Publication
A court or statute may require creditor notice in a newspaper. Publisher pricing is set commercially and is not a statewide fee.
Virginia court costs
Virginia probate filing cost: $25
Qualifying a personal representative costs nothing at $5,000 or less, then $20, $25, or $30 by estate value.
$25 is the lowest statutory total at a $100,000 estate. Sources reviewed August 7, 2026.
What the statute charges
Every line below is computed from the statutory schedule quoted at the end of this page. These are court charges only. They are not an estimate of the total cost of settling an estate.
Appointing and qualifying a personal representative
| Charge | $25,000 estate | $100,000 estate | $400,000 estate | $1,000,000 estate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk charge for appointment and qualification | $20 | $25 | $30 | $30 |
| Total from this schedule | $20 | $25 | $30 | $30 |
Not included in this total
- Recording fees charged separately under the same section
- Probate tax
- Commissioner of accounts fees
This is the appointment and qualification charge only. Section 17.1-275 allows recording fees in addition, and local probate tax is assessed separately.
Source: Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3), Virginia General Assembly. Verified August 7, 2026.3. For appointing and qualifying any personal representative, committee, trustee, guardian, or other fiduciary, in addition to any fees for recording allowed by this section, $20 for estates not exceeding $50,000, $25 for estates not exceeding $100,000 and $30 for estates exceeding $100,000. No fee shall be charged for estates of $5,000 or less.
Costs no statute prices
These are the costs executors most often meet after the filing fee. None of them has a statewide statutory amount, so this site does not estimate them.
Bond
A bond may be required unless a will, consent, or court order waives it. Premiums depend on the bond amount, the estate, and the applicant.
Copies and local charges
Certified copies, recording, inventory, accounting fees, and county surcharges are billed separately from the filing charge.
Professional fees
Attorney, accountant, and appraiser fees are negotiated or court-reviewed. They are not part of any filing schedule.
State-specific limits
- The affidavit concerns personal probate property.
- A will must be duly probated when one exists.
Use this as a starting point.
This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Probate law varies by state and county and changes over time. Verify the current rule with the court or a licensed attorney in the relevant state.
Continue in Virginia
Filing-cost source
Each legal input links to the government source reviewed for this page. Source text can change; confirm the current rule before acting.
Va. Code § 17.1-275(A)(3)
Reviewed source note: 3. For appointing and qualifying any personal representative, committee, trustee, guardian, or other fiduciary, in addition to any fees for recording allowed by this section, $20 for estates not exceeding $50,000, $25 for estates not exceeding $100,000 and $30 for estates exceeding $100,000. No fee shall be charged for estates of $5,000 or less.