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Lee County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Lee County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Lee County Circuit Court, Thirtieth Judicial Circuit |
| Courthouse address | 33640 Main Street, Jonesville, VA 24263 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 326, Jonesville, VA 24263-0326 |
| Phone | (276) 346-7763 |
| Fax | (276) 346-3440 |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Probate appointments | The Lee Circuit Court page says: Probate, please call for appointments. |
| Amounts due when qualifying | The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, effective under current 2026 law, when estate value exceeds $15,000, effective since 2003 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A locality may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax if imposed under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the clerk to calculate the total at your appointment. |
| Local forms | Use Virginia statewide circuit court forms. Ask the Lee County clerk whether the office wants any local cover sheet at the appointment. |
| Electronic filing | Lee Circuit Court participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings. VJEFS is not a self-represented route for qualifying before the clerk. |
| Online access | No free public Virginia portal shows fiduciary files. For will-book materials, work with the Lee County clerk's office. |
| Remote appearance | Call the clerk. Lee County publishes an appointment instruction for probate, not a remote qualification practice. |
| Website | Lee Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary and Lee County Circuit Court Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Lee County clerk for a probate appointment, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations and jointly owned property. Virginia venue usually belongs in the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence, and a move to a nursing home or similar facility does not automatically change that residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Estate settlement moves faster when you know which accounts actually need a personal representative. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before they decide what to ask the Lee County clerk to open.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Lee County estates are opened at the Lee County Circuit Court clerk's office in Jonesville. The courthouse serves Lee County as its own Virginia county jurisdiction in the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit.
File in Lee County when the decedent had a known place of residence in Lee County. If the decedent had no known Virginia residence, the venue rule looks next to a county or city where Virginia real estate lies, and then to the county or city where the decedent died or had estate (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
The jurisdiction process
- Call the Lee County Circuit Court clerk at (276) 346-7763 and ask for a probate appointment. The court's own page instructs probate callers to schedule by phone.
- Bring the original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, the names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries, a list of assets and debts, and the statewide Virginia forms that fit your situation, such as CC-1650 for probate information and CC-1651 for the probate tax return when required by Va. Code § 58.1-1714.
- At the appointment, offer the will for probate if there is a will and ask to qualify, Virginia's term for being appointed and sworn in, as executor or administrator. The clerk may admit wills and qualify personal representatives with the same effect as the circuit court (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the state probate tax required by Va. Code § 58.1-1712, any Lee County local probate tax if imposed under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, and the statutory qualification and recording charges that apply to your documents.
- After qualification or admission of the will, send the required notice of probate to the people entitled to notice within 30 days, then file the notice affidavit within four months as required by Va. Code § 64.2-508.
- Ask for certified copies of the certificate of qualification, CC-1625. This is the Virginia authority document banks and other institutions use to recognize the personal representative (Va. Code § 64.2-506).
- Work with the commissioner of accounts assigned for Lee County. The inventory is returned to the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order giving authority, and the first account is due within 16 months of qualification (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300, 64.2-1304).
- Administer assets, pay valid expenses and claims in the proper order, use optional creditor procedures only if they fit the estate, and close through the commissioner of accounts when the estate settlement is ready for final review.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lee County
Lee County uses Virginia's statewide circuit court forms. The clerk's local website describes the office as handling wills and probate matters, and the Lee Circuit Court page tells probate callers to call for appointments.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| 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 nobody qualifies (Va. Code § 64.2-509). |
| CC-1610 | Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process, used when an out-of-state fiduciary qualifies (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). |
| CC-1625 | Certificate / Letter of Qualification, the authority document issued after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-506). |
| CC-1670 | Inventory of Decedent's Estate, returned to the commissioner of accounts (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). |
| CC-1680 | Account for Decedent's Estate, used for the first and later accounts (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). |
| CC-1681 | Statement in Lieu of Settlement of Account when Virginia law allows that closing route (Va. Code § 64.2-1314). |
| CC-1685 | Small Estate Affidavit, used with a holder of a small asset and not filed with the clerk (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 through 64.2-605). |
| CC-1686 and CC-1687 | Optional notice to creditors and affidavit of notice to creditors under Va. Code § 64.2-508.1. |
Local nuance
Lee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Appointment instruction | The Lee Circuit Court page says probate callers should call for appointments. Start with the clerk's phone number before going to the courthouse. |
