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Northumberland County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Northumberland County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Northumberland County Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court, 15th Judicial Circuit of Virginia |
| Courthouse address | 220 Judicial Place, Heathsville, VA 22473 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 217, Heathsville, VA 22473-0217 |
| Phone | (804) 580-3700 |
| Fax | (804) 580-2261 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. No lunch closure or probate intake cutoff is published by the clerk pages, so call before you go. |
| Probate tax and clerk charges | The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, with no probate tax on estates of $15,000 or less, unchanged since 2003 (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 confirm the total with the clerk. Qualification and recording charges are set by Va. Code § 17.1-275. A $25 state fee in lieu may apply to a list of heirs or real estate affidavit when no will is probated and no administration is granted, with a possible local $25 fee if imposed (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1717.1, 58.1-3805). |
| County probate forms | Northumberland County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, checklist, or cover sheet on the clerk pages. Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court forms. |
| Electronic filing status | Probate qualification is handled through the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Virginia's VJEFS system is for Virginia State Bar members and their staff for most civil cases, not for a self-represented probate qualification. |
| Case and records access | No free public portal displays Virginia estate files. Recorded wills and lists of heirs are clerk records that can be requested from the clerk's office. OCIS is not a probate or fiduciary records system. |
| Remote appearance | Call the clerk before relying on a remote or mail option. Virginia circuit courts may allow remote appearances in civil proceedings at the court's discretion (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2), but qualification is handled by the clerk. |
| Website | Northumberland County Circuit Court; local clerk site: ncccva.org |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Northumberland County clerk, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, titled property, bank accounts, and any real estate. Virginia probate starts with the clerk, but the right path depends on what must be collected, sold, transferred, or reported.
Sunset can help with the asset discovery part of estate settlement by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then organizing what you find into the information the clerk, commissioner of accounts, and any attorney will need.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Northumberland County probate is handled at the Northumberland County Circuit Court clerk's office in Heathsville. The clerk's office serves Northumberland County matters in the 15th Judicial Circuit.
Virginia venue is based on the decedent's known place of residence. A will is offered, or administration is sought, in the circuit court for the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence, with fallback rules for real estate, place of death, or estate property (Va. Code § 64.2-443). If the decedent was in a nursing home or similar institution because of age or health, Virginia presumes the legal residence stayed where it was before admission unless that presumption is rebutted.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, addresses for heirs and beneficiaries, an asset list, and any information needed for the Probate Information Form, CC-1650.
- Call the Northumberland County Clerk of the Circuit Court at (804) 580-3700 before going to 220 Judicial Place in Heathsville. Ask whether a probate appointment is needed, what payment methods are accepted, and whether the county adds a local probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718.
- At the clerk's counter, offer the will for probate if there is one and qualify, which is Virginia's term for being appointed and sworn in, as executor or administrator if a personal representative is needed. The clerk may admit wills to probate and qualify personal representatives with the same effect as the circuit court (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the Commonwealth probate tax and clerk charges that apply. The state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value for estates over $15,000, unchanged since 2003 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). The qualification fee and recording charges are set by Va. Code § 17.1-275.
- Receive certified authority documents from the clerk, usually the certificate of qualification, CC-1625. Institutions use that certificate to recognize the personal representative's authority (Va. Code § 64.2-506).
- Within 30 days after qualification or admission of the will, send the required notice of probate to the people entitled to notice, then record the notice affidavit within four months (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Work with the Northumberland County commissioner of accounts, not the clerk, for fiduciary supervision after qualification. The commissioner has general supervision of fiduciaries and settles accounts (Va. Code § 64.2-1200).
- File the inventory with the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order giving authority, using CC-1670 (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). File the first account with the commissioner within 16 months of qualification, using CC-1680 unless a statement in lieu or another statutory path applies (Va. Code § 64.2-1304).
- Handle creditor questions, distributions, taxes, and closing with the commissioner of accounts. Virginia also allows an optional creditor notice process, effective July 1, 2026, that may limit the personal representative's exposure without ending valid claims outright (Va. Code § 64.2-508.1).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Northumberland County
Northumberland County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, checklist, or cover sheet on the clerk pages. The local clerk site lists wills and probate among the court's functions, and the statewide Virginia Circuit Court forms are the forms to start with.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| CC-1650, Probate Information Form | Information the clerk uses for the probate appointment. |
| CC-1651, Probate Tax Return | Used when the estate value requires the probate tax return under Va. Code § 58.1-1714. |
| CC-1611, List of Heirs | Filed at qualification or when a will is presented without qualification (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 authority document issued by the clerk (Va. Code § 64.2-506). |
| CC-1670, Inventory of Decedent's Estate | Filed with the commissioner of accounts within four months after authority is granted (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). |
| CC-1680, Account for Decedent's Estate | Filed with the commissioner of accounts for the first account within 16 months of qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). |
| CC-1685, Small Estate Affidavit | Used with a holder of a small asset, not filed with the clerk, when the statutory requirements are met for a personal probate estate not over $75,000, effective July 1, 2025 (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600, 64.2-601). |
| CC-1686 and CC-1687 | Optional creditor notice and affidavit forms for the process effective July 1, 2026 (Va. Code § 64.2-508.1). |
Local nuance
Northumberland County-specific considerations
The Northumberland County clerk's counter is in Heathsville, but the commissioner of accounts offices listed for Northumberland County are in other county towns. The commissioner of accounts is Mervin C. Withers, 65 Hampton Hall Rd., P.O. Box E, Callao, VA 22435, phone (804) 529-7301, fax (804) 529-5900. The statewide roster also lists Assistant Commissioner of Accounts Barbara Breeden, P.O. Box 35, Irvington, VA 22480, phone (804) 438-9595.
