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City of Hopewell, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | City of Hopewell details |
|---|---|
| Court | City of Hopewell Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | 100 E. Broadway, Room 251, Hopewell, VA 23860-2715 |
| Mailing address | 100 E. Broadway, Room 251, Hopewell, VA 23860-2715 |
| Phone | (804) 541-2239 |
| Fax | (804) 541-2438 |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Probate tax and clerk fees | The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, as of August 2026, and estates of $15,000 or less pay no state probate tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A city may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), so ask the clerk for the total due when you schedule or appear. |
| Local forms | Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court CC forms. Ask the clerk whether the Hopewell office wants any local cover sheet for your appointment. |
| E-filing status | Hopewell Circuit Court is not on the current VJEFS participating-court list. VJEFS is attorney-only where it is used, and qualification is handled through the clerk. |
| Case access | No free public portal shows Virginia estate files. Recorded wills and lists of heirs are handled through the clerk's records access in person or through any paid secure remote access arrangement the clerk offers. |
| Remote appearance | No Hopewell remote qualification practice is stated on the local clerk pages. Virginia civil remote hearings are allowed only when authorized by the court (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2). |
| Website | Hopewell Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary and Hopewell Clerk of Circuit Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you go to the Hopewell clerk's office, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, title documents, beneficiaries, and heirs. The clerk's questions and the probate tax calculation depend on what passes by will or intestacy, what is outside the probate estate, and whether anyone needs to qualify as personal representative.
Sunset can support this estate settlement work before the appointment by helping families search across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organize what should be discussed with the clerk and, later, with the commissioner of accounts.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The City of Hopewell is an independent city in the Sixth Judicial Circuit and has its own City of Hopewell Circuit Court clerk. File in Hopewell when the decedent had a known place of residence in the City of Hopewell; if a person became a patient in a nursing home or similar institution because of advanced age or impaired health, Virginia presumes the legal residence stayed where it was before that move unless the presumption is rebutted (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Virginia probate starts with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, not with a separate court. The clerk or a deputy clerk may admit a will to probate, appoint and qualify an executor or administrator, and take the required bond with the same effect as the circuit court (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the original will, death certificate, asset list, names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries, and the statewide forms that fit the estate, often starting with CC-1650, CC-1651, and CC-1611.
- Call the City of Hopewell Circuit Court clerk at (804) 541-2239 before going to 100 E. Broadway, Room 251, to ask what the office wants you to bring and whether it wants an appointment for qualification.
- At the clerk's office, offer the will if there is one and ask to qualify as personal representative if authority is needed. Qualification is Virginia's word for being appointed and sworn in.
- Pay the required Commonwealth probate tax and clerk fees. The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, as of August 2026, with no state probate tax for estates of $15,000 or less (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). Because a city may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), confirm the Hopewell total with the clerk.
- After qualification or admission of a will, send the required notice to the surviving spouse, heirs, and beneficiaries within 30 days, then record the notice affidavit in the clerk's office within four months (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- If a dispute or other civil proceeding later requires a court date, ask the clerk how it is scheduled. Routine qualification is handled at the clerk's counter, and any remote civil hearing depends on court authorization (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2).
- Use the certificate of qualification, CC-1625, as the personal representative's proof of authority. The clerk may issue a certificate of qualification for obtaining probate or administration (Va. Code § 64.2-506).
- Work with the commissioner of accounts after qualification. For Hopewell estates, the current statewide roster lists the commissioner office in Prince George. The inventory goes 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 from qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1304).
- Finish administration by paying valid expenses and claims, making distributions only when appropriate, and closing through the commissioner of accounts. This is the part of estate settlement where organized account records, receipts, and beneficiary communications matter most.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in the City of Hopewell
Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court forms for a City of Hopewell estate. The Hopewell clerk's public pages list the clerk's contact information and office location, so call the clerk before you appear to ask whether the office wants any local cover sheet in addition to the statewide forms.
| Form | Use in a Hopewell estate |
|---|---|
| CC-1650 | Probate Information Form for the clerk's intake questions. |
| CC-1651 | Probate Tax Return when the estate value requires it under Va. Code § 58.1-1714. |
| CC-1611 | List of Heirs, filed at qualification or when a will is presented and no one qualifies (Va. Code § 64.2-509). |
| CC-1610 | Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process, used when a nonresident fiduciary qualifies (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). |
| CC-1625 | Certificate / Letter of Qualification, the proof of authority after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-506). |
| CC-1670 | Inventory of Decedent's Estate, sent to the commissioner of accounts (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). |
| CC-1680 | Account for Decedent's Estate, sent to the commissioner of accounts for settlement (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). |
| CC-1685 | Small Estate Affidavit for the statewide small-estate process, not a clerk filing, when the personal probate estate qualifies under Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 through 64.2-605. |
Local nuance
City of Hopewell-specific considerations
The clerk's counter for a Hopewell estate is in Hopewell, but the commissioner of accounts currently listed for Hopewell works from Prince George. After qualification, do not assume the inventory and account go back to Room 251. Use the statewide Commissioners of Accounts directory and the instructions you receive at qualification to direct those filings to the correct commissioner.
