Back to Virginia
Rockingham County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Rockingham County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Rockingham County Circuit Court, Clerk of the Circuit Court |
| Probate office | Probate Division |
| Courthouse address | 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. The clerk's office is on the first floor of the old courthouse in the middle of Court Square. |
| Mailing address | Rockingham County Circuit Court, Attn: Probate Division, 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 |
| Probate phone | (540) 574-4320. A second probate line is (540) 574-4353. |
| General clerk phone | (540) 564-3111 |
| Fax | The clerk publishes no fax line for probate. |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays |
| Appointment | Required. Call the probate division. If there is a will, the executor named in the will should make the call. |
| Probate tax and clerk fees | The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, with estates of $15,000 or less paying none (Va. Code § 58.1-1712, unchanged since 2003). Rockingham County's code does not impose the local probate tax authorized by Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718 and 58.1-3805. |
| Local forms | Yes. The clerk publishes a Rockingham County Probate Information Form, a Guide to Determine Estimated Value, and a local probate forms hub. |
| Electronic filing | Opening an estate is a required in-person appointment with the clerk's probate division, not an online filing. Rockingham Circuit Court participates in the Virginia Judiciary eFiling System for most civil cases, but that system is for Virginia State Bar members and their staff and does not cover qualification. |
| Record access | The clerk offers a free index of will, probate and estate record books through Secure Remote Access. Opening images requires a paid subscription, with a fifteen-minute option at $5.20 under the clerk's current access schedule. Records can also be read at public access stations in the courthouse Deed Room. |
| Remote appearance | Qualification is a required in-person appointment. Virginia circuit courts may allow telephone or video participation in a civil proceeding at the court's discretion (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2), but qualification before the clerk is not that kind of hearing. |
| Website | Rockingham County Probate Division |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Rockingham County probate division, work through the clerk's local Probate Information Form and Guide to Determine Estimated Value. The clerk asks for two numbers on the phone: the value of solely owned personal property and the value of any Virginia real estate.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help you find accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions before that call. That asset discovery can make the appointment more efficient because the clerk uses the values you provide to prepare the qualification papers and estimate the probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Rockingham County probate matters are handled at the Rockingham County Circuit Court, 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. The courthouse is in the independent City of Harrisonburg, and the same elected Clerk of the Circuit Court serves both Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg. The shared counter does not merge the two jurisdictions.
For a Rockingham County decedent, 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 the person was living in a nursing home or similar facility because of age or health, Virginia presumes the legal residence stayed where the person lived before entering that facility unless shown otherwise (§ 64.2-443).
This page covers Rockingham County, including Bridgewater, Broadway, Dayton, Elkton, Grottoes, Mt. Crawford, Timberville, and unincorporated communities in the county. The City of Harrisonburg has its own jurisdiction even though it uses the same clerk's counter.
The jurisdiction process
- Use the clerk's Rockingham County Probate Information Form and Guide to Determine Estimated Value as worksheets before you call. Have the original will and any codicils, a certified death certificate, the heirs' names, addresses and ages, and the two value estimates ready.
- Call the Probate Division at (540) 574-4320 or (540) 574-4353 to schedule the required appointment. If there is a will, the executor named in the will should make the call. The deputy clerk takes the estate information by phone and prepares the appointment paperwork.
- Go to the in-person appointment at 80 Court Square in Harrisonburg. In Virginia, you qualify, which means being appointed and sworn in, before the Clerk of the Circuit Court or a deputy clerk, not before a judge (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the Commonwealth probate tax and clerk fees at the appointment. The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, and estates of $15,000 or less pay none (Va. Code § 58.1-1712, unchanged since 2003). Rockingham County's code does not impose the local probate tax authorized by Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718 and 58.1-3805.
- Receive the certificate of qualification, CC-1625. Under the current Office of the Executive Secretary circuit fee schedule revised July 2026, the statutory qualification fee under Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3) includes two certificates of qualification; additional certificates are $2 each under § 17.1-275(A)(9).
- Send the notice regarding the estate to the people entitled to notice within thirty days, then record the affidavit of notice with the clerk within four months (Va. Code § 64.2-508). Use CC-1616 and CC-1617.
