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Mason County, WV Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Mason County details |
|---|---|
| Probate authority | Mason County Commission, through the Mason County Clerk, under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3 and W. Va. Const. art. VIII, § 6. |
| Filing office | Mason County Clerk's office, 200 Sixth Street, Suite 7, Point Pleasant, WV 25550. |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is listed by the Mason County Clerk's office; use the courthouse address unless the clerk gives a different instruction. |
| Phone | (304) 675-1997. |
| Fax | (304) 675-2521. |
| [email protected]. This is a general county-clerk mailbox, not a dedicated probate line. | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Cost to open | No single statewide probate filing fee under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10. Expect document charges, notice and settlement charges, publication costs under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, and any bond cost if required under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. |
| County forms | The Mason County Clerk's office does not post an additional probate packet on its website. Statewide estate forms include ET 6.01 appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, ET 6.02 nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7, and the W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 small-estate affidavit contents. |
| Electronic filing | West Virginia has no e-filing for probate. Estate papers are filed on paper with the Mason County Clerk. |
| Record lookup | The Mason County Clerk page links an online records search. Ask the clerk what document types and years it covers. WVPASS searches circuit court records, not county clerk estate files. |
| Remote participation | No statewide remote rule applies to routine estate administration. Ask the Mason County Clerk's office if an objection or referral creates a hearing. |
| Website | https://masoncountywv.gov/government/mason-county-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Mason County, make a working inventory of what the person owned, what passed outside probate, and what debts may need attention. The hardest part of West Virginia estate settlement is often completing the appraisement and nonprobate inventory accurately after qualification, not standing in a hearing room.
Sunset searches across 2,300 institutions to help families find accounts, benefits, and assets before they start the Mason County paperwork. That asset picture helps you decide whether you need full administration, a W. Va. Code § 44-1A small-estate affidavit, or attorney help.
Which court handles jurisdiction
This page covers estate filings for Mason County, West Virginia, handled at the courthouse in Point Pleasant. The Mason County Clerk's office is the local filing office for wills and estate administration, while the Mason County Commission holds probate jurisdiction under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3.
An estate is opened where the person lived. 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 intestate estate in the same place. If the decedent lived in Mason County, file with the Mason County Clerk at the courthouse in Point Pleasant.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the right path before filing. A W. Va. Code § 44-1A small-estate affidavit may be available only for qualifying probate personal property, with a $50,000 limit under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-1(b)(4), amount reviewed August 2026, and it is not available if the decedent owned probate real property under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2(a), as amended by HB 2867 effective July 9, 2025.
- Gather the original will, if there is one, a death certificate, names and addresses of heirs or beneficiaries, a first list of assets and debts, and any information the Mason County Clerk asks you to bring. If there is no will, administration follows W. Va. Code § 44-1-4 for an intestate estate.
- File in person or by paper submission with the Mason County Clerk's office at 200 Sixth Street, Suite 7, Point Pleasant. West Virginia has no e-filing for probate, and estate papers are filed with the county clerk rather than through a Judiciary filing system.
- At qualification, the Mason County Clerk takes the oath, confirms any bond issue under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8, and appoints the executor or administrator. The clerk issues a certificate of qualification, with letters testamentary or letters of administration, for use with banks, transfer agents, and other institutions.
- Pay the opening charges the clerk gives you. West Virginia has no single statewide probate filing fee under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10; the August 2026 statutory amounts include $10 for a document of five pages or fewer, $1 for each additional page, and $5 for an oath. The clerk also collects a $20 notice charge under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(g), amount reviewed August 2026, and later settlement recording charges under W. Va. Code § 44-2.
- After qualification, complete and return ET 6.01 appraisement to the clerk within 90 days under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and file ET 6.02 nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7. The clerk then handles the creditor notice process under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a.
- Handle claims, assets, and distributions. The Mason County Clerk's website does not publish a fiduciary supervisor under W. Va. Code § 44-3A; where that is not published, the default West Virginia article 2 process uses referral to a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3 if required. The article 2 referral threshold is $200,000 under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(b), amount reviewed August 2026.
- If an objection is filed or the estate is referred, a hearing may be scheduled before a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3 or before the Mason County Commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. Most Mason County estates are handled at the counter and do not require a hearing. Ask the Mason County Clerk's office whether phone or video participation is available for any scheduled matter.
- Close the estate using the closing route the clerk gives you. In the article 2 process, that may include a waiver of final settlement under W. Va. Code § 44-2-29 or another final settlement filing under W. Va. Code § 44-2, followed by county commission confirmation under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Mason County
West Virginia does not publish a statewide numbered probate form set. The appraisement, Form ET 6.01, is returned to the county clerk within 90 days under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and the nonprobate inventory, Form ET 6.02, is filed under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7.
The Mason County Clerk's office does not post additional probate forms on its website. The clerk supplies or identifies the forms needed when you qualify, and the contents of the W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 small-estate affidavit are set by statute.
| Form or item | Where it comes from | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| ET 6.01 appraisement | West Virginia State Tax Department form used under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14. | Ask the Mason County Clerk how many copies to bring or file. |
| ET 6.02 nonprobate inventory | West Virginia State Tax Department form used under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7. | Filed with the Mason County Clerk as part of the post-qualification inventory process. |
| Small-estate affidavit | Statutory contents in W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. | Use only if the estate qualifies under W. Va. Code § 44-1A, including the no-probate-real-property rule effective July 9, 2025. |
Local nuance
Mason County-specific considerations
Mason County is a clerk-counter filing county page for a West Virginia estate settlement, and the county's website describes the Mason County Clerk's duties as probating wills and assisting in estate administration. The site does not post a separate fiduciary supervisor office under W. Va. Code § 44-3A, so start with the Mason County Clerk's office unless the clerk directs you elsewhere.