Hopewell Circuit Court is not on the current VJEFS participating-court list. Even in courts that use VJEFS, that system is for Virginia State Bar members and their staff, not for self-represented family members qualifying before the clerk.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely City of Hopewell path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start by checking the deed and how accounts are titled. If a will must be admitted or a personal representative must qualify, go to the City of Hopewell Circuit Court clerk at 100 E. Broadway, Room 251. If only heirship or real-estate records are needed, ask the clerk which list of heirs or real estate affidavit form fits the facts. | Sunset helps organize title information, account lists, debts, and family contacts so the spouse can ask the clerk focused questions before starting estate settlement. |
| out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | If the entire personal probate estate is no more than $75,000, effective July 1, 2025, the small-estate affidavit route may avoid qualification for personal property (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 through 64.2-605). If you do qualify as a nonresident personal representative, expect to sign CC-1610 for service of process and ask about bond or surety (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). | Sunset helps identify accounts before deciding whether the statewide affidavit route is enough or whether a Hopewell qualification appointment is needed. |
| parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Bring the will if there is one, the death certificate, a list of heirs, and information about the home to the Hopewell clerk. If a personal representative must sign sale documents or manage estate funds, qualification at the clerk's office may be needed before working with the commissioner of accounts. | Sunset helps prepare an asset list, surface unknown accounts, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when a sale, title issue, or family dispute makes legal help important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Hopewell Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Official court page for the City of Hopewell Circuit Court, including address, phone, fax, hours, and circuit information. |
| Hopewell Clerk of Circuit Court, city site | City clerk page for local office information and public records access information. |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory | Statewide directory for finding the commissioner of accounts who supervises inventories and accounts after qualification. |
| Virginia Judiciary circuit court forms | Statewide Circuit Court CC forms used in probate and estate administration. |
| Virginia Judiciary self-help probate forms | Self-help index for probate forms and related form instructions. |
| Central Virginia Legal Aid Society | General civil legal aid resource. The Petersburg office serves the City of Hopewell and lists will or power-of-attorney drafting among accepted matter types, but it does not describe decedent estate administration representation. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider counsel if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, the personal representative lives outside Virginia and surety is an issue, the estate owns real property that must be sold, a creditor claim is contested, or the commissioner of accounts asks for filings you are not comfortable preparing. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search across more than 2,300 institutions, organize the results, and build a clearer picture of what may need to be addressed in a City of Hopewell estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into a more organized set of next steps, form inputs, and document checklists for the Hopewell clerk and the commissioner of accounts.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Hopewell estate involves a home sale, a dispute, a nonresident fiduciary, or questions about bond and surety, Sunset can help you connect with a vetted Virginia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the process, organize estate information, and move from uncertainty to a practical plan for estate settlement.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers for the City of Hopewell?
Go to the City of Hopewell Circuit Court clerk at 100 E. Broadway, Room 251, Hopewell, VA 23860-2715. Venue is the circuit court for the city where the decedent had a known place of residence, subject to Virginia's nursing-home residence presumption (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Does the City of Hopewell share a clerk with another county or city?
No. Hopewell is not one of Virginia's shared-clerk independent cities. It has its own City of Hopewell Circuit Court clerk and its own local court page.
Can I use VJEFS for a City of Hopewell estate?
No for a self-represented family member. Hopewell Circuit Court is not on the current VJEFS participating-court list, and VJEFS is for members of the Virginia State Bar and their staff where it is used. Qualification is handled through the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Do I need an appointment with the Hopewell clerk?
Call (804) 541-2239 before going to the courthouse. The local public pages do not state a probate appointment rule, and the clerk can tell you what to bring and when probate intake is available.
Can I qualify by video in the City of Hopewell?
No local video qualification practice is stated on the Hopewell clerk pages. In Virginia, civil remote hearings are discretionary when authorized by the court (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2), and qualification before the clerk is normally handled as a clerk appointment.
Is there a public internet portal for City of Hopewell estate files?
No free public portal shows Virginia estate files. OCIS is not a probate file system. For a recorded will or list of heirs, contact the Hopewell clerk about in-person records access or any secure remote access subscription the office offers.
What will I pay to open a Hopewell estate?
The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, as of August 2026, and estates of $15,000 or less pay no state probate tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A city may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), so ask the Hopewell clerk for the total due for your estate.
Where do I send the inventory and account after I qualify?
Send them to the commissioner of accounts, not back to the clerk unless the clerk or commissioner instructs otherwise. For Hopewell estates, the current statewide roster lists the commissioner's office in Prince George. 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 from qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1304).
Do I have to travel to Hopewell if I live out of state?
Plan to speak with the Hopewell clerk before making travel plans. A nonresident can serve as personal representative, but must file a written consent to service of process, usually CC-1610, and may need surety unless a Virginia resident also qualifies or the clerk waives surety under the applicable statute (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 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.