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Henrico County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Henrico County information |
|---|---|
| Court and office | Henrico Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court, probate division. |
| Courthouse address | 4309 East Parham Road, Courts Building, Room 240, Henrico, VA 23228. |
| Mailing address | P. O. Box 90775, Henrico, VA 23273-0775. |
| Phone | (804) 501-4202 is the clerk's office number, and a probate appointment is requested through the clerk's online Probate Appointment Request Form. |
| Fax | (804) 501-5214. The original will has to be brought to the appointment rather than faxed or copied. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Land records recording closes at 3:30 p.m. |
| Qualification fee and probate tax | The clerk publishes estimates of $40 to $60 with a will and $30 to $50 without a will, and says the exact amount is determined during the probate appointment. The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, and estates of $15,000 or less pay none (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). |
| Local forms | No local probate form packet. Henrico uses the statewide Virginia circuit court forms and adds an online Probate Appointment Request Form and an online Request for Bond Increase or Decrease. |
| Electronic filing | No electronic filing for probate or qualification. Henrico participates in the Judiciary's civil electronic filing system for Virginia lawyers and their staff, but opening an estate is an in-person appointment with the clerk. |
| Records access | No free public portal shows a Henrico County estate file. Probate records are read in the clerk's record room; the clerk also offers paid subscription remote access to land records and an attorney-only remote access service for case files from 2014 forward. |
| Remote appearance | Qualification is an in-person appointment in the Courts Building. If travel is impossible, raise that in the appointment request form or call the clerk's office. |
| Website | Henrico County probate page: https://henrico.gov/services/probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you request a Henrico probate appointment, make a working list of the decedent's solely owned bank accounts, vehicles, investments, debts and Virginia real estate. The clerk's online Probate Appointment Request Form asks for the value of personal assets held in the decedent's name alone and the value of real estate held solely in the decedent's name, so asset discovery is part of estate settlement before you ever reach Room 240.
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, policies and assets that may belong in the estate settlement plan. That makes the clerk appointment more efficient and gives the Commissioner of Accounts a cleaner starting point when the inventory and accounting stage begins.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Henrico County probate is handled at the Henrico Circuit Court, 4309 East Parham Road, Courts Building, Room 240, Henrico, VA 23228. Mail goes to P. O. Box 90775, Henrico, VA 23273-0775.
Henrico County alone constitutes the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit (Va. Code § 17.1-506). The clerk's counter serves all of Henrico County, including the county's Brookland, Fairfield, Three Chopt, Tuckahoe and Varina magisterial districts.
Venue depends on the decedent's known place of residence, not on a mailing label (Va. Code § 64.2-443). Henrico County surrounds the independent City of Richmond, and many Henrico addresses are written with Richmond in them. A City of Richmond estate is a separate matter at the City of Richmond clerk's office, while a Henrico County resident's estate belongs at the Henrico counter. If a person died in a nursing home or similar facility, Virginia presumes the legal residence stayed where the person lived before entering the facility (§ 64.2-443).
If a will was probated or recorded outside Virginia and involved land in Henrico County, an exemplified copy is recorded in the Henrico Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
The jurisdiction process
- Request the appointment through Henrico County's online Probate Appointment Request Form. The form asks for applicant information, decedent information, whether there is a will, the value of solely owned personal assets, the value of solely owned real estate, the heirs at law, and uploads of the will and death certificate.
- Gather the appointment packet. If there is a will, bring the original will and any codicils, a certified death certificate, photo identification, the heirs' names, addresses and ages, asset values, and payment. If the will is not self-proving, witnesses or witness depositions may be needed. If a named executor will not serve, bring the appropriate refusal, waiver or death certificate.
- For an intestate estate, bring the certified death certificate, photo identification, asset values, heirs' names, addresses and ages, and payment. The clerk points readers to Virginia's appointment preference statute for administrators.
- Plan for bond before the appointment. The clerk says a personal representative must give bond before acting, the probate clerk sets the bond amount during the appointment, and if surety is required the applicant should arrange for a bondsperson to be present.
- If the applicant lives outside Virginia, plan the resident-agent step before travel. Virginia permits a nonresident personal representative, but the person must file written consent to service of process, and surety is required unless a resident fiduciary qualifies at the same time or the clerk waives surety under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411. Henrico's published counter practice is to bring a Virginia resident with photo identification to co-qualify or serve as resident agent, or to bring that person's notarized consent.
