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City of Lexington, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Local detail |
|---|---|
| Court and clerk | Rockbridge Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court. The same clerk's office serves the City of Lexington and Rockbridge County. |
| Courthouse address | 20 South Randolph Street, Suite 101, Rockbridge County Courthouse, Lexington, VA 24450 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. No separate mailing address is published for this clerk's office. |
| Phone | (540) 463-2232 |
| Fax | (540) 463-3850 |
| Hours | Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Probate tax and charges | The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt, under Va. Code § 58.1-1712, effective since 2003. A city or county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax and a local fee in lieu for certain recordings (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718, 58.1-3805, 58.1-1717.1); ask the clerk for the City of Lexington's current total when you schedule the appointment. |
| Local forms | Use Virginia statewide circuit court forms. No separate City of Lexington probate packet is named on the clerk's page. |
| E-filing status | No electronic probate filing route is published for this clerk's office. Plan on a clerk appointment for qualification. |
| Case access | No free public website is listed for viewing City of Lexington estate files. Recorded wills and lists of heirs are handled through the clerk's records room. |
| Remote appearance | No local remote-qualification practice is published. Qualification before the clerk is normally an in-person appointment. |
| Website | Rockbridge Circuit Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the clerk, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, accounts, digital assets and likely beneficiaries. In Virginia, that asset picture determines whether you need to qualify as personal representative, whether a smaller transfer route may work, and what bond, probate tax and commissioner of accounts steps may follow.
Sunset can support the estate settlement work before the appointment by helping identify accounts across more than 2,300 institutions, organizing balances and liabilities, and turning that information into a probate-ready packet for the City of Lexington clerk's counter.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The City of Lexington has one local probate counter: the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office at the Rockbridge County Courthouse, 20 South Randolph Street, Suite 101, in Lexington. The courthouse name reflects the shared clerk's office, but a City of Lexington estate remains a City of Lexington matter.
Virginia venue is based on the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443). If the decedent was a City of Lexington resident, you use this shared clerk's counter even though the City of Lexington is an independent city and not part of Rockbridge County.
Do not confuse the City of Lexington with the nearby City of Buena Vista. Both are in the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, but the City of Buena Vista has its own clerk and courthouse.
The jurisdiction process
- Call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (540) 463-2232 and ask how the office wants probate or qualification appointments scheduled for a City of Lexington estate. The counter is at 20 South Randolph Street, Suite 101, in Lexington.
- Prepare the statewide Virginia forms that match the situation, usually the Probate Information Form, the List of Heirs, the Probate Tax Return if the estate value requires it, any notice forms, and any nonresident fiduciary consent if the proposed personal representative lives outside Virginia.
- Bring the original will, if there is one, a certified death certificate, identification, asset information and payment for the probate tax, qualification fee and recording charges. The Commonwealth probate tax is governed by Va. Code § 58.1-1712; a city or county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718, 58.1-3805), so ask the clerk for the City of Lexington total when you schedule.
- Appear before the clerk to probate the will, if any, and qualify, which is Virginia's term for being appointed and sworn in as personal representative. The clerk may admit the will and qualify executors, administrators and curators in the same manner and with like effect as the circuit court (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- After qualification, use the certificate of qualification, CC-1625, as the authority document for banks, transfer agents and other institutions. If a bank receives a currently effective certificate of qualification, Virginia law gives it a seven-business-day accept-or-reject rule (Va. Code § 64.2-520.2).
- Send the required notice of probate or qualification to the people entitled to notice within 30 days, then record the notice affidavit with the clerk within four months (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Return the inventory to the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order conferring authority (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). For City of Lexington matters, the commissioners are private law offices listed under Rockbridge in the Judiciary's commissioner directory, and both listed offices are in Lexington.
- Administer the estate, pay valid expenses and claims in the proper order, and keep records for the account or other closing document. The first account for a personal representative is due within 16 months from qualification and covers the first 12 months (Va. Code § 64.2-1304).
