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Calhoun County, WV Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Calhoun County details |
|---|---|
| Probate authority | Calhoun County Commission, with day-to-day filings handled by the Calhoun County Clerk's office under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. |
| Where to go | Calhoun County Courthouse, 363 Main Street, Suite 201, Grantsville, WV 26147. The clerk's website lists the mailing address but not the street address, so call before visiting. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 230, Grantsville, WV 26147. |
| Phone | (304) 354-6725. Calhoun County does not publish a separate probate, estate, or fiduciary phone line. |
| Fax | (304) 354-6447. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., based on the county clerk baseline. The clerk's website does not list hours, so confirm current hours by phone. |
| Opening cost | No single statewide probate filing fee under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10. Calhoun County does not publish a local probate fee schedule. Expect per-document recording, oath, notice, closing, newspaper, and any W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 bond costs. If an article 2 estate is referred to a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3, the default cap is $300 plus expenses as of August 2026 unless W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(a) allows more. |
| Local probate forms | The Calhoun County Clerk's office does not publish additional probate forms, a checklist, or a brochure on its website. |
| Probate e-filing | West Virginia has no probate e-filing through the county clerk. File estate papers on paper with the Calhoun County Clerk's office. |
| Estate file lookup | The Calhoun County Clerk's office does not publish an online estate file lookup on its website. WVPASS is a circuit court records system and does not contain the estate file. |
| Phone or video participation | Calhoun County does not publish a phone or video rule for probate matters. Ask the county clerk's office when you file. |
| Website | Calhoun County Clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you contact the Calhoun County Clerk, make a working list of the decedent's bank accounts, vehicles, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations, and anything held only in the decedent's name. Estate settlement in Calhoun County starts with knowing what must pass through the clerk's office and what can be transferred outside the estate file.
Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts and assets, which is especially useful before completing the West Virginia appraisement, ET 6.01 under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and the nonprobate inventory, ET 6.02 under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File in Calhoun County if the person lived in Calhoun County at death. W. Va. Code § 41-5-4 puts the will before the county commission of the county where the decedent had a mansion house or known place of residence at death, and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4 puts an estate with no will in the same place.
The filing office for Calhoun County is the Calhoun County Clerk's office at the courthouse in Grantsville, acting for the Calhoun County Commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. A will contest under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11 or an appeal under W. Va. Code § 58-3-1 goes to the Circuit Court of Calhoun County, not to the clerk's counter process.
The jurisdiction process
- Call the Calhoun County Clerk's office at (304) 354-6725 before going to Grantsville. Confirm current hours, whether an appointment is needed, what payment methods are accepted, and what original documents to bring.
- Bring the original will if there is one, a death certificate, names and addresses for heirs or beneficiaries, and a first inventory of assets and debts. West Virginia probate is handled for the Calhoun County Commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, and the clerk admits the will and qualifies the executor or administrator under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10 and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4.
- Complete the county clerk's qualification paperwork at the counter. The Calhoun County Clerk's office does not publish a local checklist or form packet online, so get the current paper requirements directly from the office.
- Take the oath and address bond if required. A will or W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 may excuse bond or surety, but the clerk will apply the statute to the estate you present.
- Pay the applicable recording, oath, notice, settlement, newspaper, and bond costs. Calhoun County does not publish a local probate fee schedule; the baseline charges come from W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, and W. Va. Code § 44-2.
- Receive the certificate of qualification, the letters document banks and transfer agents use to recognize your authority as personal representative.
- File the appraisement, ET 6.01, within 90 days of qualification under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and file the nonprobate inventory, ET 6.02, under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7.
- Handle creditor notice and claims under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a. If an objection, unpaid claim, or other issue requires referral, a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3 may become involved.
- Close the estate through the article 2 closing path, such as a waiver of final settlement under W. Va. Code § 44-2-29 when available, or another final settlement procedure under W. Va. Code § 44-2.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Calhoun County
The Calhoun County Clerk's office does not publish additional probate forms, a checklist, or a brochure on its website. Plan to call the clerk's office and pick up the current local packet in Grantsville or ask how the office provides paper forms.