- Attend the in-person appointment in Room 240. The clerk's probate division admits the will, if any, and qualifies the personal representative, Virginia's word for being appointed and sworn in, under Va. Code § 64.2-444.
- Pay the charges worked out at the appointment. The clerk publishes estimates of $40 to $60 with a will and $30 to $50 without a will, plus any probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712. Cash, check, debit cards and credit cards are accepted for probate, and card transactions add a 2 percent charge.
- Receive the certificate of qualification, CC-1625, if you qualify. That certificate is the authority document banks, brokerages and other institutions usually ask to see.
- Send required fiduciary filings to the Commissioner of Accounts for the Circuit Court of Henrico County, not to the clerk's counter. The inventory is due to the commissioner 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).
- Close the estate through the commissioner process. In Henrico, the commissioner audits the inventory, account or statement in lieu, then forwards approved filings to the clerk for recording. The commissioner publishes a one-check rule: the clerk's recording fee is included in the check written to the Commissioner of Accounts.
Executor duties
Henrico County adds practical mechanics to the statewide fiduciary duties. The inventory, accounts and any statement in lieu go to the Commissioner of Accounts at 4114-A East Parham Road in Henrico, not to the courthouse counter. The commissioner audits the filing and sends approved filings to the clerk for recording.
| Local duty | Henrico County practice |
|---|---|
| Use the commissioner, not the clerk, for account review | The Commissioner of Accounts is a private law office appointed by the circuit court's judges. It audits what you prepare, but it does not prepare inventories or accounts for you and does not give legal advice. |
| Pay the commissioner and recording fee correctly | Henrico uses one check written to the Commissioner of Accounts for both the commissioner's fee and the clerk's recording fee. The commissioner pays the clerk when the approved filing is forwarded for recording. |
| Follow format rules | The commissioner publishes recordation-format requirements, including white or opaque paper, one inch margins, legible type, no pencil and spreadsheet pages that meet the same standards. A nonconforming filing may be returned to be restated. |
| Avoid delinquency fees | The commissioner fee schedule charges $40.00 for a late-inventory letter and $40.00 for a late-account letter, effective January 1, 2023, and later steps can add higher fees charged to the fiduciary personally. |
| Handle bond changes locally | If a bond increase or decrease is needed after qualification, Henrico provides an online Request for Bond Increase or Decrease form. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Henrico County
Henrico County does not publish a local probate form packet. The clerk and the Commissioner of Accounts point families to the statewide Virginia circuit court forms, and Henrico adds two local online forms: the Probate Appointment Request Form and the Request for Bond Increase or Decrease.
| Form or tool | Use in Henrico County |
|---|---|
| Probate Appointment Request Form | The local online form used to request a probate appointment. It asks for applicant details, decedent details, asset values, heirs at law, and uploads of the will and death certificate. |
| Request for Bond Increase or Decrease | The local online form used after qualification when a fiduciary bond must be changed. |
| CC-1651 probate tax return | Used when the estate value requires a probate tax return under Va. Code § 58.1-1714. |
| CC-1611 list of heirs | Filed at qualification or when a will is presented with no qualification, as required by 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 of qualification | The authority document issued after qualification. |
| CC-1670 inventory, CC-1680 account and CC-1681 statement in lieu | Submitted to the Commissioner of Accounts, not to the probate counter. |
| CC-1685, CC-1686 and CC-1687 | Statewide July 2026 forms for the small estate affidavit and optional creditor-notice process under Va. Code §§ 64.2-601 and 64.2-508.1. |
Fees
The clerk publishes estimates of $40 to $60 with a will and $30 to $50 without a will, and says the exact amount is determined during the probate appointment. The clerk also states the charge on estate value as $1 per $1,000 of probate assets, which corresponds to the Commonwealth probate tax of 10 cents per $100 under Va. Code § 58.1-1712. Estates of $15,000 or less pay no Commonwealth probate tax (§ 58.1-1712).
A Virginia county or city may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state amount (Va. Code § 58.1-1718). Henrico's clerk page states the charge on estate value as the state rate, and the county's taxation ordinance levies a recordation tax on recorded instruments rather than a tax on wills. The exact amount owed is worked out at the probate appointment.
