Estate Probate In Virginia

fairfaxcounty.gov, Mar 13, 2006

To probate an estate, you must go to the Circuit Court of the county in which the decedent resided at the time of death. Those who had resided within the city limits of Falls Church, must report to the Arlington County Circuit Court, and those residing within the City of Alexandria limits must report to the Circuit Court of Alexandria.

It is necessary to probate an estate when the decedent has solely held assets; that is, assets which do not have a joint or co-owner with rights of survivorship, a beneficiary (on the security or account, not in the Will) or a pay on death designee. Assets include: real property, personal property, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, retirement accounts, life insurance policies and other types of securities.