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Tazewell County, VA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Tazewell Circuit Court, Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit of Virginia. The filing officer is the Clerk of the Circuit Court. |
| Courthouse address | 135 Court Street, Suite 202, Tazewell, VA 24651. |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. The Virginia Judiciary lists ZIP+4 24651-1071. |
| Probate phone | (276) 385-1228. |
| Main phone | (276) 385-1200. |
| Fax | (276) 988-7501. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays. The Judiciary page adds that deed recordings end at 3:45 p.m. |
| Cost to start | The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 under Va. Code § 58.1-1712 when the estate is over the $15,000 exemption, a figure in that section since 2003. Qualification and recording charges follow Va. Code § 17.1-275. A county may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the clerk for Tazewell's current total when you call. |
| Local forms | The county clerk page does not publish a separate Tazewell probate packet or checklist. Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court fiduciary forms. |
| E-filing and VJEFS | Tazewell is a participating Virginia Judiciary eFiling System court for Virginia State Bar members and their designated staff filing most civil case types. VJEFS is not used for probate qualification before the clerk and is not for self-represented families. |
| Estate file access | No free public website shows Tazewell County estate files. The county clerk page mentions Secure Remote Access to Land Records and Officer of the Court Remote Access, both subscription or attorney access systems, not public estate portals. |
| Remote appearance | No current local page says the clerk qualifies personal representatives by video or mail. Virginia allows remote civil hearings only at the court's discretion, and qualification before the clerk is not a hearing (Va. Code § 17.1-513.2). |
| Websites | https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/tazewell/home https://tazewellcountyva.org/government/clerk-of-the-circuit-court/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call the Tazewell probate division, make a working list of the will, death certificate, heirs, beneficiaries, debts, bank accounts, vehicles, real estate, and any assets with named beneficiaries. Virginia estate settlement turns on what passes through the probate estate and what passes outside it, so the clerk will ask for asset and family information before qualification.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts and balances before the first clerk appointment. That preparation makes it easier to choose the right estate settlement path, estimate the probate tax, and avoid missing assets that later have to be added with the commissioner of accounts.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Tazewell County estates are handled by the Tazewell County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 135 Court Street, Suite 202, in Tazewell. Tazewell County has its own clerk and courthouse, and it is part of the Twenty-ninth Judicial Circuit.
Virginia venue is based on the decedent's known place of residence. A will is offered for probate in the circuit court of the county or city where the decedent had a known place of residence (Va. Code § 64.2-443). If a Tazewell County resident died in a nursing home or similar institution elsewhere, Virginia law presumes the legal residence stayed where it was before the move unless that presumption is rebutted (§ 64.2-443).
The jurisdiction process
- Call the Tazewell probate division at (276) 385-1228, or the main clerk line at (276) 385-1200, before going to the courthouse. Ask what the clerk wants you to bring for the will, death certificate, heirs, beneficiaries, asset values, and payment.
- Bring the original will, if there is one, and the information needed for the statewide Virginia fiduciary forms. Probate and qualification happen at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's counter in Suite 202 at 135 Court Street in Tazewell (Va. Code §§ 64.2-443, 64.2-444).
- Probate the will, if any, and qualify, Virginia's word for being appointed and sworn in, as executor or administrator. In Virginia you do not go before a judge to open an uncontested estate. The clerk or a deputy clerk may admit the will and qualify the personal representative with the same effect as the circuit court (Va. Code § 64.2-444).
- Pay the Commonwealth probate tax and the statewide qualification and recording charges. The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 under Va. Code § 58.1-1712 when the estate is over the $15,000 exemption, a figure in that section since 2003. A county may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the clerk for the Tazewell total when you call.
- Receive the certificate of qualification, CC-1625. This is the document banks and other institutions usually ask for when a personal representative proves authority to act for the estate (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, not the clerk, after qualification. The Judiciary directory lists the Tazewell commissioner of accounts with an office on Main Street in Tazewell and an assistant commissioner in Bluefield. The commissioner supervises the fiduciary and settles inventories and accounts (Va. Code § 64.2-1200).
- File the inventory with the commissioner of accounts within four months after the order giving you authority, and file the first account with the commissioner within 16 months from qualification (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300, 64.2-1304). This is a central part of Virginia estate settlement.
- If creditors or distributions require a formal path, ask counsel or the commissioner about the optional creditor notice statute and the traditional debts-and-demands or show-cause process. Creditor notice under Va. Code § 64.2-508.1 is optional, not automatic.
