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Prince William County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Prince William County information |
|---|---|
| Clerk's office | Prince William Circuit Court, Circuit Court Clerk's Probate Office |
| Courthouse address | Prince William County Judicial Center, 9311 Lee Avenue, Third Floor, Room 308, Manassas, VA 20110 |
| Mailing for probate intake | 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 308, Manassas, VA 20110 |
| Probate phone | 703-792-5587 |
| General clerk phone | 703-792-6015 |
| Probate email | [email protected] |
| Fax | 703-342-0342, accepted for the Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The clerk lists earlier payment cutoffs for some counters, so do not arrive at the end of the day expecting to pay. |
| How to start | Complete the Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet and send it by email, fax or mail. Probate matters are handled in the order received, and a probate clerk calls to discuss the worksheet and set an appointment if needed. |
| Probate tax and clerk charges | The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, or fraction of $100, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). The clerk also collects the statutory qualification fee, recording charges and any applicable local charges at the appointment. |
| Local forms | Yes. Prince William County uses its own Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet in addition to Virginia statewide CC forms. |
| Electronic filing | Opening an estate is not electronic. Attorney electronic submission exists for selected circuit court civil actions, including some fiduciary-related disputes or supervised matters, but qualification begins with the worksheet and the clerk's callback. |
| Recorded-document index | The clerk's Eagle Recorder fiduciary index covers wills, probate and lists of heirs from January 3, 1981 to the present for Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park. Index searching is free; images cost $0.50 per image plus a $2.00 internet convenience fee, or $0.50 per copy on public terminals without that convenience fee. |
| Remote appearance | No current local rule offers remote qualification. Virginia circuit courts may allow telephone or video appearance in a civil proceeding at the court's discretion (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2), but qualifying before the clerk is normally an in-person appointment after the worksheet review. |
| Website | https://www.pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court/probatequalifywills |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you send the Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet, list what the decedent owned and owed. Prince William County's worksheet asks for date-of-death values, separates personal property from real property, and tells you to exclude survivorship property, payable-on-death accounts, beneficiary-designated accounts and trust assets.
Sunset can help with that first inventory work by searching across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing the information into an estate settlement plan that matches the Prince William County worksheet, the clerk's callback and the commissioner of accounts process.
Which court handles jurisdiction
A Prince William County estate is opened at the Circuit Court Clerk's Probate Office at the Judicial Center on Lee Avenue in Manassas. One elected Clerk of the Circuit Court serves Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park in the Thirty-first Judicial Circuit, so all three localities use the same counter. The courthouse itself stands in the City of Manassas, which is not part of Prince William County.
Venue follows Virginia's rule: offer the will or seek administration in the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443). If the decedent had moved to 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. A decedent who lived in the City of Manassas or the City of Manassas Park has an estate that belongs to that city, even though the same clerk's counter handles the appointment.
Within Prince William County, the incorporated towns include Dumfries, Haymarket, Occoquan and Quantico. Those residents use the Prince William County Probate Office, not a town office, for probate and qualification.
The jurisdiction process
- Complete the Prince William County Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet. Include the decedent's residence, prior residence if the address was a nursing home, the will and codicil dates, the heirs at law and date-of-death asset values.
- Send the worksheet to the Probate Office by email at [email protected], by fax at 703-342-0342, or by mail to 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 308, Manassas, VA 20110. Do not send the last two instruction pages of the worksheet.
- Wait for the probate clerk's callback. The office processes probate matters in the order received, discusses what you sent, and sets an appointment if needed.
- Prepare for the Room 308 appointment. Bring current picture identification, the original will and codicils, a certified death certificate with a raised seal, any required depositions or waivers, a bondsperson if surety is required, resident-agent papers for a non-Virginia fiduciary, and payment.
- Pay the Commonwealth probate tax and clerk charges at the appointment. The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, or fraction of $100, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A county or city 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 Probate Office for your total when the clerk calls you back.
- Qualify, if qualification is needed. Qualify is Virginia's word for being appointed and sworn in by the clerk. The Clerk of the Circuit Court may admit the will to probate and qualify an executor, administrator or curator without a judge signing the appointment (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Receive the certificate of qualification. The certificate of qualification, CC-1625, is the document institutions use to recognize the personal representative's authority (Va. Code § 64.2-506). Prince William County provides two certificates at qualification and charges $2.00 for each additional certificate under its July 24, 2023 probate worksheet.