The Mason County Clerk page links an online records search, but the page does not state which document types or years the search covers. Use that link from the clerk's page for document-index questions, and ask the clerk whether a particular will, appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, or fiduciary settlement under W. Va. Code § 44-2 is indexed there.
The county site also hosts Legal Aid flyers. Those are general legal-help resources, not Mason-specific probate forms.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Mason County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by separating probate assets from nonprobate assets. If the home passed outside probate, the Mason County estate may focus on accounts or personal property. If any probate real property is involved, the W. Va. Code § 44-1A small-estate route is not available after July 9, 2025. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title patterns, and institution requirements before you decide what must be filed with the Mason County Clerk. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Mason County Clerk before traveling to Point Pleasant. If the estate qualifies under W. Va. Code § 44-1A, the small-estate affidavit route may avoid appointment of a personal representative, but the clerk still records the affidavit and issues the certificate and authorization under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. | Sunset helps collect account information, death-benefit leads, and a draft asset list so the county clerk conversation is more concrete. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of probate real property usually means full administration rather than a W. Va. Code § 44-1A small-estate affidavit. File with the Mason County Clerk in Point Pleasant, qualify as personal representative if eligible, and ask early about bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 and closing requirements under W. Va. Code § 44-2. | Sunset helps organize assets and connect the family with a local probate attorney when a house sale, title issue, or family dispute makes the estate settlement more complex. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How to use it | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Mason County Clerk's office | Filing office for Mason County wills and estate administration. | 200 Sixth Street, Suite 7, Point Pleasant, WV 25550. Phone: (304) 675-1997. Fax: (304) 675-2521. |
| Legal Aid of West Virginia | Statewide civil legal aid intake for people who qualify. | 866-255-4370. https://legalaidwv.org/get-help/apply-for-help/ |
| West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Lawyer referral by location and practice area, including probate and estate settlement questions. | https://wvlawyerreferral.org/ |
| Tuesday Legal Connect | Free State Bar telephone hotline for general legal information on Tuesday evenings. | 1-800-642-3617. |
| West Virginia Free Legal Answers | Online Q&A for income-eligible West Virginians, answered by volunteer attorneys. | https://wv.freelegalanswers.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Many Mason County estates can begin with the County Clerk, but counsel makes sense if there is a will contest under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11, an appeal under W. Va. Code § 58-3-1, probate real property to sell, unclear heirs, a disputed creditor claim under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, or questions about bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps build the asset picture before you walk into the Mason County Clerk's office, so the estate settlement starts with better information.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet for the Mason County process, including asset lists and institution-ready details for the certificate of qualification and letters.
Find a local probate attorney. When an estate includes a home sale, a contested will under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11, disputed claims under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, or questions the clerk cannot answer, Sunset can connect the family with a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, find assets, and understand the next local step without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Mason County?
File with the Mason County Clerk's office at 200 Sixth Street, Suite 7, Point Pleasant, WV 25550. The Mason County Commission holds probate jurisdiction under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, and the clerk handles the filing work for routine estates.
Is Mason County probate filed with a court?
No separate probate forum handles routine Mason County estates. The Mason County Clerk acts for the Mason County Commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, admits the will under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10, and appoints the executor or administrator. A will contest goes to circuit court under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11.
Can I e-file a Mason County estate?
No. West Virginia has no e-filing for probate, and estate papers are filed on paper with the Mason County Clerk. The Judiciary's electronic filing systems are for courts, not routine county clerk estate filings.
Does Mason County have an online case search for estates?
The Mason County Clerk page links an online records search, but the page does not state which document types or years it covers. Ask the county clerk whether the record you need is indexed there. WVPASS searches circuit court records and would not be the place to search the county clerk estate file.
What does it cost to open an estate in Mason County?
The Mason County Clerk does not post a Mason-specific probate fee schedule on its website. West Virginia has no single statewide probate filing fee under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10. The August 2026 statutory amounts include $10 for a document of five pages or fewer, $1 for each added page, and $5 for an oath under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, plus a $20 notice charge under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(g), amount reviewed August 2026. If an article 2 estate is referred to a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3, the default August 2026 cap is $300 plus expenses under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(a), unless the personal representative agrees to more or the county commission has adopted a schedule under W. Va. Code § 59-1-9.
Does Mason County post probate forms online?
The Mason County Clerk's office does not post an additional probate packet on its website. The statewide forms you should ask about are ET 6.01 appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, ET 6.02 nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7, and the W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 small-estate affidavit contents if the estate qualifies.
Will I have to attend a hearing in Mason County?
Most Mason County estates are handled at the clerk's counter. If a dispute, objection, or referral arises, a hearing may be scheduled before a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3 or before the Mason County Commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. Ask the Mason County Clerk's office what to expect for your filing.
Can I take part remotely if I live outside West Virginia?
No statewide remote rule controls Mason County estate administration. If a hearing is scheduled, ask the Mason County Clerk's office whether phone or video participation is available for that specific matter.
Do I need to travel to Point Pleasant to get letters?
The Mason County Clerk issues the certificate of qualification, with letters testamentary or letters of administration, after qualification. Call the clerk before traveling to ask what documents are required, whether the office wants an appointment, and how certified copies are requested.
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.