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King and Queen County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | King and Queen County details |
|---|---|
| Court | King and Queen Circuit Court, Ninth Judicial Circuit |
| Courthouse address | 234 Allen's Circle, King and Queen Court House, VA 23085 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 67, King and Queen Court House, VA 23085-0067 |
| Phone | (804) 785-5984 |
| Fax | (804) 785-5698 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Probate tax and statutory fees | State probate tax is 10 cents per $100 for estates over $15,000 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712, last amended 2003), plus qualification and recording fees set by Va. Code § 17.1-275. A county may add the one-third local probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the clerk for the total when you call. |
| Local forms | No King and Queen-specific probate packet is published on the county circuit court page. Use Virginia's statewide fiduciary forms. |
| Electronic filing | King and Queen County participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings. It is not a self-represented probate qualification system. |
| Case information | No free public portal shows King and Queen County estate files. The clerk offers secure remote land-records access by subscription and a free VADeed Alert property notification service. |
| Remote appearance | No remote qualification option is published. Qualifying before the clerk is normally an in-person appointment or counter visit after calling for instructions. |
| Websites | Virginia Judiciary King and Queen Circuit Court page and King and Queen County Circuit Court page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the King and Queen County clerk, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiaries and heirs. The clerk can tell you what to bring, but the right path depends on what needs to be collected, recorded, sold or transferred.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families find accounts across more than 2,300 financial institutions, organize liabilities and prepare for the clerk's questions before the courthouse visit.
Which court handles jurisdiction
For a King and Queen County resident, probate is handled at the King and Queen Circuit Court clerk's counter at 234 Allen's Circle in King and Queen Court House. Virginia venue starts in the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
King and Queen County is separate from King William County. Both are in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, but King William County has its own clerk's office and is a different probate venue.
The jurisdiction process
- Call the clerk before you go. The county page says probate requires contact for instructions, so call (804) 785-5984 before visiting the clerk's office at 234 Allen's Circle.
- Gather the will, death certificate and family information. Bring the original will if there is one, death information, addresses for heirs and beneficiaries, and an asset list for the probate tax return and qualification questions.
- Prepare the statewide forms. Common Virginia forms include CC-1650 for probate information, CC-1651 for the probate tax return when required by Va. Code § 58.1-1714, CC-1611 for the list of heirs, and CC-1610 if a nonresident fiduciary will qualify.
- Appear before the Clerk of the Circuit Court. In Virginia, the clerk or a deputy clerk admits the will to probate and qualifies the personal representative, which means appointing and swearing in the executor or administrator (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the probate tax and statutory charges. The Commonwealth's probate tax is governed by Va. Code § 58.1-1712, and qualification and recording charges are set by Va. Code § 17.1-275. Ask whether King and Queen County adds the one-third local probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718.
- Receive your certificate of qualification. The clerk issues the certificate of qualification, CC-1625, which is the document banks and other institutions use to recognize the personal representative's authority (Va. Code § 64.2-506).
- Send required fiduciary filings to the commissioner of accounts. After qualification, the personal representative works with the commissioner of accounts, not the clerk, on the inventory and accounts. The inventory is due within four months after the order conferring authority, and the first account is due within 16 months of qualification (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300, 64.2-1304).