- Close the estate settlement through the commissioner of accounts, using the account, statement in lieu when available, or other Virginia procedure that fits the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in the City of Lexington
Virginia uses statewide circuit court forms for probate and fiduciary administration. The City of Lexington clerk's page does not name a separate local probate packet, so prepare the statewide forms and ask the clerk at scheduling whether the office wants any additional intake information.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| CC-1650, Probate Information Form | Information the clerk uses for the probate or qualification appointment. |
| CC-1651, Probate Tax Return | Return used when the estate is subject to Virginia probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712. |
| CC-1611, List of Heirs | Heir information filed at qualification or when a will is presented and no personal representative qualifies. |
| CC-1610, Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process | Used when the proposed personal representative is not a Virginia resident (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). |
| CC-1616 and CC-1617 | Notice Regarding Estate and the related Affidavit of Notice Regarding Estate under Va. Code § 64.2-508. |
| CC-1625, Certificate / Letter of Qualification | The authority document issued after qualification. |
| CC-1670 and CC-1680 | Inventory of Decedent's Estate and Account for Decedent's Estate, returned to the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1681 | Statement in Lieu of Settlement of Account for Decedent's Estate when that statewide route applies. |
| CC-1685 | Small Estate Affidavit. This is presented to the holder of a qualifying small asset, not filed with the clerk. |
| CC-1686 and CC-1687 | Optional Notice to Creditors Regarding Estate and related affidavit under Va. Code § 64.2-508.1, effective July 1, 2026. |
Local nuance
City of Lexington-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Shared clerk, separate city | The City of Lexington shares the Clerk of the Circuit Court with Rockbridge County, but the City of Lexington is an independent city. A City of Lexington resident's estate is opened as a City of Lexington matter. |
| Courthouse is inside Lexington | Some shared-clerk city residents travel to a neighboring county seat. City of Lexington families go to the Rockbridge County Courthouse at 20 South Randolph Street, which is in Lexington. |
| Commissioners are also in Lexington | The Judiciary's commissioner directory lists the Rockbridge commissioners for this court. The listed offices are at 11 South Randolph Street and 65 East Midland Trail, both in Lexington, and are separate private law offices. |
| Local tax question | A city or county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718, 58.1-3805). Ask the clerk for the City of Lexington's current total when you schedule the appointment. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call the clerk at (540) 463-2232 and make the appointment at the Rockbridge County Courthouse in Lexington. Bring the original will, death certificate, identification and asset list. If survivorship or nonprobate title controls the home, the clerk appointment may focus on the will, personal property and required notices rather than transferring the home. | Sunset helps identify accounts, insurance, debts and title clues so the spouse can see what actually needs estate settlement work before going to the clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | No local remote qualification route is published, so plan for an in-person clerk appointment if qualification is needed. A nonresident may qualify, but will sign the consent to service of process, CC-1610, and should be ready for the surety question under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411. If a small-asset route fits, the affidavit is presented to the holder rather than filed with the clerk. | Sunset helps sort the asset list before travel, flag institutions that may need a certificate of qualification, and prepare a probate packet for the Lexington appointment. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the estate needs a personal representative with power to sell real estate, the parent qualifies at the clerk's counter in Lexington. The inventory and account then go to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk. The Rockbridge commissioner offices listed for this court are also in Lexington. | Sunset helps gather deeds, mortgage information, account balances and creditor details so the parent and attorney can decide whether qualification, a real estate affidavit route or another Virginia path fits. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk of the Circuit Court, City of Lexington and Rockbridge County | Shared probate counter for City of Lexington estates, located at 20 South Randolph Street, Suite 101, in Lexington. Phone: (540) 463-2232. | Rockbridge Circuit Court |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory | Statewide Judiciary directory for finding the commissioner of accounts assigned to Rockbridge and City of Lexington fiduciary matters. | Commissioners of Accounts directory |
| Virginia court forms index | Statewide circuit court forms for probate, qualification, notice, inventory and accounting. | Virginia court forms |
| Virginia Judiciary self-help probate forms | Plain-language index of probate forms and instruction sheets. | Probate forms self-help |
| Blue Ridge Legal Services | General civil legal aid for low-income households. BRLS has a Lexington office, but estate administration is not listed among its practice areas. | Blue Ridge Legal Services |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer is especially useful if the will is disputed, a nonresident fiduciary needs bond advice, real estate must be sold, creditors are likely to challenge payment, heirs disagree, or the commissioner of accounts asks for additional support on the inventory or account. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when local legal help makes sense.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, debts and other assets that shape the Virginia probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the City of Lexington clerk appointment, including asset lists, beneficiary information, notice details and the forms commonly used for qualification and estate settlement.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate involves real estate, creditor disputes, a contested will, a nonresident fiduciary or commissioner of accounts issues, Sunset can connect the family to a vetted Virginia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a guided place to start, helps reduce administrative burden, and keeps the next steps organized from asset discovery through the estate settlement process.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for the City of Lexington?
Use the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Rockbridge County Courthouse, 20 South Randolph Street, Suite 101, Lexington, VA 24450. The City of Lexington shares this clerk's office with Rockbridge County, but a City of Lexington resident's estate remains a City of Lexington matter under Va. Code § 64.2-443.
Is the City of Lexington part of Rockbridge County for probate?
No. The City of Lexington is an independent city, not part of any county. It shares a clerk's office with Rockbridge County, and the shared courthouse is physically in Lexington.
Can I use electronic filing for a City of Lexington probate matter?
No probate-specific electronic filing route is published for this clerk's office. Plan to call the clerk at (540) 463-2232 and schedule the qualification or probate appointment.
Do I have to travel outside the City of Lexington to qualify?
Not based on the published clerk address. The shared clerk's counter is at the Rockbridge County Courthouse, 20 South Randolph Street, Suite 101, which is in Lexington.
What are the clerk's hours for probate appointments in Lexington?
The clerk's office lists hours as Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call before you go, because probate appointments can take longer than ordinary records counter visits.
Can I see City of Lexington estate files on a public website?
No free public website is listed for viewing City of Lexington estate files. Recorded wills and lists of heirs are handled through the clerk's records room, and the clerk can explain what access is available for a particular record.
Does the City of Lexington have its own probate forms?
The clerk's page does not name a separate City of Lexington probate packet. Use the statewide Virginia circuit court forms, including CC-1650, CC-1651, CC-1611, CC-1616, CC-1617, CC-1625, CC-1670 and CC-1680 as needed.
How much will probate tax cost in the City of Lexington?
The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt, under Va. Code § 58.1-1712, effective since 2003. A city or county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax and a local fee in lieu for certain recordings (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718, 58.1-3805, 58.1-1717.1); ask the clerk for the City of Lexington's current total when you schedule the appointment.
Where do I send the inventory and account after qualification?
Send them to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk. For City of Lexington matters, the Judiciary's commissioner directory lists the Rockbridge commissioners, with offices in Lexington. The inventory is due within four months after authority is granted (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.