| Form or document | Where it comes from | How it is used in Calhoun County |
|---|---|---|
| County qualification papers | Calhoun County Clerk's office | Used when the clerk qualifies the executor or administrator and issues the certificate of qualification, the letters document used for estate settlement. |
| ET 6.01 appraisement | West Virginia State Tax Department form used with W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 | Filed with the clerk after qualification. |
| ET 6.02 nonprobate inventory | West Virginia State Tax Department form used with W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 | Filed with the clerk as confidential tax return information under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7. |
| Small-estate affidavit | Statutory contents in W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 | Used only if the estate qualifies under W. Va. Code § 44-1A. The personal-property ceiling is $50,000, current as of August 2026, and since July 9, 2025, W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 excludes any estate with probate real property. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Calhoun County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Call the Calhoun County Clerk before filing to confirm what, if anything, must be opened at the clerk's office. If any probate real property remains in the estate, the small-estate route under W. Va. Code § 44-1A is not available after July 9, 2025 under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, beneficiary designations, and assets that affect whether full estate settlement is needed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If the decedent lived in Calhoun County and left only qualifying personal property, ask the clerk about the small-estate affidavit under W. Va. Code § 44-1A. If the estate includes probate real property, use full administration instead. | Sunset helps build the asset list before you call, then helps prepare a packet for the clerk or an attorney to review. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually means full administration through the Calhoun County Clerk, with the Calhoun County Commission's probate jurisdiction under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. If a dispute, unpaid claim, or objection arises, a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3 may be involved. | Sunset helps organize accounts, debts, property details, and attorney handoff materials so the family can move the estate settlement forward. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County Clerk's office | Local filing counter for wills, estate administration, certificates of qualification, and paper probate forms. | Calhoun County Clerk |
| Calhoun County Commission | County body with probate jurisdiction under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, with clerk support for estate filings. | Calhoun County Commission |
| West Virginia Judiciary county information | Courthouse address information for Calhoun County, including the Grantsville courthouse location. | Calhoun County judiciary information |
| West Virginia Judiciary record access page | Explains WVPASS for circuit court records and the magistrate records search. It is not an estate file lookup through the county clerk. | West Virginia record access |
| West Virginia Legislature code site | Primary text for West Virginia probate statutes, including W. Va. Code § 44-1A for small-estate affidavits and W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 for the appraisement. | West Virginia Code |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a West Virginia probate attorney if family members disagree, a will contest under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11 is possible, the estate owns real estate that must be sold, a creditor claim under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a is disputed, or you live outside West Virginia and cannot easily manage filings in Grantsville. Sunset connects you to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement accounts, vehicles, debts, and other property before filing in Calhoun County. A clearer asset picture makes estate settlement less dependent on guesswork.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses what you provide to help organize the information needed for the clerk's qualification papers, the ET 6.01 appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and related estate materials.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs legal help, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted West Virginia attorney who understands county clerk probate practice.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the work, understand the next filing step, and move from uncertainty to a practical plan.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Calhoun County?
File with the Calhoun County Clerk's office in Grantsville if the decedent lived in Calhoun County at death. W. Va. Code § 41-5-4 uses the decedent's place of residence at death for a will, and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4 uses the same county for an estate with no will.
Is Calhoun County probate filed with a judge?
No. Routine West Virginia probate is handled for the Calhoun County Commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. The county clerk handles the counter filing and admits the will under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10, then the commission confirms the clerk's action.
Can I e-file probate papers in Calhoun County?
No probate e-filing is published for Calhoun County. Estate papers are filed on paper with the county clerk, and the West Virginia Judiciary's e-filing systems are for appellate, circuit, family, and mass litigation filings, not routine county clerk estate filings.
Can I look up a Calhoun County estate online?
The Calhoun County Clerk's office does not publish an online estate file lookup on its website. WVPASS is a circuit court records system and would show a will contest under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11 if one were filed in circuit court, not the county clerk estate file.
Does Calhoun County publish probate forms online?
The Calhoun County Clerk's office does not publish additional probate forms, a checklist, or a brochure on its website. Ask the clerk how to get the current paper packet. Statewide documents still include ET 6.01 under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, ET 6.02 under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7, and the small-estate affidavit contents in W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2.
What does it cost to open an estate in Calhoun County?
Calhoun County does not publish a local probate fee schedule. West Virginia has no single flat probate filing fee under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10; the amount depends on recording, oath, notice, closing, newspaper, and any W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 bond costs.
Can I use a small-estate affidavit in Calhoun County?
Only if the estate qualifies under W. Va. Code § 44-1A. The personal-property ceiling is $50,000, current as of August 2026, under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-1(b)(4), and since July 9, 2025, W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 excludes estates with probate real property.
Do I have to travel to Grantsville?
Call the Calhoun County Clerk's office before making travel plans. Calhoun County does not publish a phone or video rule for estate matters, and whether you can handle a particular step without appearing in person is a question for the county clerk's office.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.