Henrico Probate & Estate Administration
Henrico County probate counsel for executors administering homes from Glen Allen to Varina, retirement accounts, and family businesses — Circuit Court clerk qualification and Commissioner of Accounts filings handled calmly, mostly by phone and video.
Serving Henrico, Glen Allen, Short Pump, Innsbrook, and communities throughout Virginia.
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Henrico Probate & Estate Administration
When a loved one passes away, the legal and financial responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Your probate lawyer guides executors, personal representatives, and successor trustees through every step of estate settlement — from filing the initial petition through final distributions. Whether the estate goes through formal probate or is administered through a trust, your lawyer ensures legal requirements are met, creditors are properly handled, and beneficiaries receive what they're entitled to.
What We Offer
Probate Court Representation
Guide executors and personal representatives through the probate process, including court filings, hearings, and compliance with state probate law.
Trust Administration
Help successor trustees fulfill their fiduciary duties, manage trust assets, and make distributions according to trust terms.
Executor & Trustee Guidance
Advise fiduciaries on their legal obligations, potential liabilities, and best practices for transparent estate management.
Estate Asset Management
Identify, value, and manage estate assets including real estate, business interests, financial accounts, and personal property.
Creditor Claims & Estate Debts
Handle creditor notifications, evaluate claims, and resolve estate debts in accordance with state priority rules.
Beneficiary Distributions
Prepare accountings, obtain required approvals, and manage final distributions to beneficiaries and heirs.
Probate & Estate Administration in Henrico
Henrico, VA Probate & Estate Administration Lawyers
Henrico County estates span the county's whole range: a home in Glen Allen, Innsbrook, Tuckahoe, or out toward Varina, retirement accounts from a career at one of the county's corporate campuses or Bon Secours, life insurance, and sometimes a small business or rental property. As Henrico probate lawyers, we take the process off the family's plate. Virginia probate begins at the clerk's office, not in a courtroom: the executor qualifies before the Henrico County Circuit Court clerk, presents the will, takes the oath, and receives the certificate of qualification in a single appointment we prepare for and attend with you, along with the list of heirs and the notice of probate under Va. Code § 64.2-508.
Virginia supervises estates through the Commissioner of Accounts rather than court hearings: an inventory is due four months after qualification, followed by accountings until the estate closes, and we prepare every filing — using Virginia's simplified statement in lieu of accounting where the executor is also the sole beneficiary. Much of a Henrico estate passes outside the will: 401(k)s, IRAs, and life insurance pay by beneficiary designation, and we reconcile every designation before anything is distributed. Real estate vests directly in the heirs or devisees at death in Virginia, and we document the basis step-up on appreciated homes and brokerage positions before any sale. Personal property up to $50,000 can be collected by small-estate affidavit under Va. Code § 64.2-601 sixty days after death with no qualification at all. Virginia repealed its state estate tax for deaths after July 1, 2007, so only estates above the federal exemption — $15 million per person for deaths in 2026, permanent and indexed going forward — file a federal return, which we prepare inside the nine-month deadline.
Where parents planned ahead with a revocable living trust, we serve as counsel to the successor trustee — notices, inventories, and distributions without any court involvement. Nonresident executors qualify with a Virginia resident agent for service of process, a role we serve routinely while the administration runs by phone, video, and secure portal. Flat fees are quoted by phase and ordinarily paid from the estate. Call (804) 214-7100 to discuss scheduling.
Why Choose Us
The Relevant Law Difference
- 1Compassionate approach during a difficult and emotional time
- 2Clear communication that keeps families informed throughout the process
- 3Experience with estates of all sizes, from straightforward to complex
- 4Coordination with CPAs, financial advisors, and appraisers
Recognition & Trust
Relevant Law administers Henrico County estates from Circuit Court qualification through the final Commissioner of Accounts filing, with trust administration and probate under one roof and flat fees disclosed before work begins.
Why Henrico, VA clients choose us
- Executor qualification prepared and attended at the Henrico County Circuit Court clerk's office
- Beneficiary designations reconciled and basis step-up documented before any distribution or sale
- Out-of-state executors supported by resident agent service and a secure electronic portal
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Probate & Estate Administration
How much does a probate lawyer cost in Henrico?
Fees depend on the scope and complexity of the matter. The Client Intake Team gathers the initial details, and the firm provides a written engagement scope and fee information before legal work begins.
What does the Commissioner of Accounts require from an executor?
The Commissioner of Accounts — an attorney appointed by the Circuit Court — reviews the executor's inventory, due four months after qualification, and the accountings that follow until the estate closes, auditing receipts, disbursements, and distributions. Their approval releases the executor at the end. We prepare every inventory and accounting, respond to the Commissioner's questions, and use the simplified statement in lieu of accounting where the executor is the sole beneficiary. Done properly, the executor never appears before a judge.
What happens to the family home during a Henrico County probate?
In Virginia, real estate passes directly to the heirs or devisees at the moment of death rather than through the executor, unless the will provides otherwise. A Glen Allen or Tuckahoe home can usually be maintained, transferred, or listed on the family's timeline, with the devisees signing the deed. We confirm title, document the basis step-up on appreciated Henrico real estate — which often eliminates most capital gains on a sale — and prepare and record every deed. Nothing about Virginia probate requires the house to sit frozen.
Does a Henrico estate owe any estate tax?
Virginia repealed its state estate tax for deaths after July 1, 2007, and imposes no inheritance tax, so most Henrico County estates file no death-tax return at all — only a modest probate tax at qualification. A federal return is required only above the federal exemption — $15 million per person for deaths in 2026, permanent and indexed going forward — and is due nine months after death. Even below the exemption, we review whether electing portability of a deceased spouse's unused exemption makes sense. We prepare the return and coordinate valuations as part of the administration.
Can I administer a Henrico estate from out of state?
Yes. Virginia allows nonresident executors to qualify with a resident agent appointed for service of process, and we serve as that agent while running the administration by phone, video, and secure portal. Clerks commonly require a surety bond for out-of-state executors unless the will and circumstances allow waiver, and we address that at qualification. Adult children in other states administer Henrico County estates through our office routinely — signatures move electronically and we handle filings locally.
Areas We Serve
Probate & Estate Administration Services Across Virginia
The Henrico team provides probate & estate administration services throughout Virginia. Henrico is served by Relevant Law's Richmond regional hub.Whether you're located in Glen Allen, Short Pump, Innsbrook, or anywhere in the surrounding area, your lawyer provides the same high-quality legal services.
Practice Breadth in Henrico
We also help Henrico businesses with formation, contracts, M&A, and succession — so the same trusted office handles both your family plan and your company's legal foundation.
Also Available
Business Law
Formation, contracts, M&A, and ongoing advisory counsel for Henrico businesses.
Also Available
Business Formation
LLC and corporation formation, operating agreements, and entity structuring for Henrico founders.
Also Available
Contracts & Agreements
Commercial contract drafting, review, and negotiation for Henrico businesses.
Also Available
Mergers & Acquisitions
Buy-side and sell-side M&A support for Henrico owners and acquirers.
Also Available
Business Succession
Buy-sell agreements, transition planning, and exit strategy for Henrico business owners.
Also Available
Estate Planning
Wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for Henrico families.
Ready to Schedule a Consultation?
Tell the Henrico Client Intake Team about your probate & estate administration goals. They can assess fit and explain the next step; the intake conversation does not include legal advice.