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Raleigh County, WV Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Raleigh County details |
|---|---|
| Probate authority | Raleigh County Commission, which holds probate jurisdiction under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. The elected Raleigh County Clerk's office handles the counter process in Beckley. |
| Filing office | Raleigh County Clerk's office, published in county probate documents as the Office of the Fiduciary Supervisor under W. Va. Code § 44-3A. |
| Courthouse address | Raleigh County Courthouse, 215 Main Street, Beckley, WV 25801. |
| Mailing route | Probate Department, Raleigh County Clerk's Office, 215 Main Street, Beckley, WV 25801. |
| Phone | Probate office: (304) 252-0161. Clerk general and public records line: (304) 255-9123. |
| Fax | (304) 252-0163. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office schedules the appointment after it receives the completed questionnaire and required documents. |
| Opening costs | West Virginia has no single statewide probate filing fee under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10. Raleigh's probate fee schedule posted February 2023 lists $12.00 to record a will, appointment, appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8, claim, settlement, or waiver, each made up of a $10.00 recording charge and a $2.00 document preservation fee; $2.50 for letters of administration; $20.00 for appraisement publication tied to W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a; $10.00 for settlement publication; and postage of $2.00 for a small estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 or $5.00 for other probate procedures. The county questionnaire posted February 2023 lists appointment fees from $12.00 to $250.00, depending on the process required, set at the appointment. |
| Local forms | Yes. The county clerk publishes a WV Estate Appraisement form, a probate questionnaire, a probate fee schedule, and checklists for estates with and without a will. |
| Electronic filing | No West Virginia probate e-filing. Raleigh County estate papers are filed on paper with the county clerk, although the office accepts the completed questionnaire and supporting documents by email or mail before the appointment. |
| Record lookup | The Raleigh County Clerk's office does not publish an online estate record search on its website. Estate records are requested through the Record Room in Beckley, in person, by mail, or by email to [email protected]. WVPASS searches circuit court records and does not contain estate files. |
| Phone or video participation | Most Raleigh County estates are handled at the county clerk's counter and do not require a hearing. If a hearing is scheduled before a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3, the fiduciary supervisor under W. Va. Code § 44-3A, or the Raleigh County Commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, ask the probate office at (304) 252-0161 what options apply. |
| Website | Raleigh County Clerk probate page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you ask the Raleigh County Clerk's office for an appointment, build the asset picture. Raleigh's probate questionnaire asks for bank names and account types, vehicles, stocks, bonds, cash, certificates of deposit, a pending lawsuit, life insurance payable to the estate, and whether each asset was owned solely or jointly. It also asks for property tax tickets, assessed values, and either fair market value or selling price, and bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 is calculated from what was in the decedent's name alone.
That makes estate settlement in Raleigh County an asset discovery task before it becomes a paperwork task. Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions so families can identify accounts, debts and nonprobate assets before completing the county questionnaire and before the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 are due.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One filing counter serves Raleigh County: the Raleigh County Clerk's office at the courthouse, 215 Main Street in Beckley. The county's own site identifies municipalities including Beckley, Lester, Mabscott, Rhodell and Sophia, and county pages also reference communities such as Daniels, Crab Orchard, MacArthur, Glen Daniel, Coal City, Bradley, Shady Spring, Piney View and Harper.
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. Raleigh's intake paperwork makes that local rule concrete: item 13B on the death certificate must show Raleigh County, or the office accepts a funeral home letter on letterhead stating the date of death, county of residence and Social Security number.
The jurisdiction process
- Inventory the assets before starting the appointment process. Raleigh's questionnaire asks for bank accounts by bank and account type, vehicles, stocks, bonds, cash, certificates of deposit, a pending lawsuit and life insurance payable to the estate, and whether each was owned solely or jointly.
- Get the death certificate, or a funeral home letter if the certificate is not back. The office checks the Social Security number and that item 13B shows Raleigh County as the county of residence. Venue is governed by W. Va. Code § 41-5-4 for a will and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4 for an intestate estate.
- If there is real estate, collect the Raleigh County tax tickets and assessed value before completing the questionnaire. The county directs families to the Raleigh County Assessor at 304-255-9120 for those items and asks for fair market value, or selling price if the property is to be sold.
- Complete the Raleigh County Probate Questionnaire. Gather photo identification for the proposed personal representative, the original will if there is one, tax tickets, and full names, mailing addresses and relationships for the people named in the will or, if there is no will, the heirs under W. Va. Code § 44-1-4.
- Submit the questionnaire and documents before expecting an appointment. The county says the Probate Department will not schedule the appointment until it receives the completed form and all required documents, and to allow five to seven business days for a response. Questions go to the probate office at (304) 252-0161.