- Send the notice regarding estate within 30 days after qualification or admission of the will, then take the affidavit of notice and recording charge back to the Probate Office. The commissioner recommends doing this at 30 days because the inventory will not be approved until the affidavit is recorded (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Send the inventory bundle to the commissioner of accounts assigned to the estate, not to the clerk. The inventory is due within four months after the order conferring authority (Va. Code § 64.2-1300).
- Continue estate settlement through the assigned commissioner of accounts. The first account is due within 16 months of qualification and covers the first 12 months (Va. Code § 64.2-1304), unless a statement in lieu is available and timely. A final account or approved closing document completes the commissioner review.
Executor duties
| Local duty | What Prince William County expects |
|---|---|
| Use the notice the probate clerk gives you | Within 30 days after qualification, mail or hand deliver the notice regarding estate to the people entitled to notice (Va. Code § 64.2-508). The commissioner's packet says the notice is provided by the probate clerk. |
| Take the affidavit of notice back to the Probate Office | The affidavit of notice goes to the probate clerk with the recording charge. The commissioner recommends filing it at 30 days, and the inventory will not be approved until it is recorded. The clerk's July 24, 2023 cost list gives an $18.00 recording charge for 10 or fewer pages. |
| Send the inventory bundle to the assigned commissioner | Within four months after qualification, send the completed inventory, one copy, a copy of the will if there is one, and the commissioner's fee to the commissioner of accounts assigned to the estate (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). Use one check payable to Commissioner of Accounts. |
| Send the first account to the same commissioner | The first account is due within 16 months of qualification and covers the first 12 months (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). The account does not go to the clerk. |
| Use a statement in lieu only if eligible | The clerk's FAQ gives the local timing as after six months and before 16 months for an eligible statement in lieu (Va. Code § 64.2-1314). The commissioner's decedent-estate fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023, lists a $268.00 charge for a statement in lieu, including the clerk recording charge. |
| Keep estate money separate | The clerk's FAQ says the personal representative should obtain an employer identification number and open a separate estate account. The commissioner's packet tells fiduciaries to keep all estate assets and money separate and to keep cancelled checks or check images and receipts. |
| Check solvency before paying or distributing | The commissioner warns personal representatives not to pay debts or distribute assets until they know the estate is solvent. Paying out of the statutory priority order can create personal liability (Va. Code § 64.2-528). |
| Watch local delinquency charges | The commissioner's decedent-estate fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023, charges the fiduciary personally for late-filing enforcement, including a $40.00 letter, a $150.00 summons, and other listed delinquency steps. |
| Ask before taking compensation | The commissioner applies local compensation guidelines based on the Judicial Council's fiduciary compensation guidelines and tells personal representatives to contact the commissioner's office before taking a fee. Do not treat those guidelines as a statutory cap. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Prince William County
| Form or packet | How it is used in Prince William County |
|---|---|
| Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet | This is the local intake packet. Send the completed worksheet to [email protected], fax it to 703-342-0342, or mail it to 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 308, Manassas, VA 20110. The worksheet revision dated July 24, 2023 says probate matters are processed in the order received and a probate clerk will call to discuss what was sent. |
| Original will and codicils | Bring the originals to the appointment. The clerk's worksheet says the office must retain the original will and codicils, and the clerk's FAQ says a copy is not acceptable. |
| CC-1650 and CC-1651 | Prince William County collects its intake information on its own Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet. CC-1651 is the statewide probate tax return the clerk uses where the estate's value requires one, and both forms sit on the Virginia Judiciary's circuit court forms index. |
| CC-1611 and CC-1612 | CC-1611 is the statewide list of heirs. CC-1612 is the statewide List of Heirs / Real Estate Affidavit, and the clerk's FAQ says an intestate real-estate-only matter uses a real estate affidavit obtained from the Probate Office, with a certified death certificate, heir information and the legal description. |
| CC-1610 | A nonresident fiduciary uses the statewide consent to service of process. Prince William County also requires a non-Virginia resident fiduciary to appoint an in-state resident agent with written consent before the appointment. |
