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Virginia County
Amelia County, Virginia
Amelia Court House and Lee's Confederate retreat - from Amelia Court House's pivotal role in the Civil War's final days (on April 5, 1865, Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia arrived at Amelia Court House expecting to find rations loaded on trains, only to discover the supplies had not arrived - the day's delay waiting for food proved fatal to Confederate hopes, allowing Grant's forces to cut off the retreat that ended at Appomattox four days later) to Amelia County's gem mining heritage (the county's ancient Piedmont geology produces Virginia sapphires, garnets, and other semi-precious stones, and amateur gem hunters visit the county's mineral deposits, contributing to a modest but distinctive geological tourism niche).
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What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Notes: Amelia County is part of Planning District 14, covered by the Commonwealth Regional Council’s regional hazard mitigation plan alongside six other counties; the department takes an all-hazards approach covering both natural and man-made disaster planning
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: US-360 is the primary corridor through the county, connecting to Richmond to the east
Transit: No dedicated fixed-route local transit identified; confirm current options directly with the county, as rural Virginia counties sometimes have limited regional paratransit arrangements
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Amelia County Building Department – 16360 Dunn Street, Suite 101, Amelia, VA 23002 | (804) 561-3039 | Fax: (804) 561-6039 | [email protected]
Building Official: Jerry Wayne Williams
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Services: Permits issued under the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC), in effect as of January 18, 2025; fee pricing available by phone; online payment available through the county website’s “Pay Online” link – include the payment confirmation with your application materials
Notes: Applicants/contractors are responsible for providing safe access (e.g., an appropriate ladder) for inspectors to perform inspections
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
State VSO: Virginia Department of Veterans Services – dvs.virginia.gov (statewide office locator for the nearest Veterans Service Representative)
Notes: Confirm current local point of contact directly with dvs.virginia.gov, as Amelia’s small population means veteran services are typically delivered through regional VDVS staff rather than an in-house county office
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: James L. Hamner Public Library – 16351 Dunn Street, Amelia Court House, VA 23002 | (804) 561-4559
Hours: Monday & Friday 10 AM–6 PM, Tuesday–Thursday 10 AM–8 PM, Saturday 10 AM–2 PM, closed Sunday (confirm current hours directly, as sources show minor variation)
Services: Books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, e-books and e-audiobooks, an active Teen Council, children’s storytime
Notes: Founded in 1973 and named for Dr. James Loving Hamner, a local physician; the current building opened in 1999
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Amelia Wildlife Management Area, a 2,217-acre property along the Appomattox River managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, open for hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, boating, and camping (anyone 17 or older needs a valid hunting/fishing license, current VA boat registration, or a WMA access permit); Amelia Court House, the county seat, retains a small-town historic character
Notes: Confirm current WMA access permit requirements directly with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before visiting, as rules can change seasonally
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Amelia County GIS – accessible via ameliacova.com
Parcel Search: Amelia County Commissioner of the Revenue / Real Estate Assessment records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Amelia County Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Amelia County Animal Shelter & Animal Control – Joe H. Paulette Memorial Park, 16565 Five Forks Road, Amelia, VA 23002 | (804) 561-3878 | [email protected]
After-hours emergencies: Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line, (804) 561-2118, or 911
Services: Three full-time Animal Control Officers; an ACO is on call after hours, weekends, and holidays for emergencies; identified animals (collar, microchip, tattoo, etc.) are held 10 days
Notes: The shelter has been recognized by Best Friends Animal Society in 2022, 2023, and 2024 for maintaining a euthanasia rate under 1%. The county’s animal control ordinance was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 15, 2009, and parallels state animal law under Title 3.2 of the Code of Virginia.
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – deq.virginia.gov
Notes: Contact Amelia County Administration directly for current refuse collection, transfer station, and recycling program details, as specifics were not independently confirmed for this entry
NOTES
Amelia County is a small, rural county along the US-360 corridor between Richmond and the Southside region, and it keeps nearly all of its core services – emergency management, building permits, the library, and animal control – centered around the county administrative offices on Dunn Street in Amelia Court House. The animal shelter’s sustained sub-1% euthanasia rate and multi-year Best Friends Animal Society recognition are a genuinely notable local achievement worth highlighting to residents. All contact information above was sourced from official county pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Amelia County
Amelia County is central Virginia’s Confederate retreat and gem mining county – the fateful supply failure at Amelia Court House that sealed the Confederacy’s fate gives the county a significant Civil War footnote while the county’s ancient Piedmont geology and quiet rural character define a community between Richmond and Farmville that retains a distinctly unhurried Virginia countryside character.