- Attend the appointment at the Raleigh County Clerk's office, 215 Main Street in Beckley. Step one is appointment of the personal representative, called the executor if named in the will and the administrator if there is no will. The county publishes that appointment is normally made within 30 days from death, and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4 controls appointment in an intestate estate.
- Bring the original will if there is one. Raleigh says it will not accept a copy. The original will is admitted to record under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10, recorded in the Raleigh County Record Room, and returned after the estate closes.
- If the will is handwritten, bring two qualified witnesses. Raleigh requires witnesses who are familiar with the decedent's handwriting and signature, who are not related to the decedent, and who are not an heir or beneficiary.
- Handle consent if the will names no executor or there is no will. Raleigh asks for written consent from a majority of heirs during the first 30 days after death. The county publishes that on the thirty first day after death, anyone, including a creditor under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, can be appointed without consent.
- Address bond before the appointment. Bond is governed by W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. Raleigh publishes two options: a corporate bond through an insurance company, required for an out of state fiduciary and doubled in amount, or a property bond for an in state fiduciary using another person's West Virginia real estate. If the property is outside Raleigh County, the bondsperson must bring a Justification of Surety from that county.
- Get the authority document. When the Raleigh County Clerk's office appoints you, you take an oath and, unless the will or W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 excuses it, give bond. The office issues a certificate of qualification, the document banks often call letters testamentary when there is a will or letters of administration when there is not.
- File the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and the nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7. These are due within 90 days of qualification. Raleigh publishes a downloadable WV Estate Appraisement form and, on its probate fee schedule posted February 2023, lists a $12.00 appraisement recording charge and a $20.00 appraisement publication charge.
- Let the notice and creditor claim process run. In a county with a fiduciary supervisor under W. Va. Code § 44-3A, the notice is published under W. Va. Code § 44-3A-4, and creditors have 60 days from first publication to present claims. Raleigh's probate fee schedule posted February 2023 lists $12.00 to record a claim and $12.00 to record a release of claim.
- Close with the settlement document the probate office directs. Raleigh's schedule posted February 2023 lists $12.00 for a settlement and $12.00 for a waiver of final settlement under W. Va. Code § 44-2-29. In an article 3A county, a short form settlement under W. Va. Code § 44-3A-4a is recorded and mailed by the fiduciary supervisor and held 10 days for objections.
- The Raleigh County Commission enters the confirming order under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. The paperwork is handled at the county clerk's counter on Main Street; the commission meets at 116 North Heber Street in Beckley, and its Tuesday morning agendas include settlement approvals.
Executor duties
| Local duty | What Raleigh County asks for |
|---|---|
| Check the death certificate | The office checks the Social Security number and that item 13B shows Raleigh County as the county of residence. Venue is tied to W. Va. Code § 41-5-4 and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4. |
| Bring the original will | Raleigh will not accept a copy. The original will is admitted to record under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10, recorded in the Record Room, and returned after the estate closes. |
| Give full addresses | The questionnaire asks for complete mailing addresses and relationships for beneficiaries, heirs, churches, charities, trustees and guardians of anyone under 18. |
| Get property tax tickets | The county directs families to the Raleigh County Assessor for tax tickets and assessed values before completing the questionnaire. |
| Arrange bond | Bond is governed by W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. Raleigh's questionnaire describes a corporate bond, including the out of state fiduciary rule, and a property bond using another person's West Virginia real estate. |
| Expect step by step charges | The county publishes that fees are paid to the Raleigh County Clerk and that the amount is set at the appointment. The questionnaire says not to fill in the amount on a check or money order until the office sets it. |
| Record claim releases | The Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023 lists $12.00 to record a claim and $12.00 to record a release of claim, so a paid creditor's release should be returned to the office. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Raleigh County
Raleigh County publishes local probate paperwork. The county clerk's Document Center links the WV Estate Appraisement form, and the clerk's website also hosts the county probate questionnaire, probate fee schedule and checklists for estates with and without a will.
| Form or packet | Use | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| WV Estate Appraisement | The appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and related nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 that are used after appointment. | County clerk PDF |
| Probate Questionnaire | The county's six page intake packet covering assets, heirs, bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8, required documents and appointment scheduling. | County clerk PDF posted February 2023 |
| Probate Fee Schedule | Raleigh's itemized probate charges, including recording charges and publication charges under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a. | County clerk PDF posted February 2023 |
| Probate with original will checklist | Checklist for a will estate, including the original will requirement and appointment paperwork under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10. | County clerk PDF posted July 2021 |
| Probate without a will checklist | Checklist for an intestate estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1-4. | County clerk PDF posted July 2021 |
| Consent forms | Raleigh's checklists say consent forms are available from the office. | Ask the probate office at (304) 252-0161. |
West Virginia does not use a statewide numbered court form set for routine estate settlement. The small estate affidavit contents are set by W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2, but Raleigh does not publish a downloadable current small estate affidavit on its website. Ask the probate office for the current packet before relying on an older form.