Henrico accepts cash, check, debit cards and credit cards for probate charges. The clerk adds a 2 percent charge for card transactions and notes that an ATM is on the first floor of the courthouse.
The Commissioner of Accounts fee schedule in this circuit is effective January 1, 2023. Entry-band examples are $135.00 for an inventory with assets from $0 to $50,000, $275.00 for a first account with assets from $0 to $50,000, and $250.00 for a statement in lieu or notice of intent to file a statement in lieu. The commissioner's office also collects the clerk's recording fee in the same check when an approved filing is forwarded for recording.
Local nuance
Henrico County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Henrico is its own circuit | Henrico County alone makes up the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, so a Henrico estate is handled at the Henrico counter, not at a shared county office. |
| Online appointment request | The probate appointment is requested through the clerk's online form rather than booked over the phone. The form asks for asset values and heirs at law before you arrive. |
| Security and phones | Every person entering the Courts Building is screened by magnetometer under a standing order effective July 1, 2026. Under an amended order entered January 30, 2026, a cell phone or smartwatch is powered off and sealed into a locked security pouch at the scanner, then unlocked by a deputy sheriff on the way out. |
| Bond planning | The clerk publishes a list of certified bonding companies and tells applicants to contact a bondsman before the appointment if surety is required. |
| Full-time commissioner office | This circuit has chosen a full-time Commissioner of Accounts office in Henrico. That office audits inventories and accounts individually and handles the recording-fee check mechanics after approval. |
| Contested matters | An ordinary qualification does not involve a judge. A contested matter, including a will contest, is handled on the court's civil law docket, which is heard on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | The Henrico Circuit Court Standing Security and Safety Order took effect, requiring every person seeking entry to the Courts Building at 4309 East Parham Road to be screened by magnetometer, with narrow exceptions for law enforcement and court personnel. |
| January 30, 2026 | The court entered an amended standing order on portable electronic devices. Visitors may bring a cell phone into the Courts Building, but a deputy screens it, has it powered off, and seals smaller devices into a locked security pouch until the visitor leaves. |
| January 1, 2023 | The revised uniform fee schedule for commissioners of accounts took effect in this circuit after adoption by order of the Circuit Court of the County of Henrico. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Henrico County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the home was held with right of survivorship, it usually does not need to pass through estate administration. If there are solely owned accounts or a will to record, the spouse requests a Henrico probate appointment online, brings the original will, certified death certificate, photo identification, heirs' information and asset values, then uses the Commissioner of Accounts for any required inventory and accounting. | Sunset helps identify which accounts were solely owned and which passed outside the estate, so the appointment values are more accurate. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the statewide small-estate route applies, the small estate affidavit is presented to the asset holder, not filed at the courthouse, and any will still goes to the clerk. If qualification is needed, the appointment is in person in Room 240. Henrico tells a nonresident executor or administrator to bring a Virginia resident with photo identification to co-qualify or serve as resident agent, or to bring that person's notarized consent, with the surety rules in Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411 in mind. | Sunset helps assemble the asset list and probate packet from out of state so one trip to Henrico is more likely to be enough. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Selling a solely owned home usually means someone must qualify with authority to act. The Henrico appointment request form asks separately for solely owned personal assets and solely owned real estate, and the clerk uses the value of Virginia real estate that must pass through probate when preparing the probate tax return under Va. Code § 58.1-1714. The commissioner fee calculation also accounts for real estate over which the fiduciary has power of sale. | Sunset helps organize account discovery, real estate information and attorney introductions when the home sale or family structure makes estate settlement more complicated. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Henrico Circuit Court Clerk's Office, probate division | Takes the appointment request, admits the will, qualifies the personal representative and issues the certificate of qualification. Probate clerks cannot give legal advice or tell you how to complete commissioner filings. | Room 240, 4309 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228. (804) 501-4202. https://henrico.gov/services/probate/ |
| Commissioner of Accounts for the Circuit Court of Henrico County | Receives and audits inventories, accounts and statements in lieu, and publishes fiduciary instructions and fee information. | 4114-A East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228. (804) 346-4700. https://www.henricocommissionerofaccounts.com/ |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory, Supreme Court of Virginia | Statewide roster of commissioners of accounts and uniform fee schedule guidelines. | https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/resources/coa/home |
