Quick answer: Virginia's headline court cost is the probate tax under Va. Code § 58.1-1712 — 10 cents per $100 of the estate's value, with the first $15,000 exempt. Localities may add a local probate tax of one-third of that. On top there's a small circuit court qualification fee ($0–$30). All modest next to the executor and attorney fees.
The Virginia probate tax
Probate is opened with the Circuit Court Clerk where the person lived — Fairfax, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Richmond, Loudoun and the state's cities and counties. Unusually, Virginia charges a tax (not just a fee) on the value of the estate being probated:
| Estate value | State tax ($0.10/$100) | + Local (1/3) | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $50 | $17 | $67 |
| $100,000 | $100 | $33 | $133 |
| $250,000 | $250 | $83 | $333 |
| $500,000 | $500 | $167 | $667 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,000 | $333 | $1,333 |
The first $15,000 is exempt (§ 58.1-1712). The local tax is optional, equal to one-third of the state tax, where the locality has adopted it (§ 58.1-1718).
The circuit court qualification fee
Separately, the Clerk charges a fee to qualify the personal representative (§ 17.1-275(A)(3)), tiered by estate value:
| Estate value | Qualification fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 or less | $0 |
| Up to $50,000 | $20 |
| Up to $100,000 | $25 |
| Over $100,000 | $30 |
Other clerk costs
- Recording & certified copies — small per-page and per-copy charges for the will, list of heirs and Letters.
- No newspaper publication to notify heirs — Virginia uses direct notice within 30 days (Va. Code 64.2-508), which some states require by newspaper.
- Bond premium — if a bond is required (not waived by the will), typically a fraction of a percent per year.
Where the tax sits in the total
Even on a $500,000 estate the probate tax is only ~$667 and the qualification fee $30 — the executor and attorney fees dominate. And Virginia has no estate or inheritance tax. See the whole picture in the Virginia probate cost breakdown, learn about attorney fees, or estimate your total with the Virginia probate cost calculator.