- Return the inventory to the commissioner of accounts within four months after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1300). The commissioner of accounts is a private attorney's office in Harrisonburg appointed for Rockingham County, not the clerk's office.
- File the first account with the commissioner of accounts within 16 months after qualification, covering the first twelve months of administration (Va. Code § 64.2-1304). If the estate qualifies for a statement in lieu, use CC-1681 instead of a full account under the statewide rule.
- Close the estate settlement through the commissioner of accounts after debts, taxes, distributions and required reports are complete. If a dispute must go before a judge, it is set on a Rockingham County motions day with a praecipe filed at least seven days and no more than thirty days before the return date.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Rockingham County
Rockingham County has local probate worksheets in addition to Virginia's statewide CC forms. The clerk's Probate Information Form asks who died, where the person lived, whether there is a will, and who is seeking to qualify. The Guide to Determine Estimated Value helps you separate solely owned personal property from assets with a co-owner, beneficiary, or payable-on-death designation, and it asks separately about Virginia real estate.
The local forms are used to prepare for the phone call and appointment. The clerk's instructions say to complete the worksheet so you can relay the information to the probate clerk by phone. Do not treat the local worksheet as a court filing unless the clerk asks for it.
| Form or page | How it is used in Rockingham County |
|---|---|
| Rockingham County Probate Information Form | Local worksheet for the appointment call and qualification appointment. |
| Rockingham County Guide to Determine Estimated Value | Local worksheet for the two value estimates the probate division asks for by phone. |
| Rockingham County probate forms hub | Clerk's curated page with forms for the appointment and forms for after qualification. |
| CC-1610 | Consent of nonresident fiduciary for service of process, used when an out-of-state personal representative qualifies (Va. Code § 64.2-1426). |
| CC-1611 | List of heirs, required at qualification or when a will is presented with no personal representative qualifying (Va. Code § 64.2-509). |
| CC-1612 | List of Heirs / Real Estate Affidavit, used for an intestate real-estate-only path under Va. Code § 64.2-510. |
| CC-1616 and CC-1617 | Notice regarding estate and affidavit of notice, used after qualification or admission of a will to probate (Va. Code § 64.2-508). |
| CC-1625 | Certificate / Letter of Qualification, the authority document issued after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-506). |
| CC-1670, CC-1680 and CC-1681 | Inventory, account and statement in lieu. These go to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk's probate counter. |
| CC-1685 | Small Estate Affidavit. It is presented to the institution holding the asset and is not filed with the court. |
| CC-1686 and CC-1687 | Optional notice to creditors and affidavit of notice to creditors under Va. Code § 64.2-508.1, effective July 1, 2026. |
Fees
The charge on the estate's value is the Commonwealth probate tax, not a filing fee. The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of value, or fraction of $100, and estates of $15,000 or less pay none (Va. Code § 58.1-1712, unchanged since 2003). Rockingham County's code does not impose the local probate tax authorized by Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718 and 58.1-3805, and it does not add a local fee to the recorded list-of-heirs or real-estate-affidavit route.
| Charge | Amount | Authority and date |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth probate tax | 10 cents per $100 of value, or fraction of $100; estates of $15,000 or less pay none | Va. Code § 58.1-1712, unchanged since 2003 |
| Rockingham County local probate tax | No county charge | Local probate tax is authorized only if adopted under Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718 and 58.1-3805 |
| Qualification fee | $0 up to $5,000, $20 from $5,001 to $50,000, $25 from $50,001 to $100,000, and $30 above $100,000 | Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3); current OES circuit fee schedule revised July 2026 |
| Will, list of heirs, or similar will-book recording | $18 for 10 or fewer pages, $32 for 11 to 30 pages, and $52 for 31 or more pages | Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(2); current OES circuit fee schedule revised July 2026 |
| Additional certificate of qualification | $2 each after the two certificates included with qualification | Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(9); current OES circuit fee schedule revised July 2026 |
| State fee in lieu for list of heirs or real estate affidavit when no will is probated and no administration is granted | $25, with no Rockingham County local add-on | Va. Code § 58.1-1717.1; current OES circuit fee schedule revised July 2026 |
The same current OES schedule states that the Technology Trust Fund Fee does not apply to wills. The $5,000 funeral-expense priority cap is a separate statewide debt-priority rule effective July 1, 2025 (Va. Code § 64.2-528), not a Rockingham County clerk charge.