| Depositions and waivers | The worksheet tells filers to bring original depositions where a will is not self-proving or is handwritten, and original waivers where a named executor or first-right heir declines to serve. Forms are available from the Virginia Judiciary forms index or in the clerk's office. |
| CC-1670, CC-1680 and CC-1681 | The inventory, account and statement in lieu are statewide commissioner forms. In Prince William County, they go to the assigned commissioner of accounts at that commissioner's private office, not to the Probate Office. |
| CC-1685 | The clerk's probate page links the statewide Small Estate Affidavit. The statewide small-estate affidavit route is presented to the institution holding the asset, not filed as an estate-opening petition at the courthouse (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 through 64.2-601, July 1, 2025). |
Fees
| Charge | Amount and timing |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth probate tax | 10 cents per $100 of estate value, or fraction of $100, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). This is a probate tax, not the qualification fee. |
| Possible local probate tax | A county or city may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718, 58.1-3805). Ask the Probate Office for your total when the clerk calls you back. |
| Qualification fee | The clerk's July 24, 2023 probate worksheet follows the statutory qualification-fee tiers in Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3), ranging from $0.00 to $30.00 depending on estate value. |
| Recording a will, list of heirs, affidavit of notice or similar will-book paper | The clerk's July 24, 2023 cost list gives $18.00 for 10 or fewer pages, $32.00 for 11 to 30 pages, and $52.00 for 31 or more pages. |
| Real estate transfer fee | If real estate is involved, the clerk's July 24, 2023 worksheet lists a $1.00 transfer fee per parcel, designated to Prince William County, the City of Manassas or the City of Manassas Park depending on the parcel. |
| Certificates of qualification | The clerk's July 24, 2023 worksheet says two certificates are provided at qualification, and each additional certificate is $2.00. |
| Card payments | The clerk's July 24, 2023 worksheet accepts check, cash, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. A credit or debit card payment adds $2.00 or 3 percent, whichever is greater. |
| Copies and certified copies | The clerk's copy charge is $0.50 per page, plus $2.00 for each certified document, under the clerk's current copy instructions. |
| Commissioner inventory fees | The commissioner of accounts decedent-estate schedule, effective January 1, 2023, starts with a $153.00 base fee for the first inventory band and increases by asset band and page count. Base fees include the clerk recording charge. |
| Commissioner first-account fees | The commissioner of accounts decedent-estate schedule, effective January 1, 2023, starts with a $293.00 base fee for the first account band and increases by asset band and page count. For estates above $1,000,000, the schedule adds 0.00075 of the excess over $1,000,000. |
| Statement in lieu | The commissioner of accounts decedent-estate schedule, effective January 1, 2023, lists $268.00 for a statement in lieu and $268.00 for a notice of intent to file. |
| Debts and demands | The commissioner of accounts decedent-estate schedule, effective January 1, 2023, lists $350.00 plus advertisement costs for a debts-and-demands proceeding. |
Timeline
- Send the completed Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet to the Probate Office by email, fax or mail. If you give an email address, the office says it will acknowledge receipt.
- Wait for the probate clerk's callback. Probate matters are handled in the order received, and no callback window is published.
- Attend the appointment at the Judicial Center, 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 308, in Manassas, if the clerk sets one. Bring the original will, certified death certificate, photo identification, required waivers or depositions, a bondsperson if surety is required, resident-agent papers for a nonresident fiduciary, and payment.
- Leave with authority if you qualify. Prince William County provides two certificates of qualification at qualification and charges $2.00 for each additional certificate under its July 24, 2023 probate worksheet.
- Send the notice regarding estate within 30 days after qualification or admission of the will (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Return the affidavit of notice and recording charge to the Probate Office. The commissioner recommends doing this at 30 days, and the inventory will not be approved until the affidavit is recorded.
- Send the inventory bundle to the assigned commissioner of accounts within four months after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1300).
- Send the first account to the same commissioner within 16 months of qualification, or use a statement in lieu if eligible and timely (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1304, 64.2-1314).
- If a dispute needs a judge, such as a petition to remove a personal representative, the clerk's FAQ says Friday is motions day and the papers and fee go to the Civil Section in Room 314 at least two weeks before the hearing date.
