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King William County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | King William County information |
|---|---|
| Court | King William Circuit Court, Ninth Judicial Circuit of Virginia |
| Clerk's office | Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 130, King William, VA 23086 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published. Use 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 130, King William, VA 23086. |
| Probate phone | Wills & Deed Division: (804) 769-4901. Main clerk's office: (804) 769-4936. |
| Fax | (804) 769-4991 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Appointment | The county's Probate & Estate Administration page says probate of wills and qualification are handled by scheduled appointment through the Probate Division. |
| Taxes and clerk charges | The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, or fraction of $100, and does not apply to estates of $15,000 or less (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), so ask the Wills & Deed Division for the total when you schedule. |
| Local forms | Yes. King William County publishes a local Probate Information Packet and a local Small Estate Affidavit link, in addition to statewide Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms. |
| Electronic filing | King William participates in VJEFS for Virginia State Bar members and their designated staff for most civil cases. Qualification before the clerk is handled by scheduled appointment, not through a public electronic probate intake. |
| Case access | No free public portal shows King William County estate files. OCIS does not cover probate or fiduciary records. |
| Remote appearance | Plan on a scheduled clerk appointment in person unless the Probate Division tells you otherwise. |
| Website | King William Circuit Court and King William County Probate & Estate Administration |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Wills & Deed Division, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, accounts, heirs, and the original will if there is one. King William County's own checklist asks for the approximate value of solely owned personal property, the fair market value of solely owned Virginia real estate, and the names, ages, addresses, and relationships of heirs.
That asset picture controls the next estate settlement step, including whether you need to qualify as personal representative or whether a smaller asset process may work. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families identify accounts before the King William County appointment so the clerk's questions are easier to answer.
Which court handles jurisdiction
King William County probate is handled at the King William Circuit Court clerk's office, 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 130, in King William. King William County is in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and it has its own Clerk of the Circuit Court.
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). For a King William County resident, you use the King William County clerk's counter. If a person became a patient in a nursing home, convalescent home, or similar institution because of advanced age or impaired health, Virginia presumes the legal residence stayed where it was before admission unless that presumption is rebutted (§ 64.2-443).
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the appointment information. Gather the certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, asset values, Virginia real estate values, heir names and addresses, and any notarized refusal from a named executor who will not serve.
- Call the Wills & Deed Division. Schedule the probate or qualification appointment through the King William County Probate Division at (804) 769-4901.
- Attend the clerk appointment. In Virginia, you qualify, meaning you are appointed and sworn in, before the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk may admit the will to probate and qualify a personal representative without a judge under Va. Code § 64.2-444.
- Pay the tax and clerk charges. Bring cash, check, or debit card as the county page instructs. The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, or fraction of $100, except estates of $15,000 or less (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). Ask whether a local probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718 applies to your estate.
- Receive the certificate of qualification. The certificate of qualification, CC-1625, is the document banks, transfer agents, and other institutions use to recognize your authority as personal representative.
- Send required notices. After qualification or admission of the will, handle the required notice to heirs and beneficiaries under Va. Code § 64.2-508. Use the statewide notice and affidavit forms from the Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms index.
- Work with the commissioner of accounts. After the clerk appointment, the commissioner of accounts supervises the fiduciary work. The inventory is due to the commissioner of accounts 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).
- Administer and close the estate. Pay valid expenses and claims, keep records, distribute only when it is safe to do so, and complete the final estate settlement through the commissioner of accounts.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in King William County
King William County publishes a local Probate Information Packet from the county's Probate & Estate Administration page. Use it to prepare for the scheduled appointment with the Probate Division.
Virginia also uses statewide circuit court fiduciary forms. Common statewide forms include CC-1650 for probate information, CC-1651 for the probate tax return, CC-1611 for the list of heirs, CC-1610 for a nonresident fiduciary's consent to service of process, CC-1625 for the certificate of qualification, CC-1670 for the inventory, and CC-1680 for the account.
