not a self-represented route for probate qualification before the clerk. |
| Case access | No free statewide public portal shows Virginia estate files. Ask the clerk about in-person will-book access and any secure remote access subscription. |
| Remote appearance | Virginia circuit courts may use remote systems for civil hearings at the court's discretion under Va. Code § 17.1-513.2. Qualification before the clerk is normally handled by appointment at the clerk counter unless the clerk gives a different instruction. |
| Website | Virginia Judiciary Arlington Circuit Court page and Arlington Clerk of the Circuit Court page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Arlington and Falls Church clerk counter, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations and account locations. Virginia venue usually starts in the circuit court of the city or county where the decedent had a known place of residence, and the nursing-home rule can keep venue tied to the prior residence rather than the care facility location (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Sunset's estate settlement workflow helps families identify accounts across more than 2,300 institutions, organize documents and decide whether the City of Falls Church matter needs qualification, a small-estate path or attorney help before anyone goes to the clerk counter in Arlington.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The City of Falls Church is an independent Virginia city with its own probate venue. It shares the Clerk of the Circuit Court with Arlington County in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, so City of Falls Church estates are opened at the clerk counter in the Arlington courthouse at 1425 N. Courthouse Road.
Under Virginia's venue rule, a will is offered and a personal representative qualifies in the circuit court for the city or county where the decedent had a known place of residence. If there is no known residence, venue follows Virginia real estate, then the place of death or other estate property (Va. Code § 64.2-443). A City of Falls Church estate remains a City of Falls Church matter even though the counter is in Arlington.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the original will, death certificate, asset list, estimated debts, names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries, and any information needed for the Probate Information Form, CC-1650.
- Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (703) 228-7010 to schedule or prepare for the probate appointment at 1425 N. Courthouse Road in Arlington. Use Suite 6300 for probate and estate qualification if the clerk directs you there.
- At the clerk appointment, offer the will if there is one, file the list of heirs when required and qualify as personal representative, which is Virginia's word for being appointed and sworn in (Va. Code §§ 64.2-444 and 64.2-509).
- Pay the Virginia probate tax and statutory clerk charges. Virginia probate tax is 10 cents per $100 under Va. Code § 58.1-1712, and the City of Falls Church may have a separate local probate tax question under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the clerk to calculate the total for the city estate at the appointment.
- Receive the certificate of qualification, CC-1625, if you qualify. That certificate is the document banks and other institutions use to recognize the personal representative's authority (Va. Code § 64.2-506).
- Send the required notice of probate or qualification to the people entitled to notice within 30 days, then record the affidavit of notice in the clerk's office within four months (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Work with the commissioner of accounts. For City of Falls Church matters, the commissioner listed for the jurisdiction has an office at 1425 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 6500, Arlington, VA 22201, phone (703) 228-7150. The inventory and accounts go to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk.
- File the inventory with the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order giving authority, and file the first account within 16 months of qualification under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300 and 64.2-1304 unless a statutory alternative applies.
- Handle creditors, taxes, distributions and closing. Optional creditor notice may be published under Va. Code § 64.2-508.1, and the commissioner of accounts settles the account as the estate settlement moves toward closing.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in the City of Falls Church
Virginia uses statewide Circuit Court CC forms for probate and fiduciary administration. For a City of Falls Church estate, start with the Virginia Judiciary forms index and the probate forms page, then ask the Arlington and Falls Church probate counter whether it wants any local cover sheet or intake document with the statewide forms.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| CC-1650, Probate Information Form | Information the clerk collects for a probate or qualification appointment. |
| CC-1651, Probate Tax Return | Used when Virginia probate tax is due under Va. Code § 58.1-1712. |
| CC-1610, Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process | Used when a nonresident fiduciary qualifies under Va. Code § 64.2-1426. |
| CC-1611, List of Heirs | Filed with the clerk at qualification or when a will is presented and no one qualifies. |
| CC-1616, CC-1617 and CC-1618 | Notice regarding estate, affidavit of notice and waiver of notice. |
| CC-1625, Certificate / Letter of Qualification | Authority document issued by the clerk after qualification. |
| CC-1670, Inventory of Decedent's Estate | Filed with the commissioner of accounts within four months after authority is granted. |
| CC-1680 and CC-1681 | Account for Decedent's Estate and Statement in Lieu of Settlement of Account. |
| CC-1685, Small Estate Affidavit | Statewide small-estate affidavit for the $75,000 limit effective July 1, 2025 under Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 and 64.2-601. It is presented to the asset holder, not filed with the clerk. |
| CC-1686 and CC-1687 | Notice to Creditors Regarding Estate and Affidavit of Notice to Creditors Regarding Estate under Va. Code § 64.2-508.1. |
Local nuance
City of Falls Church-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Shared clerk | The City of Falls Church and Arlington County share one Clerk of the Circuit Court in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. City of Falls Church estates are handled at the Arlington courthouse counter. |
| Separate city jurisdiction | A City of Falls Church estate is not converted into an Arlington County estate just because the counter is in Arlington. Venue still follows Va. Code § 64.2-443. |