Local nuance
Prince William County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Worksheet first, callback second | Prince William County does not start with online booking. You send the worksheet by email, fax or mail, and a probate clerk calls to discuss it and set an appointment if needed. |
| One clerk serves three localities | The same Clerk of the Circuit Court serves Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park. The courthouse is in the City of Manassas, but the three localities remain separate for venue under Va. Code § 64.2-443. |
| The clerk keeps the original will | Bring the original will and codicils expecting the clerk to retain them. A copy is not acceptable for the probate appointment. |
| Bondsperson at the appointment | If surety is required, the worksheet tells you to arrange for a bondsperson to be present at the appointment. The clerk publishes a bonding-agent list, and the company must have authority recorded in the court's records. |
| Resident agent for a nonresident fiduciary | Prince William County requires a non-Virginia resident fiduciary to appoint an in-state resident agent with written consent before the appointment. State law also requires the nonresident fiduciary's written consent to service of process and generally requires surety unless a resident fiduciary qualifies at the same time or the clerk waives surety (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411, July 1, 2025). |
| Two commissioners and an assignment | Two commissioners of accounts serve the county and both cities. Your inventory, accounts and statement in lieu go to the commissioner assigned to the estate, at that private office. |
| Affidavit of notice split | The affidavit of notice goes back to the Probate Office, while the inventory and accounts go to the commissioner. This split is central to estate settlement in Prince William County. |
| Fiduciary index reaches 1981 | The clerk's Eagle Recorder fiduciary index includes wills, probate and lists of heirs from January 3, 1981 to the present. It is a recorded-document index, not a full estate docket. |
| Friday motions day | When a probate-related dispute becomes a civil matter, the clerk's FAQ gives Friday as motions day, with papers and fee due in Room 314 at least two weeks before the hearing date. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| December 19, 2025 | The Circuit Court Clerk opened self-service kiosks at the McCoart and Ferlazzo government buildings in Woodbridge and at the Bull Run Library in Manassas for listed services such as marriage licenses, deed copies, case information and payments. Probate qualification is not listed as a kiosk service. |
| July 24, 2023 | The current Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet revision sets the Room 308 intake address, the probate email and fax routes, the bring-list, payment methods, card surcharge and probate cost table. |
| January 1, 2023 | The Commissioner of Accounts Schedule of Fees for Decedent's Estates for Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park took effect, setting inventory, accounting, statement-in-lieu, debts-and-demands, creditor-claim and delinquency charges. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Prince William County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Use the worksheet to separate survivorship property from assets in the decedent's name alone or as tenant in common. Send the worksheet to the Probate Office, take the callback, bring the original will and certified death certificate if an appointment is set, then follow the local split: affidavit of notice to the Probate Office, inventory and accounts to the assigned commissioner. | Sunset helps identify which accounts are survivorship, beneficiary-designated or probate assets, then organizes the information for the worksheet and estate settlement plan. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | The intake step can be done from outside Virginia by email, fax or mail. If qualification is needed, expect the local resident-agent requirement, the statewide consent to service of process, and a surety discussion under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411, July 1, 2025. If a statewide small-estate route fits, the affidavit is used with the institution holding the asset rather than as a courthouse estate opening (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600 through 64.2-601, July 1, 2025). | Sunset helps determine whether accounts are small-estate candidates, prepares a document checklist before travel, and can connect the family to a Virginia probate attorney if the clerk requires qualification. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Focus on the will's power of sale and how title passes. The clerk's FAQ says qualification is generally needed where the will directs the executor to sell real estate. For an intestate estate whose only solely held asset is real estate, the clerk describes a real estate affidavit from the Probate Office, a certified death certificate, heir information and the legal description. The clerk's July 24, 2023 worksheet also lists a $1.00 per parcel transfer fee where real estate is involved. | Sunset helps gather deed, mortgage, tax and account information, flags attorney questions about power of sale and title, and keeps the commissioner deadlines organized after qualification. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Prince William Circuit Court Clerk's Probate Office | Takes the Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet, calls you back, admits wills to probate, qualifies executors and administrators, records the will, list of heirs and affidavit of notice, and collects the probate tax and clerk charges. Clerks cannot give legal advice. | Judicial Center, 9311 Lee Avenue, Third Floor, Room 308, Manassas, VA 20110. Probate phone 703-792-5587. Probate email [email protected]. Fax 703-342-0342. https://www.pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court/probatequalifywills |
| Commissioners of Accounts for Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park | Receive and audit inventories, accounts and statements in lieu, publish the decedent-estate fee schedule effective January 1, 2023, and provide the local executor and administrator instruction packet. An estate is assigned to one of two private offices. | 4310 Prince William Parkway, Suite 300, Prince William, VA 22192, 703-525-3208. 7930 Donegan Drive, Manassas, VA 20109, 703-747-9714. https://www.pwcva.gov/department/circuit-court/commissioner-accounts |
| Paul B. Ebert Public Law Library | Public legal research collection in the Judicial Center, with local, state and federal codes, decisions and forms, self-help guides and an online catalog. Court staff cannot give legal advice. | Prince William County Judicial Center, 9311 Lee Avenue, Third Floor, Room 304, Manassas, VA 20110. 703-792-6262. [email protected]. Open Monday through Friday, closed for court holidays. https://www.pwcva.gov/department/court-system/public-law-library |