- Close the estate through the commissioner of accounts when administration is complete. In many qualifying estates, estate settlement ends when the commissioner has accepted the final account or a permitted statement in lieu.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Tazewell County
The Tazewell County clerk page does not publish a separate county probate packet, worksheet, or checklist. Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court fiduciary forms at https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/fiduciary.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| CC-1650 | Probate Information Form for the clerk appointment. |
| CC-1651 | Probate Tax Return when required by Va. Code § 58.1-1714. |
| CC-1611 | List of Heirs. |
| CC-1610 | Consent of Nonresident Fiduciary for Service of Process when a nonresident fiduciary qualifies. |
| CC-1625 | Certificate / Letter of Qualification, the authority document issued after qualification. |
| CC-1670 | Inventory of Decedent's Estate, filed with the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1680 | Account for Decedent's Estate, filed with the commissioner of accounts. |
| CC-1681 | Statement in Lieu of Settlement of Account for Decedent's Estate when Virginia law permits that closing route. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call (276) 385-1228 or (276) 385-1200 before going to Suite 202 at 135 Court Street. Bring the will, death certificate, heir and beneficiary information, and a clear list of assets. Virginia real estate can affect the probate tax calculation even when title passes outside active administration (Va. Code §§ 58.1-1712, 58.1-1713). | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, and home-related documents so the spouse can understand what needs clerk action and what may pass outside probate. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Tazewell participates in VJEFS, but that system is for Virginia State Bar members and their designated staff in most civil case types, not for a family opening an estate. A nonresident fiduciary signs CC-1610 at qualification and should expect the clerk to address surety unless a Virginia resident qualifies too or the clerk waives surety under Virginia law (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1426, 64.2-1411). | Sunset helps sort small assets from assets requiring qualification, prepares the family for the clerk call, and can connect the child with a Virginia probate attorney if travel or surety becomes an issue. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home must be sold through the estate, plan for qualification at the clerk's counter in Tazewell. After qualification, work with the Tazewell commissioner of accounts, whose primary office is on Main Street in Tazewell, for the inventory and account process. | Sunset helps build the asset list, organize sale-related documents, and keep the estate settlement steps aligned with the clerk and commissioner of accounts. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Tazewell Circuit Court, Virginia Judiciary | Clerk address, phone, fax, hours, circuit information, term dates, and VJEFS status. | https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/tazewell/home |
| Clerk of the Circuit Court, Tazewell County government | Probate division phone line, clerk services, and the clerk's access options for land and court materials. | https://tazewellcountyva.org/government/clerk-of-the-circuit-court/ |
| Virginia Circuit Court fiduciary forms | Statewide probate and fiduciary forms used in Virginia circuit courts. | https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/fiduciary |
| Commissioners of Accounts directory, Virginia Judiciary | Current contact information for the Tazewell commissioner of accounts and assistant commissioner. | https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/resources/coa/home |
| Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society | General civil legal aid eligibility information. Its own eligibility page lists Tazewell County among the counties served, but estate administration is not listed as a service. | https://svlas.org/am-i-eligible/ Apply by phone at 1-888-201-2772 or online. Castlewood field office: 6932 W. Hills Dr., Castlewood, VA 24224, (276) 762-9354. |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, benefits, and other assets that can affect Tazewell County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the Virginia fiduciary forms, the clerk call, the asset inventory, and the notice steps after qualification.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Virginia probate attorney who understands qualification, commissioner of accounts practice, and creditor issues.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to understand the process, organize documents, and move through estate settlement without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Tazewell County?
File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at Tazewell Circuit Court, 135 Court Street, Suite 202, Tazewell, VA 24651. 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).
Do I have to go before a judge to be appointed in Tazewell County?
No, not for an uncontested opening. In Virginia, the clerk or a deputy clerk may admit the will and qualify the executor or administrator (Va. Code § 64.2-444). A judge becomes involved if there is a contest, an appeal from the clerk's order, or another court proceeding.
Does the Tazewell County clerk have its own probate forms?
The county clerk page does not publish a separate Tazewell probate packet or checklist. Use the statewide Virginia Circuit Court fiduciary forms at https://www.vacourts.gov/forms/circuit/fiduciary, and call the probate division at (276) 385-1228 before coming in.
Can I use VJEFS for a Tazewell County estate?
Tazewell is a VJEFS participating circuit court, but VJEFS is for Virginia State Bar members and their designated staff filing most civil case types. It is not the system for probate qualification before the clerk, and it is not available to self-represented families.
Can I see a Tazewell County estate file on a public website?
No free public website shows Tazewell County estate files. OCIS does not include probate records. The clerk page mentions Secure Remote Access to Land Records and Officer of the Court Remote Access, but those are subscription or attorney access systems, not public estate portals.
What will it cost to probate a will in Tazewell County?
The Commonwealth probate tax is 10 cents per $100 under Va. Code § 58.1-1712 when the estate is over the $15,000 exemption, a figure in that section since 2003. Qualification and recording charges are statewide under Va. Code § 17.1-275. A county may impose a local probate tax equal to one-third of the state tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1718, so ask the Tazewell clerk for the current total before you come in.
Do I have to come to Tazewell in person?
No current local page says the clerk qualifies personal representatives by video or mail. Call the probate division at (276) 385-1228 before traveling, especially if you live outside Virginia.
Where do I send the inventory and accounts after qualifying?
Send them to the commissioner of accounts, not to the clerk. The Judiciary directory lists the Tazewell commissioner of accounts with an office on Main Street in Tazewell and an assistant commissioner in Bluefield. The inventory is due within four months after the order giving authority, and the first account is due within 16 months from qualification (Va. Code §§ 64.2-1300, 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.