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Virginia Probate Timeline Calculator

Most states hand you a fixed creditor deadline the moment you publish notice. Virginia doesn't — the personal representative has to actively choose a process to get that protection at all.

Based on Va. Code § 64.2-508, 64.2-508.1, 64.2-550, 64.2-1300 FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Your Virginia probate

Pick the options that match your estate — the estimate updates instantly.

Estimated timeline in Virginia
8–14 months
New streamlined Notice to Creditors, cooperative heirs, no real estate sale
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Virginia's probate timeline, at a glance

MilestoneVirginia ruleSource
Notice of probate to heirs/beneficiariesWithin 30 days of qualificationVa. Code § 64.2-508
Inventory filed with Commissioner of AccountsWithin 4 months of qualificationVa. Code § 64.2-1300
First accounting dueWithin 16 months of qualificationVa. Code § 64.2-1300 et seq.
Creditor protection (new, since July 1, 2026)Notice to Creditors, non-judicialVa. Code § 64.2-508.1
Creditor protection (traditional)Debts and Demands hearing + Show Cause orderVa. Code § 64.2-550, 64.2-556
Debts and Demands hearing noticeAt least 10 days before the hearingVa. Code § 64.2-550

Virginia probate timeline — frequently asked questions

How long does probate take in Virginia?

Most Virginia estates take about 8 to 14 months, shaped by the inventory (due within 4 months of qualification) and the first accounting (due within 16 months), plus however long the personal representative takes to secure creditor protection.

Does Virginia have a fixed deadline for creditors to file claims?

Not automatically. Unlike most states, Virginia has no default publication that bars all claims after a set period. Protection comes from either the traditional Debts and Demands hearing before the Commissioner of Accounts, or the newer Notice to Creditors statute effective July 1, 2026 — both of which the personal representative must actively choose to use.

What is the Commissioner of Accounts in Virginia?

A court-appointed officer, often an attorney, assigned to the circuit who reviews every inventory, accounting, and creditor claim in an estate. Virginia is the only state that runs probate oversight this way, and the role doesn't exist anywhere else in the same form.

When is the Virginia Inventory due?

Within 4 months of the personal representative's qualification date — not the date of death — filed with the Commissioner of Accounts, not the Circuit Court Clerk.

Virginia probate tools & guides

Virginia Probate DeadlinesEvery statutory date, with citations What Delays Probate in VirginiaThe real causes, beyond the baseline The Commissioner of Accounts ProcessHow Virginia's unique system works Virginia Probate vs Living TrustWould a trust have avoided this?

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on Virginia statute (Va. Code § 64.2-508, 64.2-508.1, 64.2-550, 64.2-552, 64.2-556, 64.2-1300). Actual timelines depend on the specific circuit's Commissioner of Accounts, whether the estate is contested, and how quickly the personal representative files. Confirm current timelines with the Circuit Court Clerk, the local Commissioner of Accounts, or a licensed Virginia attorney before acting.