| Prince William County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | The referral service the clerk points to when asked about finding an attorney. The clerk's page says the referral fee is $35.00, which covers an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes. | 703-393-2306. https://www.pwcba.org |
| Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Prince William office | General civil legal aid for eligible low-income Northern Virginia residents. The listed areas are family law, housing, consumer and elder law, public benefits and foreclosure, so treat it as general civil legal aid rather than decedent-estate administration help. | 9240 Center Street, Manassas, VA 20110. 703-778-6800. Walk-in applications on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.; the rest of the week is by appointment. https://lsnv.org/contact-us/prince-william-office/ |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory, Supreme Court of Virginia | Statewide roster of commissioners of accounts searchable by jurisdiction or last name, with statewide commissioner information. | https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/resources/coa/home |
| Virginia Judiciary circuit court forms | Statewide CC forms for probate, qualification, notice, inventory, accounting, statement in lieu, small estate affidavit and optional creditor notice. The clerk's worksheet points filers to these forms or the clerk's office. | https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/home |
| Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help website | Statewide self-help site with a probate forms section. It does not provide Prince William County's worksheet or appointment instructions. | https://selfhelp.vacourts.gov/ |
| Prince William Circuit Court page, Virginia Judiciary | State Judiciary page for this court, including clerk hours, general phone, fax, address, judges and terms of court. | https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/prince_william/home |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a Virginia probate attorney if real estate must be sold, the will does not clearly give a power of sale, a surety bond or bondsperson is required, the fiduciary lives outside Virginia, the will is handwritten or not self-proving, a creditor claim is disputed, a personal representative may need to be removed on the Friday motions docket, or anyone plans to appeal the clerk's order. The clerk and commissioner cannot give legal advice, and the commissioner's packet warns that a personal representative can be personally liable for improper administration. Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts and other property before you send the Prince William County Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information the clerk asks for, including heirs, asset values and document checklists, so the Probate Office callback can focus on what is actually needed for qualification and estate settlement.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves real estate, a nonresident fiduciary, surety, a dispute or a commissioner issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Virginia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize tasks, deadlines and documents without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I start probate for a Prince William County resident?
Start with the Circuit Court Clerk's Probate Office at the Prince William County Judicial Center, 9311 Lee Avenue, Room 308, Manassas, VA 20110. Complete the Probate Pre-Appointment Worksheet and send it to [email protected], fax it to 703-342-0342, or mail it to Room 308. A probate clerk will call to discuss it and set an appointment if needed.
Is the courthouse in Prince William County?
The courthouse is in the City of Manassas. That does not change venue for a Prince William County decedent. One elected Clerk of the Circuit Court serves Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park, and all three use the same counter. Venue still follows the decedent's county or city of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Can I open a Prince William County estate electronically?
No. Estate opening starts with the local worksheet and the clerk's callback, and qualification before the clerk is normally in person. Attorney electronic submission is limited to selected circuit court civil actions, including some fiduciary-related disputes or supervised matters, but it is not the way to qualify as personal representative.
Do I need to bring the original will?
Yes. The clerk's worksheet says the Probate Office must retain the original will and codicils. The clerk's FAQ says a copy is not acceptable.
What number should I call about a Prince William County estate?
Use the probate line, 703-792-5587, or email [email protected]. The general clerk number is 703-792-6015, but the probate worksheet and probate page give the probate contact for estate questions.
How much will the Prince William County appointment cost?
The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, or fraction of $100, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt (Va. Code § 58.1-1712). A county or city may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718, 58.1-3805), and the clerk also collects qualification, recording, certificate, transfer and payment-method charges where they apply. Ask the Probate Office for the total when the clerk calls you back.
Can I see whether a will or list of heirs has been recorded?
The clerk's Eagle Recorder fiduciary index includes wills, probate and lists of heirs from January 3, 1981 to the present for Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park. Index searching is free. Images cost $0.50 per image plus a $2.00 internet convenience fee, or $0.50 per copy on public terminals at the clerk's office without that convenience fee.
Where do I send the inventory and account after I qualify?
Send the inventory, accounts and any statement in lieu to the commissioner of accounts assigned to the estate, at that commissioner's private office. Do not send those documents to the Probate Office. The affidavit of notice is the key post-appointment document that goes back to the probate clerk.
Do I have to travel to Manassas if I live outside Virginia?
The first step can be done from out of state because the worksheet may be sent by email, fax or mail. If qualification is needed, the clerk may set an appointment at Room 308. A nonresident fiduciary should also expect the resident-agent requirement, the statewide consent to service of process and a surety discussion under Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426 and 64.2-1411, July 1, 2025.
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.