Virginia (VA)
Probate & the executor’s job in Virginia
Our detailed Virginia guide is in editorial review. In the meantime, our universal executor checklist covers what most executors need to do in the first 30 days, regardless of state.
What you can do right now
While our Virginia-specific guide is being prepared, you can still take the steps that apply almost everywhere: order death certificates, secure the home, locate the will, and notify Social Security and the major financial institutions.
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First-30-day tasks (universal)
- Order certified copies of the death certificateYou'll need certified copies of the death certificate for nearly everything else — banks, insurers, the court, the Social Security Administration.
- Locate the will and any trust documentsFind the original will. Photocopies are not the same as originals, and the original is what gets filed with the court.
- Secure the home and personal propertyLock up. Change locks if needed. Forward mail. The estate is responsible for what's in the home from now on.
- File the probate petition with the courtIf the estate requires probate, you'll file a petition with the appropriate court in the county where the decedent lived.
- Inventory the estate's assets and debtsYou're personally responsible for an accurate accounting. Most courts require a formal inventory; even when they don't, you need one to administer the estate.
- Notify creditors and handle claimsMost states require formal notice to known creditors and a published notice to unknown creditors. There's a window for claims, then it closes.