Timeline
- Before calling, complete the Rockingham County Probate Information Form and Guide to Determine Estimated Value as worksheets. The probate division will ask for the heirs' information, the solely owned personal-property value, and the Virginia real-estate value.
- Call (540) 574-4320 or (540) 574-4353. If there is a will, the executor named in the will should make the call. A deputy clerk takes the information and schedules the required in-person appointment.
- Attend the appointment at 80 Court Square in Harrisonburg with the original will and any codicils, a certified death certificate, and the heir information. The certificate of qualification is issued when you qualify.
- Within thirty days after qualification or admission of the will, send the notice regarding the estate to the people entitled to notice (Va. Code § 64.2-508).
- Within four months, record the affidavit of notice with the clerk and return the inventory to the commissioner of accounts (Va. Code §§ 64.2-508, 64.2-1300).
- Within 16 months after qualification, file the first account with the commissioner of accounts unless a statement in lieu applies (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1304, 64.2-1314).
- If a contested issue needs a judge, use the court's motions-day process. A praecipe must be filed at least seven days and no more than thirty days before the motions day, and court convenes at 9:00 a.m.
Local nuance
Rockingham County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| One clerk serves two jurisdictions | The same Clerk of the Circuit Court serves Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg from 80 Court Square. A Rockingham County estate and a City of Harrisonburg estate remain separate jurisdictional matters. |
| Required phone-first appointment | The probate division requires an appointment and takes the estate information by phone before the appointment. The local worksheets are designed for that call. |
| Executor should call when there is a will | The clerk asks that the executor named in the will be the person who calls to schedule and provide the estate information. |
| No Rockingham County local probate tax | Rockingham County's code does not impose the local probate tax authorized by Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718 and 58.1-3805. The clerk's probate division still calculates the Commonwealth probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712 from the estate value. |
| Commissioner of accounts in Harrisonburg | The inventory, accounts and estate settlement reports go to the commissioner of accounts appointed for Rockingham County, a private attorney's office in Harrisonburg, not to the clerk. |
| Will and probate record index | The clerk's Secure Remote Access system offers a free index of will, probate and estate record books. Images require a paid subscription, and public access stations are available in the courthouse Deed Room. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | The Rockingham County probate forms page links CC-1686 Notice to Creditors and CC-1687 Affidavit of Notice to Creditors, the statewide forms for Virginia's optional creditor notice effective July 1, 2026 (Va. Code § 64.2-508.1). The same page also links CC-1685, the statewide Small Estate Affidavit. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Rockingham County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | If the deed has a right of survivorship, the home does not become an estate asset for the personal representative to sell. The clerk's value guide also tells callers not to include accounts with another person's name, a beneficiary, or a payable-on-death designation. If solely owned assets remain, complete the local worksheets, call the probate division, and attend the required appointment. | Sunset identifies solely owned accounts and beneficiary-designated assets before the appointment so the two value estimates are clearer. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the statewide small-estate affidavit path applies, CC-1685 is presented to the institution holding the asset and is not filed with the court. If qualification is still needed, the appointment is in person in Harrisonburg. A nonresident personal representative files CC-1610 and may need surety unless a Virginia resident fiduciary qualifies at the same time or the clerk waives surety (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411). | Sunset helps build the asset list, organize the forms, and plan the trip so the appointment is not delayed by missing information. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the child owned Virginia real estate, the clerk's value guide asks for ownership, assessed or appraised value, and any right of survivorship. That real-estate value is one of the two numbers the probate division asks for on the phone. If an intestate estate has only real estate and no personal property requiring qualification, the heirs may need the list of heirs and real estate affidavit forms from the Judiciary's forms index. | Sunset helps collect account information, real-estate details and documents, and can connect the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Rockingham County Circuit Court clerk's probate division | Local probate appointment instructions, the required phone-first process, the local worksheets, and the clerk's probate FAQ. | Probate Division; (540) 574-4320 or (540) 574-4353 |
| Rockingham County Circuit Court probate forms page | Local hub for appointment forms and after-qualification forms, including CC-1685, CC-1686 and CC-1687. | Probate forms |