| Commissioner location | The commissioner of accounts listed for the City of Falls Church has an office in the same courthouse building, Suite 6500, with phone (703) 228-7150. This is a different office from the clerk counter. |
| Local probate tax question | Arlington County's local probate tax status does not answer the City of Falls Church question. A city may impose local probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the clerk to calculate the City of Falls Church amount. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and whether any assets require qualification. If a City of Falls Church probate step is needed, call the shared Arlington and Falls Church clerk counter before going to 1425 N. Courthouse Road. | Sunset organizes asset information, beneficiary designations and title questions so the spouse can decide whether a clerk appointment or attorney review is the next step. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the entire personal probate estate fits the $75,000 Virginia Small Estate Act limit, effective July 1, 2025 (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 and 64.2-601), CC-1685 may avoid qualification. If qualification is needed, a nonresident fiduciary signs CC-1610 and should expect the clerk to address surety under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411. | Sunset helps locate accounts and prepare a question list for the clerk, including whether the small-estate affidavit or full qualification is the better estate settlement path. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home must be sold through the estate, the will, title and authority to sell need close review. The clerk can handle uncontested qualification, but a sale or dispute often justifies attorney help before the appointment. | Sunset assembles the probate packet, flags missing asset information and connects the family with a local probate attorney when a sale or contested issue needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington Circuit Court page | Official Virginia Judiciary page for the shared circuit court serving Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, including court address, phone, fax if published, hours and terms of court. | Arlington Circuit Court |
| Arlington Clerk of the Circuit Court | Local clerk office page with the courthouse address, general phone and office email. | Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Commissioners of accounts directory | Search by jurisdiction for the commissioner of accounts who supervises inventories and accounts after qualification. | Commissioners of accounts |
| Virginia Circuit Court forms | Statewide CC forms used by clerks and commissioners of accounts. | Circuit Court forms |
| Virginia self-help probate forms | Judiciary self-help page focused on probate forms. | Probate forms |
| Legal Services of Northern Virginia | General civil legal aid for the Arlington and Falls Church area. Its public practice areas include housing, family, consumer, tax, veterans, guardianship and life-planning services, but not routine post-death estate administration. | LSNV |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Virginia probate attorney if the will may be contested, heirs disagree, a house must be sold through the estate, the personal representative lives outside Virginia, creditors are uncertain or the City of Falls Church local probate tax question affects a larger estate under Va. Code §§ 58.1-1712 and 58.1-1718. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, benefits and other assets that shape the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized Virginia probate packet, including the forms and checklists you can review before contacting the Arlington and Falls Church clerk counter.
Find a local probate attorney. When a City of Falls Church estate involves a home sale, creditor dispute, nonresident fiduciary issue or contested family question, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, prepare for the clerk appointment and understand next steps without paying Sunset for the core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers for a City of Falls Church resident?
Use the shared Arlington and Falls Church Clerk of the Circuit Court counter at 1425 N. Courthouse Road in Arlington. The City of Falls Church is served there even though it remains its own independent city for venue under Va. Code § 64.2-443.
Does the City of Falls Church have its own clerk counter?
No separate City of Falls Church counter is used for probate. The City of Falls Church and Arlington County share the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, and the local probate counter is in the Arlington courthouse building.
Do I need to go before a judge to open a City of Falls Church estate?
For an uncontested Virginia estate, you qualify before the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk may admit the will, appoint and qualify the personal representative and issue the certificate of qualification under Va. Code § 64.2-444. A circuit court judge becomes involved when a matter is contested or appealed.
Can I use VJEFS for a City of Falls Church probate qualification?
No. VJEFS is a Virginia Judiciary civil filing system for Virginia State Bar members and their staff. A self-represented family member does not qualify as personal representative through VJEFS.
Is there a public internet portal for a City of Falls Church estate file?
No free statewide public portal shows Virginia estate files. For a will book entry, list of heirs or file access, ask the clerk about in-person access and any secure remote access subscription the office may offer.
What number should I call for City of Falls Church probate?
Call the shared clerk office at (703) 228-7010. Ask for probate or estate qualification and confirm the appointment location inside 1425 N. Courthouse Road before traveling.
Does the City of Falls Church charge a local probate tax?
A city may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718. The City of Falls Church question is separate from Arlington County's local tax status, so ask the clerk to calculate the City of Falls Church total together with the Virginia probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712.
Do I have to travel to Arlington if I live outside Virginia?
Usually, qualification is handled by an appointment with the clerk, and nonresident fiduciaries can qualify if they meet Virginia requirements. A nonresident fiduciary signs CC-1610 and may need surety unless a Virginia resident qualifies at the same time or the clerk waives surety under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411. Call the clerk before making travel plans.
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.