This matters because after qualification, the fiduciary's inventory and accounts go to the commissioner of accounts, not back to the clerk. Build travel, mailing, and communication with the Callao or Irvington office into the estate settlement timeline.
Recent updates
No Northumberland County-specific probate rule change was published on the clerk pages reviewed for this page. The statewide form set and the optional creditor notice forms changed in 2026, but Northumberland County did not publish a separate local probate packet or cover sheet.
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Northumberland County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home passes outside the probate estate and whether any solely owned assets require qualification at the Northumberland County clerk's office. If a personal representative qualifies, the list of heirs and notice steps still matter. | Sunset helps organize deeds, accounts, beneficiary information, debts, and documents so the spouse can decide what actually needs clerk action. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If no personal representative has been appointed and the personal probate estate is within the $75,000 small estate affidavit limit, effective July 1, 2025, the child may be able to use CC-1685 with the asset holder instead of qualifying (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600, 64.2-601). If qualification is needed, a nonresident fiduciary can serve but must file CC-1610 and may need surety unless an exception or waiver applies (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). | Sunset helps identify accounts and balances before the child decides whether the affidavit route is enough or a clerk qualification is needed. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the estate needs someone with authority to sell real estate or deal with creditors formally, call the Northumberland County clerk about qualifying as personal representative. After qualification, the commissioner of accounts supervises the inventory, account, and settlement work. | Sunset helps assemble an asset list, locate accounts, prepare the probate packet, and connect the parent with a Virginia probate attorney when a sale or dispute makes legal help important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland County Circuit Court | Clerk's office for wills, qualification, recording, and courthouse contact information. | vacourts.gov Northumberland Circuit Court; (804) 580-3700 |
| Northumberland County clerk site | Local clerk site that lists wills and probate among the court's functions. | ncccva.org |
| Commissioners of accounts directory | Statewide directory for the commissioner of accounts who supervises inventories and accounts after qualification. | Virginia Judiciary commissioners of accounts |
| Virginia Circuit Court forms | Statewide probate, fiduciary, inventory, accounting, notice, and small estate forms. | Virginia court forms |
| Virginia self-help probate forms | Self-help listing of common probate forms used statewide. | Probate forms self-help page |
| Legal Aid Works, Tappahannock office | General civil legal aid for a service area that names Northumberland County. Its listed practice areas do not name probate or estate administration. | 311 Virginia Street, Tappahannock, VA 22560; (804) 443-9393; Legal Aid Works Tappahannock |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Virginia probate attorney if the will may be challenged, heirs disagree, a bond or surety issue comes up, the estate includes real estate that must be sold, there are creditor disputes, or an out-of-state personal representative needs help qualifying and working with the commissioner of accounts. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney when local legal help is the right next step.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, balances, and assets that may affect the Northumberland County probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you enter into an organized probate packet, including the details commonly needed for Virginia Circuit Court forms and the clerk appointment.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate settlement needs legal advice, a real estate sale, creditor strategy, or help with a contested issue, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Virginia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps, and prepare for the Northumberland County clerk and commissioner of accounts without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Northumberland County?
Go to the Northumberland County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 220 Judicial Place in Heathsville. Call (804) 580-3700 before you go to ask what the clerk wants you to bring and whether a probate appointment is needed.
Does Northumberland County have its own probate forms?
No county-specific probate packet, checklist, or cover sheet is published on the Northumberland County clerk pages. Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court forms, including CC-1650, CC-1611, CC-1625, CC-1670, and CC-1680 as needed.
Can I handle Northumberland County probate electronically?
Plan on working with the clerk's office directly for qualification. Virginia's attorney e-filing system is not a self-represented probate qualification route, and no Northumberland County remote or mail-in qualification practice is published on the clerk pages.
Do I have to go before a judge to open an estate in Northumberland County?
No. In Virginia, the clerk or deputy clerk may admit a will to probate and qualify the personal representative (Va. Code § 64.2-444). A circuit court judge becomes involved only in contested or judge-side matters, such as an appeal from the clerk's order or a will contest (Va. Code §§ 64.2-445, 64.2-446, 64.2-448).
What does probate cost in Northumberland County?
The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value for estates over $15,000, unchanged since 2003 (Va. Code § 58.1-1712), plus statutory qualification and recording charges under Va. Code § 17.1-275. A county may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code § 58.1-1718), so ask the Northumberland County clerk for the current total before your visit.
Who supervises the inventory and accounts after I qualify?
The commissioner of accounts supervises fiduciaries after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1200). For Northumberland County, the commissioner of accounts office listed by the Virginia Judiciary is in Callao, and an assistant commissioner is listed in Irvington.
When are the inventory and first account due?
The inventory is due to the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order conferring authority (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). The first account is due within 16 months of qualification and covers the first 12 months of activity (Va. Code § 64.2-1304).
Can an out-of-state child serve as personal representative in Northumberland County?
Yes, Virginia allows a nonresident natural person to qualify, but the person must file written consent to service of process with the clerk, commonly CC-1610. A nonresident should expect a surety discussion unless a Virginia resident qualifies at the same time or the clerk or court 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.