Amelia Court House (the county seat, population ~1,100) anchors the county’s governmental functions in a traditional Virginia courthouse village setting along Route 360 southwest of Richmond.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Amelia County Assessor at 16360 Dunn Street, Amelia Court House, VA 23002, phone 804-561-3039. VA assessed at 100% fair market value.
Courts & Legal
Amelia County Circuit Court at 16441 Court Street, Amelia Court House, VA 23002, phone 804-561-3130, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
16360 Court St, Amelia Court House, VA 23002
(804) 561-2128
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Amelia Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Amelia Court House (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Amelia County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Amelia Circuit Court 16441 Court Street (also listed as 9100 Virginia Street), PO Box 237, Amelia, VA 23002 (804) 561-2128
Amelia County was founded in 1735, named for Princess Amelia, just southwest of Richmond in Central Virginia, county seat Amelia Court House. Virginia has NO separate probate court – probate (“qualification”) is handled entirely by the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Virginia calls the probate process “qualification” rather than “appointment,” and it happens administratively at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, not before a judge, unless a dispute arises.
Small Estate Affidavit (Va. Code § 64.2-601, the “Virginia Small Estate Act”) – available when the decedent’s entire personal probate estate (excluding real estate) does not exceed $75,000, at least 60 days have passed since death, and no personal representative has been appointed or has a pending application in any jurisdiction. If a will exists, it must first be admitted to probate (recorded with the Clerk) even though no executor is appointed. As of July 1, 2026, the affidavit must be filed on the statewide form (CC-1685).
Single Small Asset Release (Va. Code § 64.2-602) – any person or institution holding a single asset of $35,000 or less may release it directly to a successor once 60 days have passed since death and no personal representative has qualified, without any affidavit required at all.
Real Estate Affidavit (Form CC-1612) – if the decedent owned only real estate, this can be recorded directly in land records without full probate. Real estate generally cannot be transferred through the small estate affidavit process.
Full Qualification / Administration – the standard path for larger or more complex estates. The personal representative appears before the Clerk, takes an oath, files the will and death certificate, and typically posts a surety bond. The estate is then supervised by a Commissioner of Accounts throughout administration.
Step 2: filing for administration
The person seeking to qualify as executor or administrator brings the original will (if any) and a certified death certificate to the Amelia Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
The Clerk reviews the will’s validity and admits it to probate.
The personal representative takes an oath and qualifies, posting a bond if required; the Clerk issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The Commissioner of Accounts oversees the estate going forward.
The personal representative notifies creditors, pays valid debts, and manages estate assets.
Remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries or heirs, and the estate is closed once final accounting is approved.
What it costs
Virginia imposes a PROBATE TAX on most wills admitted to probate and grants of administration: $1 state tax + $0.33 local tax for every $1,000 of estate value. No tax is imposed on estates valued at $15,000 or less.
Filing fees for qualification vary by estate size; confirm current Amelia County fees directly.
Virginia does NOT impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax – repealed for deaths on or after July 1, 2007. Only the federal estate tax may apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
8692 Genito Rd, Amelia Court House, VA 23002
(804) 561-2138
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
VOTER REGISTRAR
16360 Court St, Amelia Court House, VA 23002
(804) 561-2115
ELECTIONS
Amelia County Electoral Board, 16360 Court St, Amelia Court House, VA 23002
(804) 561-2115
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health District
Piedmont Health District, 16357 Dinwiddie St, Amelia Court House, VA 23002
(804) 561-2116
Department of Social Services
16345 Dinwiddie St, Amelia Court House, VA 23002
(804) 561-2249
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Piedmont Health District (Virginia Department of Health) – serves Amelia County
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Virginia delivers public health primarily through regional Virginia Department of Health districts rather than standalone county health departments
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County Facts
County Seat: Amelia Court House
Population: 13,500
Established: 1734
Tier: 3
Public Records
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