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Richmond County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Richmond County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Richmond County Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Courthouse address | 101 Court Circle, Warsaw, VA 22572 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 1000, Warsaw, VA 22572 |
| Phone | (804) 333-3781 |
| Fax | (804) 333-5396 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Passport acceptance has a separate 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. window and should not be treated as the probate window. |
| Opening costs | State probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value under Va. Code § 58.1-1712, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt, unchanged since July 1, 2003. Qualification and recording fees follow the statewide Va. Code § 17.1-275 schedule. A county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the Warsaw clerk for the current total when you make your appointment. |
| Local forms | No Richmond County-specific probate packet, checklist or cover sheet is published on the clerk pages reviewed. Use the Virginia Judiciary fiduciary forms. |
| E-filing | Richmond County is not listed as a participating court on the Virginia Judiciary eFiling System page. The Richmond City listing is for a different jurisdiction. |
| Case access | No free public portal shows a Richmond County estate file. Recorded wills and estate papers are handled through the clerk's office in Warsaw. |
| Remote appearance | No current remote qualification option is published for Richmond County. Virginia circuit courts may allow remote participation in a civil hearing at the court's discretion, but qualification before the clerk is not a hearing (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2). |
| Website | Richmond County Circuit Court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Warsaw clerk, make a practical inventory of what exists: bank and investment accounts, vehicles, real estate, debts, funeral expenses, insurance, and anything titled jointly or with a beneficiary. That first asset map determines whether you need to qualify as personal representative, whether a will only needs to be admitted, or whether a statewide small-estate option may fit.
Sunset's estate settlement process can help you build that map by searching across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing the information you need for the Richmond County clerk and the commissioner of accounts.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File for a Richmond County decedent at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's counter at 101 Court Circle in Warsaw. Virginia venue is the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443). If a Richmond County resident died while staying in a nursing home or similar institution elsewhere, Virginia law presumes the person's legal residence stayed where it was before that move unless the presumption is rebutted.
Richmond County is in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit with the City of Fredericksburg and the Counties of Caroline, Essex, Hanover, King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland (Va. Code § 17.1-506(15)). The City of Richmond is a separate Thirteenth Judicial Circuit jurisdiction (Va. Code § 17.1-506(13)), so do not use City of Richmond addresses, tax ordinances or clerk instructions for a Richmond County estate.
The jurisdiction process
- Call the Richmond County Clerk of the Circuit Court at (804) 333-3781 before going to Warsaw. Ask what originals, copies, payment methods and appointment practices the clerk wants for a will probate or qualification.
- Bring the original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, the names and addresses of heirs and beneficiaries, an asset estimate, and the Virginia fiduciary forms the clerk tells you to prepare, commonly including CC-1650 and CC-1611.
- Offer the will for probate, if there is a will, and qualify as personal representative if an executor or administrator is needed. In Virginia, qualify means being appointed and sworn by the clerk. The clerk may admit wills, appoint and qualify executors and administrators, and take bond in the same manner as the circuit court (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the state probate tax, if owed, and the statewide qualification and recording charges. State probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value under Va. Code § 58.1-1712, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt, unchanged since July 1, 2003. Ask the clerk whether Richmond County adds the optional local probate tax allowed by Va. Code § 58.1-1718.
- Receive certified proof of authority. Virginia's authority document is the certificate of qualification, CC-1625, and institutions use it to recognize the personal representative's authority (Va. Code § 64.2-506).
- Send the required notice of probate or qualification to the people entitled to notice within 30 days, then record the affidavit of notice within four months in the clerk's office where the will is recorded (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Work with the commissioner of accounts serving Richmond County after qualification. The commissioner is a private attorney appointed by the circuit court's judges, not the clerk, and supervises fiduciaries and settles accounts (Va. Code § 64.2-1200).
- Return the inventory to the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order giving you authority, and file the first account within 16 months from qualification (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300, 64.2-1304). The Richmond County roster entry points families to commissioner offices in Callao and Irvington, not to the courthouse counter.
