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Greene County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Greene County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Greene Circuit Court, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Virginia. Probate and qualification are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Courthouse address | 22 Court Street, Stanardsville, VA 22973. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 386, Stanardsville, VA 22973-0386. |
| Phone | (434) 985-5208. No separate probate line is published, so call the clerk's office number before going in. |
| Fax | (434) 985-6723. |
| Hours | Clerk's office hours are 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Recording hours end at 4:00 p.m. |
| Probate tax and clerk charges | The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value for estates over $15,000, unchanged since 2003 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). Virginia law also allows a county to impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax, so ask the Greene County clerk to confirm the total when you call (Va. Code § 58.1-1718). Qualification and recording charges are added under Va. Code § 17.1-275. |
| Local forms | No Greene-specific probate packet, checklist, cover sheet, or local probate form is published on the Greene Circuit Court page or the Greene County clerk page. Use the Virginia statewide fiduciary forms. |
| Electronic filing | Greene participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings, but VJEFS is for Virginia State Bar members and their designated staff. Probate qualification is handled through the clerk's office, not through VJEFS for self-represented families. |
| Case access | No free public internet portal shows Greene County estate files. Recorded wills and related will-book records are handled by the clerk's office. |
| Remote appearance | No Greene County page publishes a video qualification option. Plan on calling the clerk and attending in person unless the clerk gives different instructions. A Virginia circuit court may allow phone or video in a civil hearing at the court's discretion (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2). |
| Website | Greene Circuit Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Greene County clerk, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiaries, and heirs. The clerk will need enough information to determine whether a will should be admitted, whether anyone needs to qualify as personal representative, and what tax and recording charges apply.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organizes what you need for the Greene County appointment. That matters in a small office because missing an account, bond issue, or real-estate question can mean a second trip to Stanardsville.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File for a Greene County decedent at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's counter at 22 Court Street in Stanardsville. 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). If the person moved to a nursing home or similar facility before death, Virginia law presumes the prior legal residence remains the residence unless that presumption is rebutted.
Greene County's courthouse serves county residents, including Stanardsville and Ruckersville. Greene County is part of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit with other localities, but Greene has its own clerk's office in Stanardsville. The shared circuit does not mean you file a Greene County estate at another county's counter.
The jurisdiction process
- Call the Greene County Clerk of the Circuit Court at (434) 985-5208. Ask what to bring for a probate or qualification appointment, whether the clerk wants the Probate Information Form CC-1650 completed first, and whether the estate will need bond or surety.
- Gather the original will, death certificate, names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries, asset values, and information about any Greene County real estate. If no one will qualify but a will is being presented, the will still goes to the clerk under Virginia's probate rules.
- Prepare the statewide Virginia forms that fit the situation. Common forms include CC-1650, CC-1651 if the estate value requires a probate tax return, CC-1611 for the list of heirs, CC-1610 for a nonresident fiduciary, and CC-1625 for the certificate of qualification.
- Go to the clerk's office at 22 Court Street in Stanardsville during office hours. Recording hours end at 4:00 p.m., so do not plan a late-day filing. Virginia qualification means being appointed and sworn before the clerk (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the state probate tax and clerk charges. The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value for estates over $15,000, unchanged since 2003 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). Ask the clerk whether Greene County adds the optional local probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718.
- After qualification or admission of the will, send the required notice to heirs and beneficiaries within 30 days, then record the affidavit of notice in the clerk's office within four months (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Use the certificate of qualification to collect estate assets, open an estate account, and handle administration. Banks presented with a currently effective certificate of qualification must accept or reject it within seven business days unless a statutory exception applies (Va. Code § 64.2-520.2).
- Work with the commissioner of accounts, not the clerk, for post-qualification supervision. Return the inventory to the commissioner within four months after the order conferring authority (Va. Code § 64.2-1300), and file the first account with the commissioner within 16 months of qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). Estate settlement usually ends when the commissioner settles the final account or accepts a proper statement in lieu.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Greene County
Greene County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, checklist, cover sheet, or local probate form on the Greene Circuit Court page or the Greene County clerk page. Use the Virginia statewide fiduciary forms, then call the clerk before you go to Stanardsville to ask which forms the office wants for your facts.
