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Finding a will or probate case in Virginia

Who holds it: Clerk of the Circuit Court (probate is handled by the clerk; disputes by the circuit court)1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Fees
  3. Older records and indexes
  4. More details
  5. Related records in Virginia
  6. Probate and wills in Virginia counties with a full guide
  7. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  8. Sources

How to search and order

Copies
Will books and estate records are land/court records; copies $0.50/page, certification $2; viewable remotely via SRA where offered2

Fees

Fees
Qualifying a fiduciary: $20 (estate ≤ $50,000), $25 (≤ $100,000), $30 (> $100,000), none for estates ≤ $5,000, plus recording fees; lodging a will for safekeeping $53

Older records and indexes

Older records
Library of Virginia Wills and Estate Records Index covers 1633-1800 will books of 51 localities; no statewide index after 18654

More details

Directory
Circuit Courts Directory5
Courts: court system
Unified state court system administered by the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia: circuit courts (all felonies; exclusive jurisdiction over almost all civil claims > $50,000; concurrent with general district courts for claims over $4,500 up to $50,000; divorce, wills/estates, real property), general district courts (misdemeanors, traffic, smaller civil), juvenile & domestic relations district courts6
Courts: statewide case search
Free OES online systems: OCIS 2.0 statewide search (eapps.courts.state.va.us/ocis/landing) of general district criminal/traffic, J&DR adult criminal, and select circuit courts; plus per-locality General District Court Case Information and Circuit Court Case Information (select circuit courts)7
Courts: fees
Circuit clerk copies $0.50/page, certification $2 (§ 17.1-275); district court clerk copies up to $1 for first two pages and $0.50 each page after3
Death certificates: who holds it
VDH Office of Vital Records (also local health departments and DMV)8
Death certificates: fee
$15 per certified copy or search (no refund if not found)9

Probate and wills in Virginia counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Albemarle CountyCircuit Court Clerk's Office, Probate Division10——
Alexandria CityClerk of Circuit Court, Wills & Fiduciary Division11——
Arlington CountyClerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Office12—$0.50 per page; certification $2.00 per document13
Chesapeake CityCircuit Court Clerk - Probate14——
Chesterfield CountyClerk of the Circuit Court - Probate Division15——
Fairfax CountyFairfax Circuit Court Probate Division16——
Hampton CityClerk of the Hampton Circuit Court17——
Loudoun CountyClerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division18——
Newport News CityClerk of the Circuit Court19——
Norfolk CityClerk of the Circuit Court20——
Prince William CountyClerk of Circuit Court, Probate Office21—.50 cents per page21
Richmond CityClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court – Probate Division22——
Spotsylvania CountyClerk of the Spotsylvania Circuit Court23——
Stafford CountyClerk of the Circuit Court, probate division24——
Virginia Beach CityCircuit Court Clerk - Probate Division25——

For any other county, see the county list on the Virginia guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Virginia office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: probate records and wills in every state. Everything else in Virginia: Virginia public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Code of Virginia § 64.2-444. Clerks may probate willsVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  2. Online ServicesSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  3. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Wills and Estate Records Index research guideLibrary of Virginia (lva-virginia.libguides.com)checked November 4, 2026
  5. Requesting Public Records from Clerks of CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  6. The Circuit Court (Circuit Courts Informational Pamphlet)Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  7. Case Status and InformationSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretary (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  8. Vital Records Frequently Asked QuestionsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  9. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  10. Circuit Court Clerk, Probate DivisionAlbemarle Countychecked November 8, 2026
  11. Alexandria Circuit Court (court page)Supreme Court of Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  12. Circuit Court – 17th Judicial CircuitArlington County Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Probate & Wills (accordion sections opened)Arlington County Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  14. ProbateCity of Chesapeake / Clerk of the Circuit Courtchecked November 5, 2026
  15. DepartmentsChesterfield County, VAchecked November 4, 2026
  16. Administration of EstatesFairfax County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  17. Code of Virginia § 64.2-444. Clerks may probate willsVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 7, 2026
  18. ProbateLoudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Courtarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  19. Newport News Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  20. Norfolk Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  21. Probate/Qualify/WillsPrince William County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  22. City of Richmond, VA home pageCity of Richmondchecked November 4, 2026
  23. Spotsylvania Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  24. Circuit Court: Probate and Estate AdministrationStafford County, Virginiachecked November 7, 2026
  25. ProbateVirginia Beach Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026