For small personal probate estates, King William links a Small Estate Affidavit form. The statewide small asset ceiling is $75,000 as of July 1, 2025, under Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 and 64.2-601. A small estate affidavit is presented to the asset holder, such as a bank, rather than filed as a courthouse probate case.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Archetype | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call the Wills & Deed Division at (804) 769-4901 before going to 351 Courthouse Lane. Bring the death certificate, the original will if any, and the asset and heir information King William County lists for the appointment. Virginia real estate can matter for probate tax even when it does not come under the personal representative's control (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). | Sunset helps identify accounts, organize the asset list, and generate a King William County appointment packet for estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A nonresident may qualify in Virginia, but must handle the consent to service of process and surety questions under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411. If the estate fits the small asset process, the $75,000 ceiling applies as of July 1, 2025, under Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 and 64.2-601, and King William links a Small Estate Affidavit form for use with the asset holder. | Sunset helps sort accounts, distinguish assets that need qualification from assets that may avoid it, and prepare questions for the Probate Division before travel. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If real estate must be sold and qualification is needed, schedule the King William County Probate Division appointment first. After qualification, work with the commissioner of accounts for the inventory and account. One King William commissioner of accounts office is in West Point. | Sunset helps assemble the family information, document the home's role in the estate, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when a sale or creditor issue needs legal advice. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it gives | Link |
|---|---|---|
| King William Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Clerk's hours, address, phone lines, fax, judges, and eRecording contacts. | King William Circuit Court |
| King William County Probate & Estate Administration | Local probate and qualification instructions, the scheduled appointment practice, the Probate Information Packet, and the county's small estate form link. | Probate & Estate Administration |
| Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms | Statewide forms used for probate, qualification, inventories, accounts, notices, and related fiduciary filings. | Fiduciary forms |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory | A statewide directory to find the current commissioner of accounts for King William County. | Commissioners of Accounts |
| Legal Aid Works, Tappahannock office | General civil legal aid for qualifying low-income residents in King William County. The office does not publish probate-specific service on the page reviewed for this county. | Legal Aid Works Tappahannock |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring counsel if family members disagree, a will is challenged, real estate must be sold, creditors are disputed, a nonresident fiduciary needs help with bond or service requirements, 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 helps families build a clearer asset picture before the King William County appointment, including bank accounts, investment accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, and recurring bills.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information the clerk will ask for, helps prepare form-ready details, and keeps the estate settlement checklist in one place.
Find a local probate attorney. When a King William County estate needs legal advice, Sunset can connect the family with a probate attorney who understands Virginia qualification, commissioner of accounts practice, and local filing habits.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to get organized, understand next steps, and move through estate settlement with less administrative burden.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in King William County?
Use the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office at King William Circuit Court, 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 130, King William, VA 23086. Virginia venue is based on the decedent's known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Do I need an appointment to probate a will in King William County?
Yes. King William County's Probate & Estate Administration page says probate of wills and qualification or appointment of executors and administrators are handled by scheduled appointments arranged through the Probate Division. Call the Wills & Deed Division at (804) 769-4901.
Do I have to go before a judge to be appointed in King William County?
No. In Virginia, the clerk may admit the will and qualify the personal representative at the clerk appointment (Va. Code § 64.2-444). A circuit court judge becomes involved only if there is a dispute, an appeal from the clerk's order, or another contested court matter.
Does King William County have its own probate forms?
Yes. King William County publishes a local Probate Information Packet and a local Small Estate Affidavit link. You should also use the statewide Virginia circuit court fiduciary forms for notices, inventories, accounts, and certificates.
Can I view a King William County estate file through a public website?
No free public website shows King William County estate files. The statewide Online Case Information System does not cover probate or fiduciary records.
What will it cost to probate a will in King William County?
The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, or fraction of $100, and estates of $15,000 or less do not pay that tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), so ask the Wills & Deed Division for the total when you schedule the appointment.
Do I have to come to King William in person?
Plan to attend the scheduled clerk appointment in person unless the Probate Division gives you a different instruction. No current King William County source publishes a video or remote qualification process.
Where do I send the inventory and accounts after I qualify?
You work with the commissioner of accounts, not the clerk, after qualification. The inventory is due to the commissioner of accounts 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).
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.