| Rockingham Circuit Court, Virginia's Judicial System | Judiciary page for the court, including hours, address, general clerk phone, judges, terms of court and motions-day information. | Rockingham Circuit Court |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory | Statewide directory for finding the commissioner of accounts by jurisdiction, plus fee-schedule guidance for commissioner work. | Commissioners of Accounts |
| Virginia Judiciary circuit court forms | Statewide CC forms and instruction sheets used in Virginia estate administration. | Circuit court forms |
| Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help website | State self-help site with a probate forms section. It does not give Rockingham County appointment instructions. | Court Self-Help |
| Blue Ridge Legal Services, Harrisonburg office | General civil legal aid for eligible low-income residents of Rockingham County. Its listed case types do not include estate administration. | Blue Ridge Legal Services; (540) 433-1830 or (800) 237-0141 for clients |
| Virginia Lawyer Referral Service | Lawyer referral service linked by the clerk for readers who need a lawyer. | Virginia Lawyer Referral Service; (800) 552-7977 |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions to help identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property before you call the Rockingham County probate division.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the estate information into an organized packet for the clerk's appointment, including the details needed for Virginia forms and Rockingham County's local worksheets.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate settlement needs legal judgment, Sunset can connect you with a vetted Virginia probate attorney who understands qualification, the commissioner of accounts process and Rockingham County practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, understand next steps and prepare for the Rockingham County appointment at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for a Rockingham County resident?
File through the Probate Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 80 Court Square in Harrisonburg. The venue rule is the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443).
Does Rockingham County require a probate appointment?
Yes. Call the probate division at (540) 574-4320 or (540) 574-4353. If there is a will, the executor named in the will should make the call. The clerk's local worksheets help you prepare the information the deputy clerk asks for by phone.
Can I use electronic filing to open a Rockingham County estate?
No. Opening an estate is a required in-person appointment with the clerk's probate division. Rockingham Circuit Court participates in the Virginia Judiciary eFiling System for most civil cases, but that system is for Virginia State Bar members and their staff and does not cover qualification.
Can I appear remotely for qualification in Rockingham County?
Qualification before the clerk is not a hearing. Virginia circuit courts may allow telephone or video participation in a civil proceeding at the court's discretion (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2), but Rockingham County publishes an in-person appointment process for qualification. If travel is difficult, call the probate division and ask what the office can do.
Can I check Rockingham County will or probate records from home?
The clerk's Secure Remote Access system offers a free index of will, probate and estate record books. Viewing images requires a paid subscription, with a fifteen-minute option at $5.20 under the clerk's current access schedule. This is a record-book index, not a case docket or a way to track an open estate.
What local forms does Rockingham County require before I call?
Use the clerk's Probate Information Form and Guide to Determine Estimated Value as worksheets. The probate division asks you to relay that information by phone before the appointment. Statewide CC forms are still used for qualification, notice, the certificate of qualification, inventory and accounts.
What does probate cost in Rockingham County?
The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 of estate value, and estates of $15,000 or less pay none (Va. Code § 58.1-1712, unchanged since 2003). Rockingham County's code does not impose the local probate tax authorized by Va. Code §§ 58.1-1718 and 58.1-3805. Statutory qualification and recording charges also apply under Va. Code § 17.1-275 and the current OES circuit fee schedule revised July 2026.
Do I have to travel to Harrisonburg if I live outside Virginia?
If qualification is required, Rockingham County publishes an in-person appointment process. A nonresident personal representative may qualify in Virginia, but must file CC-1610 and may need surety unless a Virginia resident fiduciary qualifies at the same time or the clerk waives surety (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411). Call the probate division before booking travel.
Who reviews the inventory and accounts after I qualify?
The commissioner of accounts appointed for Rockingham County reviews the inventory, accounts and estate settlement filings. That office is a private attorney's office in Harrisonburg, not the clerk's office. The inventory is due within four months after qualification (Va. Code § 64.2-1300), and the first account is due within 16 months after 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.