| Form | Use in Greene County |
|---|---|
| CC-1650 | Probate Information Form for the clerk's appointment. |
| CC-1651 | Probate Tax Return when required by Va. Code § 58.1-1714. |
| CC-1611 | List of Heirs, filed at qualification or when a will is presented and no one qualifies. |
| CC-1610 | Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process, used when the personal representative lives outside Virginia. |
| CC-1625 | Certificate / Letter of Qualification, the authority document issued after qualification. |
| CC-1670 | Inventory of Decedent's Estate, returned to the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1680 | Account for Decedent's Estate, filed with the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1685 | Small Estate Affidavit for qualifying assets when the personal probate estate is $75,000 or less, effective July 1, 2025 (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 and 64.2-601). This is presented to the asset holder, not filed with the clerk. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Greene County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call the Greene County clerk at (434) 985-5208 and ask what the clerk needs for the will, list of heirs, and any qualification. Virginia real estate can matter for probate tax even if it never comes under the personal representative's control (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1712, 58.1-1713). | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, beneficiary designations, and real-estate questions before the clerk appointment. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | You can serve from outside Virginia. If qualification is needed, plan to come to Stanardsville, sign CC-1610, and be ready for the clerk to discuss surety unless a Virginia resident qualifies with you or the clerk waives surety under the small-asset rule, effective July 1, 2025 (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411). If the small estate affidavit route applies, that affidavit is presented to the asset holder rather than filed with the clerk. | Sunset helps decide whether a clerk appointment is needed at all, prepares the form checklist, and flags nonresident fiduciary issues. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If a home must be sold through the estate, qualification is usually the route. After the clerk issues authority, the personal representative works with Greene's commissioner of accounts, including an office in Ruckersville, for the inventory and accounts. | Sunset helps organize asset values, sale-related documents, creditor information, and the ongoing estate settlement calendar. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Greene Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Clerk's address, phone, fax, hours, judges, and term dates for Greene County. |
| Clerk of the Court, Greene County government | County clerk page describing probate and qualification of estates, land records, payment methods, and e-recording for land records. |
| Circuit Court fiduciary forms, Virginia Judiciary | Statewide probate and fiduciary forms used in Greene County. |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory, Virginia Judiciary | Search for the current Greene County commissioner of accounts information. The commissioner supervises the inventory and accounts after qualification. |
| Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Charlottesville office | General civil legal aid for qualifying low-income residents in Greene County. CVLAS lists estate administration and estate disputes as advice-only matters within its wills and powers of attorney services. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and other property before the Greene County clerk appointment.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Virginia statewide forms, including the probate information form, list of heirs, nonresident fiduciary consent, and commissioner of accounts calendar.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Greene County estate involves a house sale, a family dispute, a nonresident fiduciary, or creditor issues, Sunset helps connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, prepare for the clerk's counter, and understand the next step without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Greene County?
File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 22 Court Street in Stanardsville. Virginia venue is based on the decedent's known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443), so a Greene County resident's will is handled at the Greene County clerk's counter.
Does a Greene County estate start with a court session?
Usually, no. In Virginia, the clerk or deputy clerk may admit the will, appoint and qualify the personal representative, and take the required bond in the same manner as the circuit court (Va. Code § 64.2-444). A judge becomes involved only if there is a contest, appeal, or other dispute that must be heard by the court.
Does the Greene County clerk have its own probate forms?
No Greene-specific probate packet, checklist, cover sheet, or local probate form is published on the Greene Circuit Court page or Greene County clerk page. Use the statewide Virginia fiduciary forms and call the clerk at (434) 985-5208 before going in.
Can I use an electronic system for Greene County probate papers?
Do not plan on using VJEFS for a family probate qualification. Greene participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings, but VJEFS is for Virginia State Bar members and their designated staff. Probate qualification is handled through the clerk's office.
Can I view a Greene County estate file on the internet?
No free public internet portal shows Greene County estate files. The statewide public case systems do not provide a public fiduciary file for a Greene County estate. Contact the clerk about will-book records and any in-person records access.
What will it cost to probate a will in Greene County?
The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value for estates over $15,000, unchanged since 2003 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). Virginia also allows a county to impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax, so ask the Greene County clerk whether that local charge applies when you call (Va. Code § 58.1-1718). Qualification and recording charges are added under Va. Code § 17.1-275.
Do I have to come to Stanardsville in person?
Plan on an in-person clerk appointment unless the Greene County clerk tells you otherwise. No Greene County page publishes a video qualification option, and Virginia's remote-hearing statute is discretionary for civil hearings rather than a general remote qualification rule (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2).
Where do I send the inventory and accounts after I qualify?
Send them to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk. The commissioner of accounts supervises fiduciaries after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1200). The inventory is due within four months after the order conferring authority (Va. Code § 64.2-1300), and the first account is due within 16 months of qualification (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.