- Administer and close the estate. Give required notices, collect assets, pay valid claims and expenses, keep records and use the commissioner of accounts process to settle the estate settlement filings.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in King and Queen County
King and Queen County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, checklist or local probate fee sheet on its circuit court page. Use Virginia's statewide fiduciary forms and call the clerk at (804) 785-5984 for local intake instructions.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| CC-1650, Probate Information Form | Information the clerk uses for the probate and qualification appointment. |
| CC-1651, Probate Tax Return | Used when a probate tax return is required under Va. Code § 58.1-1714. |
| CC-1611, List of Heirs | Filed at qualification or when a will is presented with no personal representative qualifying. |
| CC-1610, Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process | Used when the person qualifying is not a Virginia resident (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). |
| CC-1625, Certificate / Letter of Qualification | The certificate of qualification used to prove the personal representative's authority. |
| CC-1670, Inventory of Decedent's Estate | Sent to the commissioner of accounts after qualification. |
| CC-1680, Account for Decedent's Estate | Used for accounting to the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1685, Small Estate Affidavit | For a qualifying small asset estate of $75,000 or less under Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 and 64.2-601, effective July 1, 2025. It is presented to the asset holder, not filed with the clerk. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Call the King and Queen County clerk before going to 234 Allen's Circle. If qualification is needed, file the list of heirs and address the probate tax with the clerk. Virginia real estate can matter for probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712 even when title passes outside the personal representative's control. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and real estate details so the spouse can ask the clerk targeted questions and keep estate settlement records organized. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | You may be able to serve from outside Virginia, but you sign CC-1610 and should expect bond and surety questions under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411. King and Queen County participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings, but a self-represented child should call the clerk about probate instructions. | Sunset helps determine whether accounts may fit a small asset route and prepares an organized packet for the clerk or a local attorney to review. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home must be sold through the estate, qualification is usually the route. After qualification, the personal representative works with the King and Queen County commissioners of accounts, with offices listed in Williamsburg and West Point, for the inventory and first account under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300 and 64.2-1304. | Sunset helps collect property, mortgage, account and expense information and can connect the family with a Virginia probate attorney when a sale is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| King and Queen Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Lists the courthouse address, mailing address, phone, fax, hours, judges and term dates for the circuit court. |
| King and Queen County Circuit Court page | Explains the clerk's probate role, VJEFS availability, secure remote land-records access and VADeed Alert. |
| Virginia Judiciary circuit court fiduciary forms | Provides statewide probate and fiduciary forms, including probate information, list of heirs, inventory, account and small estate affidavit forms. |
| Virginia Judiciary commissioners of accounts directory | Lists the current commissioners of accounts serving King and Queen County and their office contact information. |
| Virginia Judiciary self-help probate forms | Provides a plain-language probate forms index for Virginia court users. |
| Legal Aid Works, Tappahannock office | Provides general civil legal aid for financially eligible residents of King and Queen County. Ask at intake whether the office can help with the specific estate issue. |
When to hire an attorney
A probate attorney is especially useful in King and Queen County when family members disagree, a nonresident personal representative needs surety advice, real estate must be sold, creditors are disputed or the commissioner of accounts raises questions about the inventory or account. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions and helps organize what the family knows about bank accounts, investments, insurance, debts and real estate.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into a practical estate settlement packet for the King and Queen County clerk appointment, including asset summaries and form guidance.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs legal advice, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Virginia probate attorney who understands qualification, real estate sales and commissioner of accounts filings.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, documents and next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in King and Queen County?
File at the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 234 Allen's Circle, King and Queen Court House, VA 23085. Call (804) 785-5984 first because the county page says probate requires contact for instructions.
Is King and Queen County the same as King William County?
No. King and Queen County and King William County are separate counties. They are both in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, but each has its own clerk's office.
Do I have to go before a judge to be appointed in King and Queen County?
Usually no. In Virginia, the Clerk of the Circuit Court or a deputy clerk can admit a will to probate and qualify the personal representative (Va. Code § 64.2-444). A circuit court judge becomes involved only if the matter is contested or otherwise requires court action.
Does the King and Queen County clerk have local probate forms?
No King and Queen-specific probate packet is published on the county circuit court page. Use Virginia's statewide fiduciary forms and ask the clerk which forms to bring for your situation.
Can I use VJEFS for a King and Queen County probate appointment?
King and Queen County participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings, and the county page says civil filings may go through VJEFS. That does not make VJEFS a self-represented probate qualification system, so call the clerk before planning your visit.
Can I view a King and Queen County estate file on the internet?
No free public portal shows King and Queen County estate files. The clerk offers secure remote land-records access by subscription and VADeed Alert for property-record notifications, but those are not a public estate-file portal.
What will it cost to probate a will in King and Queen County?
The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 for estates over $15,000 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712, last amended 2003), with qualification and recording charges under Va. Code § 17.1-275. A county may add the one-third local probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the King and Queen County clerk for the total before you come in.
Where do I send the inventory and accounts after I qualify?
Send them to the commissioner of accounts assigned for King and Queen County, not to the clerk. The Judiciary's commissioners of accounts directory lists the current commissioners and office addresses.
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.