| Henrico Municipal Government and Law Library | Public law collection with Henrico, Virginia and federal legal materials and access to a legal research database. Staff help locate information but cannot give legal advice. | Lower level of Tuckahoe Area Library, 1901 Starling Drive, Henrico, VA 23229. (804) 501-1910, extension 5. |
| Virginia Judiciary circuit court forms | Statewide CC forms used by the Henrico clerk and the commissioner, including probate, notice, inventory and accounting forms. | https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/home |
| Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help website | Self-help information and a probate forms section. It does not give Henrico appointment instructions. | https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/ |
| Central Virginia Legal Aid Society | General civil legal aid for income-eligible people in Henrico County. Its published materials list administration of estates and estate disputes as matters where it usually provides legal advice only, not full representation. | Richmond office, 115 S. 15th Street, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23219. 804-648-1012 or 800-868-1012. https://cvlas.org/get-help/ |
| Virginia State Bar lawyer referral service | The referral service printed on the clerk's probate page for readers with estate distribution or tax questions. | 1-800-552-7977. |
When to hire an attorney
An attorney is not required to open a Henrico County estate, but counsel makes sense when the estate has real estate to sell, surety must be arranged, a nonresident personal representative needs a resident agent, a creditor claim is disputed, the commissioner raises a fee dispute for an account that required exceptional time, or a will contest moves to the civil law docket. The clerk and the Commissioner of Accounts both state that they cannot give legal advice, and Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify bank accounts, investments, insurance and other assets before the Henrico appointment request form is submitted.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information the clerk asks for, including the decedent's details, heirs at law, asset values and documents, so the in-person appointment is less likely to stall.
Find a local probate attorney. When real estate, surety, nonresident qualification, creditor disputes or a will contest make estate settlement harder, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Virginia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a guided way to move from asset discovery to the Henrico probate appointment and then through the commissioner stage without charging families for the core service.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Henrico County?
Start with the Henrico County online Probate Appointment Request Form. The in-person appointment is with the Clerk of the Circuit Court's probate division in Room 240 of the Courts Building at 4309 East Parham Road in Henrico.
Does Henrico County require a probate appointment?
Yes. The clerk states that probate appointments must be scheduled beforehand and usually take about an hour. The clerk also asks visitors to allow extra time to park, clear security and come upstairs to Room 240.
Can I open a Henrico County estate without coming to the courthouse?
Henrico publishes an in-person qualification process. Virginia circuit courts may allow telephone or video appearances in civil proceedings at the court's discretion (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2), but qualifying before the clerk is not that kind of hearing. If travel is impossible, say so in the appointment request form or call (804) 501-4202.
Can probate be handled electronically in Henrico County?
No. Opening an estate in Henrico County is an in-person appointment with the clerk's probate division, not an online filing. The Judiciary's civil electronic filing system is for Virginia lawyers and their staff and does not cover probate or qualification.
How much does probate cost in Henrico County?
The clerk publishes estimates of $40 to $60 with a will and $30 to $50 without a will, and says the exact amount is determined during the probate appointment. The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, and estates of $15,000 or less pay none (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A county or city may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), and the final amount is worked out at the appointment.
Does Henrico County have local probate forms?
Henrico does not publish a local probate form packet. It uses the statewide Virginia circuit court forms and adds the local online Probate Appointment Request Form and Request for Bond Increase or Decrease.
Where do I send the inventory and account after qualification?
Send them to the Commissioner of Accounts for the Circuit Court of Henrico County at 4114-A East Parham Road, not to the clerk's probate counter. The inventory is due within four months after authority is conferred (Va. Code § 64.2-1300), and the first account is due within 16 months of qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1304).
Can I read a Henrico County estate file through a free public portal?
No free public portal shows a Henrico County estate file. Probate records are read in the clerk's record room, while remote land-record access is by paid subscription and the separate remote case-file service is for attorneys.
What if the family fights about the will in Henrico County?
An ordinary qualification does not involve a judge. If a will contest or other contested civil matter arises, Henrico's civil law motions are heard on Fridays at 9:30 a.m., and the matter is handled through the Circuit Court's civil docket rather than at the clerk's appointment counter.
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.