King William County is a rural Middle Peninsula county of approximately 18,000 residents situated between the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers, bordered by King and Queen, Hanover, New Kent, and the City of West Point. The county seat is King William Courthouse, an unincorporated community along US-360. The county is characterized by a mix of agricultural land, timber production, and an emerging commuter population drawn by relatively affordable housing and reasonable access to Hanover County and the Richmond MSA via US-360 and I-295. The City of West Point — located at the confluence of the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers and home to the WestRock paper mill, one of the region’s largest employers — sits at the county’s eastern tip.
The rental market is modest and affordable, with rents of $800–$1,200 per month for most residential properties. The GDC at 351 Courthouse Lane runs civil matters every Thursday on the 1st through 4th Thursdays (no court 4th Thursday in November or December), with first returns at 1:30 p.m. The courthouse enforces a strict security and dress policy identical to King and Queen County: all persons subject to search; no purses or bags; no cell phones; appropriate dress required.
📊 Quick Stats
GDC Location
351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 201, King William, VA 23086
Population
~18,000 (2025 est.)
Region
Middle Peninsula — Pamunkey River / US-360 Corridor
Key Communities
King William Courthouse (seat), Aylett, Manquin, West Point (town, eastern tip)
Major Employers
WestRock (West Point paper mill), King William County gov. & schools, Richmond commuters, agriculture/timber
Typical SFH Rent
$800–$1,200/mo
GDC Clerk
Jill C. Hall — (804) 769-4947
Rent Control
None
⚡ Eviction At-a-Glance
Nonpayment Notice
5-Day Pay or Quit
Civil UD Docket
1st–4th Thursdays: Civil First Returns 1:30 p.m.; no court 4th Thurs Nov/Dec
Garnishments
1:31 p.m.
Small Claims
1:45 p.m. Thursdays
Continuances (Criminal)
By Commonwealth’s Attorney
Continuances (Traffic)
1st by Clerk; contact court for civil continuances
No county-level rental registration required. Virginia has no statewide landlord licensing statute. King William County Building Official (804-769-4977) handles permits. Strict courthouse security: all persons subject to search; no purses or bags; no cell phones without judicial permission; appropriate dress required. Leave bags in your vehicle.
Rent Control
None. Virginia law prohibits local rent control (Va. Code § 55.1-1322).
Security Deposit
Capped at 2 months’ rent (Va. Code § 55.1-1226). Must be returned with written itemization within 45 days. At King William rents, deposits run $800–$1,200.
Fee Disclosure (2024)
Va. Code § 55.1-1204.1 requires all charges on the first page of the lease.
King William GDC — 9th Judicial District
Address: 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 201, King William, VA 23086. Clerk: Jill C. Hall. Phone: (804) 769-4947. Fax: (804) 769-4971. Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (payments/filings until 4:00 p.m.). GDC Judges (9th District): Hon. Wade A. Bowie (Chief), Hon. Matthew D. Danielson, Hon. James Anderson Mullins, Hon. Stephanie M. Revere. Note: Jill C. Hall is also Clerk at King and Queen County GDC — both courts share the same clerk across the 9th District.
Civil UD Docket — Every Thursday (1st–4th) 1:30 p.m.
Civil First Returns (including UD) are heard every Thursday (1st through 4th) at 1:30 p.m. Garnishments at 1:31 p.m.; Small Claims at 1:45 p.m.; Contested Civil set by Court at 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Traffic and criminal matters are heard in the morning. No court on the 4th Thursday in November or December. Animal Control: 1st Thursday 1:00 p.m. Wildlife/VMRC: 3rd Thursday 1:00 p.m. Weekly civil Thursdays (minus Nov/Dec exception) offer accessible UD scheduling. Contact the Clerk for civil continuance procedure.
Courthouse Security
No purses or bags permitted in the courthouse. All persons subject to search, arrest, and forfeiture. Appropriate dress required. No cell phones without judicial permission. No weapons, contraband, food, or beverages.
West Point City Note
The City of West Point is an independent city at the county’s eastern tip. Properties with West Point mailing addresses are in the City of West Point, not King William County. Confirm jurisdiction before filing at the King William GDC.
Landlord Entry Notice
Minimum 72 hours’ advance written notice before non-emergency entry (2024 VRLTA update).
Late Fees
Capped at 10% of monthly rent. At $1,000/month, maximum late fee is $100/month.
Legal Aid / Resources
Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (serving King William): (757) 627-5423. Virginia Lawyer Referral Service: (800) 552-7977. King William GDC Clerk: (804) 769-4947. King William County Admin: (804) 769-4927. DHCD: dhcd.virginia.gov.
Virginia requires 5-day written pay-or-quit notice (§55.1-1245(F)). No statutory grace period, but rent must be 5 days late before late fees apply (§55.1-1204.1). Tenant can redeem tenancy by paying all rent, late fees, attorney fees, and court costs on or before the court return date (§55.1-1250). Tenant may also present a "redemption tender" - a written commitment from a government or nonprofit entity to pay within 10 days of return date. Late fee cap: 10% of periodic rent. The Eviction Diversion Program was renewed and expanded in 2025, allowing qualifying lower-income tenants to be placed on court-ordered payment plans.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the General District Court. Pay the filing fee (~$58).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Virginia eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified Virginia attorney or local legal aid organization.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏠 Communities & Screening Tips
Key communities: King William Courthouse (county seat, US-360 corridor), Aylett (southern county, US-360/US-30 junction), Manquin (central), West Point (independent city at county’s eastern tip, separate jurisdiction, WestRock mill).
Tenant profile: WestRock paper mill employees (major hourly workforce — verify stable employment), county and school employees (stable), Richmond/Hanover commuters (verify commute commitment). Apply 3x monthly income. Leave bags in vehicle before going to court.
King William County Virginia Landlord-Tenant Law: Guide for Middle Peninsula Property Owners
King William County occupies the land between the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers — the same river corridor that defined the Pamunkey and Mattaponi tribal territories for thousands of years and that the English colonial settlers channeled into Virginia’s first plantation economy. Today it is a quiet rural exurb of approximately 18,000 residents, most working either in the county itself, at the WestRock paper mill in the City of West Point, or making the daily commute to Hanover County and the Richmond MSA via US-360. Rents of $800–$1,200 per month make it one of the more affordable markets in the Richmond metro orbit.
King William General District Court, 9th Judicial District, is at 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 201, King William, VA 23086. Clerk Jill C. Hall — who also serves as clerk for King and Queen County GDC — is reachable at (804) 769-4947. Office hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with filings and payments until 4:00 p.m. Civil first returns (UD) run every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on the 1st through 4th Thursdays, with no court on the 4th Thursday in November or December. Strict courthouse security mirrors King and Queen County: no purses or bags, no cell phones without judicial permission, all persons subject to search. Leave bags in your vehicle. The City of West Point is a separate jurisdiction — confirm whether your property is county or city before filing. All 2024 VRLTA updates apply. Self-help eviction prohibited. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia serves King William tenants at (757) 627-5423.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. King William General District Court: 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 201, King William, VA 23086 — (804) 769-4947. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. No purses or bags in courthouse. King William GDC: 351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 201, King William, VA 23086 — (804) 769-4947. Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia: (757) 627-5423. Last updated: March 2026.