- Administer the estate, resolve debts and distributions, and close through the commissioner of accounts. Some estates use a statement in lieu of account when all statutory conditions are met; others continue with accounts until the estate settlement is complete.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Richmond County
The Warsaw clerk pages do not publish a Richmond County-specific probate packet, checklist or cover sheet. Use the Virginia Judiciary's statewide fiduciary forms and call the clerk before you go to ask which forms the office wants completed before the appointment.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| CC-1650 | Probate Information Form for the clerk appointment. |
| CC-1651 | Probate Tax Return when the estate is above the Va. Code § 58.1-1712 threshold. |
| CC-1611 | List of Heirs, filed at qualification or when a will is presented if nobody qualifies. |
| CC-1610 | Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process, used when a nonresident qualifies (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). |
| CC-1625 | Certificate / Letter of Qualification, the Virginia authority document. |
| CC-1670 | Inventory of Decedent's Estate, returned to the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1680 | Account for Decedent's Estate, filed with the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1685 | Small Estate Affidavit. This is presented to the bank or other holder, not filed with the clerk. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path in Richmond County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | Start with title and beneficiary review before assuming qualification is needed. If the Richmond County home is part of the probate estate or a will must be admitted, use the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Warsaw, not any City of Richmond office. Virginia real estate can matter for probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712 even when it does not pass through the personal representative. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, insurance, jointly held property and beneficiary designations so the spouse can decide what actually needs to go through the Warsaw clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | A nonresident can qualify in Virginia, but must file CC-1610 and should expect a surety discussion unless a Virginia resident qualifies too or the clerk waives surety (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411). If the statewide small-estate affidavit fits, the current ceiling is $75,000 effective July 1, 2025 (Va. Code §§ 64.2-600, 64.2-601), and CC-1685 goes to the bank or holder, not to the Warsaw clerk. | Sunset helps sort which assets are probate assets, prepares an organized probate packet, and can help an out-of-state child decide whether a local attorney should handle the courthouse visit. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home must be sold through the estate, qualification is usually the route. After the clerk issues authority, the commissioner of accounts serving Richmond County supervises the inventory and the first account, with the first account due within 16 months from qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). | Sunset helps collect asset information, track deadlines, prepare forms, and connect the family with a Richmond County-area probate attorney when a sale, creditor issue or family conflict makes legal guidance important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Richmond County Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Official court page for the Richmond County Circuit Court in Warsaw, with address, phone, fax, hours, circuit information and term dates. |
| Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Richmond County | County clerk department page with information about the clerk's records, including deeds and wills, and local records links. |
| Circuit Court Clerk contact page, Richmond County | County contact page for the clerk's address, mailing address, phone, fax and office hours. |
| Circuit court fiduciary forms, Virginia Judiciary | Statewide Virginia probate and fiduciary forms, including probate information, list of heirs, certificate of qualification, inventory, account and small estate affidavit forms. |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory, Virginia Judiciary | Searchable roster for commissioners of accounts. Use the Richmond Co. entry, not Richmond City. |
| Legal Aid Works, Tappahannock office | General civil legal aid for qualifying low-income residents in Richmond County and nearby localities. The office page lists Tappahannock contact information. It does not publish probate estate administration as a listed practice area. |
When to hire an attorney
Consider hiring a Virginia probate attorney if the will is disputed, heirs disagree, the estate includes a home that must be sold, a nonresident fiduciary needs help with bond or surety, creditor claims are difficult, or you are unsure how to work with the commissioner of accounts after qualification. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families build a complete picture of the estate by locating accounts, insurance, investments, real estate clues and debts that can affect whether Richmond County qualification is needed.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information Richmond County families need for the Warsaw clerk, including heirs, beneficiaries, asset values, notice tasks and the Virginia forms used in estate settlement.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate needs legal advice, a sale of real estate, help for an out-of-state personal representative, or guidance through commissioner of accounts filings, Sunset can connect the family with a probate attorney familiar with Virginia practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, track next steps and understand the Richmond County process without paying Sunset for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Richmond County, Virginia?
File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 101 Court Circle in Warsaw. Virginia venue is the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Is Richmond County the same as the City of Richmond?
No. Richmond County is a separate county in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, with its clerk in Warsaw. The City of Richmond is its own Thirteenth Judicial Circuit jurisdiction (Va. Code § 17.1-506). Do not use City of Richmond addresses, forms, tax ordinances or clerk instructions for a Richmond County estate.
Do I have to go to a judge to be appointed in Richmond County?
No. In Virginia, you qualify before the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The clerk may admit wills, appoint and qualify executors and administrators, and take the required bond (Va. Code § 64.2-444). A circuit court judge becomes involved only in contested or judge-side matters.
Does the Warsaw clerk's office have its own probate forms?
The Richmond County clerk pages do not publish a county-specific probate packet, checklist or cover sheet. Use the Virginia Judiciary fiduciary forms and call the clerk before the appointment to ask what the office wants completed in advance.
Can I file probate papers online in Richmond County?
No probate e-filing route is published for Richmond County. The Virginia Judiciary eFiling System page lists Richmond City, which is a different jurisdiction, but does not list Richmond County.
Can I look at a Richmond County estate file on the internet?
No free public portal shows Virginia estate files for Richmond County. The statewide Online Case Information System is not a probate or fiduciary file system. For recorded wills and estate papers, contact the clerk's office in Warsaw.
What will it cost to probate a will in Richmond County?
The statewide state probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value under Va. Code § 58.1-1712, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt, unchanged since July 1, 2003. Qualification and recording charges follow Va. Code § 17.1-275. A county may add a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the Warsaw clerk for the total before your appointment.
Where do I send the inventory and accounts after qualification?
Send the inventory and accounts to the commissioner of accounts serving Richmond County, not to the clerk's counter. The statewide roster lists Richmond Co. separately from Richmond City, with commissioner offices in Callao and Irvington. 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.