| Commissioner of accounts | Lee County has commissioners of accounts listed for Lee County with Jonesville mailing addresses. Use the statewide Commissioners of Accounts directory for the current assignment and mailing details. |
| Attorney VJEFS participation | Lee Circuit Court appears on the VJEFS participating-court list for attorney civil filings. That does not replace the clerk appointment for qualification. |
| Judge-side terms | If a contested matter reaches a circuit court judge, Lee County publishes terms beginning on the first Monday in March, June and December and the second Monday in September, with court convening at 9:00 a.m. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Lee County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call the Lee County clerk for an appointment before assuming qualification is needed. Joint ownership, beneficiary designations and real estate title determine what passes through probate. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and title issues so the spouse can ask the clerk and any attorney focused questions. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | You can serve from outside Virginia, but you will sign CC-1610 for service of process and may be asked about surety unless a Virginia resident qualifies with you or the clerk waives surety (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411). If the estate fits the Virginia Small Estate Act, including the $75,000 ceiling effective July 1, 2025, a bank or other holder may use the affidavit process instead of qualification (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 through 64.2-605). | Sunset helps decide whether the estate settlement needs a full Lee County qualification appointment or a smaller transfer path. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Call the Lee County clerk for a probate appointment and ask what the will, if any, allows. If a personal representative must sell real estate, qualification and attorney guidance often matter. | Sunset organizes the asset list, prepares the probate packet and can connect the parent with a Virginia probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Courthouse address, phone, fax, hours, terms of court and the published probate appointment instruction. | Lee Circuit Court |
| Lee County Circuit Court Clerk | Local clerk website for wills and probate matters and the clerk's office functions. | Lee County Circuit Court Clerk |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory | Find the current commissioner of accounts for Lee County and the statewide commissioner resources. | Commissioners of Accounts directory |
| Virginia Judiciary circuit court forms | Statewide circuit court form index for probate, qualification, inventory and accounting forms. | Circuit court forms |
| Virginia Judiciary self-help probate forms | Self-help page collecting Virginia probate forms for the public. | Probate forms |
| Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society | General civil legal aid for Lee County residents. Apply by phone at 1-888-201-2772 during posted intake hours, or contact the Castlewood office at (276) 762-9354. | Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society |
When to hire an attorney
A Virginia probate attorney makes sense when heirs disagree, the will may be challenged, real estate must be sold, a nonresident fiduciary needs bond guidance, creditors are active, or the commissioner of accounts asks for more support. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when legal help is the right next step.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families search across more than 2,300 institutions, organize balances and identify which assets may need Lee County qualification and which may pass another way.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into a practical Virginia probate packet, including the forms and checklists you can use when you call the Lee County clerk for an appointment.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate has a house sale, a dispute, creditor issues or a nonresident fiduciary question, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Virginia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, understand next steps and move from asset discovery to filing support without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate paperwork for Lee County?
Start with the Lee County Circuit Court clerk at 33640 Main Street in Jonesville. The mailing address is P.O. Box 326, Jonesville, VA 24263-0326, and the phone number is (276) 346-7763.
Does Lee County require a probate appointment?
The Lee Circuit Court page says, "Probate: please call for appointments." Call the clerk before going to the courthouse so the office can tell you what to bring.
Can I use VJEFS for a Lee County probate appointment?
No for a self-represented qualification appointment. Lee Circuit Court participates in VJEFS for attorney civil filings, but qualification before the clerk is handled through the clerk appointment process.
Can I check a Lee County estate file on a free public website?
No free public Virginia portal displays fiduciary files. For will-book materials or copies, contact the Lee County Circuit Court clerk's office.
What does it cost to open an estate in Lee County?
The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, effective under current 2026 law, when the estate value exceeds $15,000, effective since 2003 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). Lee County may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax if imposed under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the clerk to calculate the total when you schedule or attend the appointment.
Who supervises the Lee County personal representative after qualification?
The commissioner of accounts supervises inventories and accounts after the clerk qualifies the personal representative. Lee County commissioners are listed in the statewide Commissioners of Accounts directory, and the inventory and account go to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1200, 64.2-1300, 64.2-1304).
Do I have to travel to Jonesville if I live out of state?
Plan on calling the clerk first. Virginia allows a nonresident fiduciary to qualify, but the fiduciary must file written consent for service of process, usually CC-1610, and should ask the clerk about bond and surety before traveling (Va. Code § 64.2-1426).
When is the first account due in a Lee County estate?
The first account is due to the commissioner of accounts within 16 months of qualification and covers the first 12 months of administration (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). That deadline is part of the estate settlement calendar after the clerk appointment.
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.