City of Newport News Clerk of the Circuit Court Guide

At qualification the Clerk collects a Virginia state probate tax of about $0.10 per $100 (10 cents per $100) of estate value, with estates of $15,000 or less exempt (Va. Code 58.1-1712), plus an optional local probate tax of up to one-third of the state amount (Va. Code 58.1-1718). The official Newport News Probate FAQs state the tax as 'Generally $1.00 state probate tax and .33 cents local tax, if applicable, per $1,000.00 value,' which reflects the local tax being adopted at the full one-third. Clerk qualification and recording fees also apply (the court charges $0.50 per page for copies and $2.00 per document to certify), and the Commissioner of Accounts charges separate fees to audit the inventory and accountings. Verify the current local probate-tax adoption, exact clerk qualification and recording fees, and the Commissioner of Accounts fee schedule directly with the Newport News Circuit Court Clerk before filing.