Fees
West Virginia has no statewide probate filing fee. What you pay the Raleigh County Clerk's office is a set of per document recording charges under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, plus county published probate charges, publication under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, postage and any bond premium under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8.
| Charge | Raleigh County amount | Date and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Will, appointment, appraisement, bond, claim, claim release, settlement, or waiver | $12.00 each | Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023. Each line is $10.00 recording plus a $2.00 document preservation fee. Appraisement is tied to W. Va. Code § 44-1-14. Bond is tied to W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. |
| Additional pages | $1.00 for each page over five | Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023. |
| Letters of administration | $2.50 | Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023. |
| Small estate certification | $2.50 | Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023. Small estate authority is governed by W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. |
| Appraisement publication | $20.00 | Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023. Publication of creditor notice is tied to W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a. |
| Settlement publication | $10.00 | Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023. In an article 3A estate, short form settlement recording and mailing is separately governed by W. Va. Code § 44-3A-4a. |
| Postage | $2.00 for a small estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2; $5.00 for other probate procedures | Raleigh probate fee schedule posted February 2023. |
| Appointment fee range | $12.00 to $250.00 | Raleigh probate questionnaire posted February 2023. The office sets the amount at the appointment based on the probate process required. |
| Justification of Surety | $2.50 | Raleigh recording fee schedule revised June 2025. Relevant when a property bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 uses real estate outside Raleigh County. |
| Copies and certification | $1.50 for the first two pages, $1.00 for each additional page, and $1.00 per document for certification or seal | Raleigh recording fee schedule revised June 2025. |
Payment may be made by cash, check, credit or debit card, or money order payable to the Raleigh County Clerk. The county says not to fill in the amount on a check or money order until the office sets the amount at the appointment.
Because Raleigh publishes a fiduciary supervisor under W. Va. Code § 44-3A, W. Va. Code § 44-3A-42 permits a county commission to authorize a graduated qualification fee capped at $25.00 for gross assets of $10,000 or less, $100.00 up to $50,000, and $175.00 above that, effective July 1, 2023. Raleigh's published probate fee schedule posted February 2023 does not list that charge, so ask the probate office what applies before bringing payment.
Timeline
- Before contacting the office, collect the asset, debt, address and real estate information needed for the Raleigh probate questionnaire.
- Submit the completed questionnaire and all required documents to the Probate Department. Raleigh publishes that it will not schedule an appointment until the packet is complete.
- Allow five to seven business days for the office to respond after receiving the completed packet.
- The appointment of the fiduciary is normally made within 30 days from death, according to Raleigh's checklists. In an intestate estate, W. Va. Code § 44-1-4 uses the same 30 day mark before a creditor or other fit person may be appointed if no distributee applies.
- If the will names no executor or there is no will, Raleigh asks for majority heir consent during the first 30 days after death. On the thirty first day, the county publishes that anyone, including a creditor under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, can be appointed without consent.
- File the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and the nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 within 90 days of qualification.
- In Raleigh's article 3A system, the fiduciary supervisor under W. Va. Code § 44-3A publishes the creditor notice under W. Va. Code § 44-3A-4, and claims are due 60 days from first publication.
- If a short form settlement is used, W. Va. Code § 44-3A-4a requires recording, mailing and a 10 day objection period before the order is entered.
- The Raleigh County Commission holds regular sessions on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. at 116 North Heber Street in Beckley, and each agenda names the next meeting date. The agendas include settlement approvals under the commission's authority in W. Va. Code § 7-1-3.
Local nuance
Raleigh County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The probate office is inside the county clerk's office | Raleigh publishes an Office of the Fiduciary Supervisor under W. Va. Code § 44-3A, housed in the Raleigh County Clerk's office at 215 Main Street. |
| You do not simply walk in | The office reviews the completed questionnaire and documents first, then contacts you to schedule the appointment. It says to allow five to seven business days for a response. |
| The death certificate drives the local venue check | Item 13B must show Raleigh County, or a funeral home letter must state the county of residence. Venue for a will is under W. Va. Code § 41-5-4, and an intestate estate is under W. Va. Code § 44-1-4. |
| Property tax tickets come first | The county directs families to the Raleigh County Assessor at 304-255-9120 for tax tickets and assessed values before the probate appointment. |
| Consent changes after day thirty | Raleigh asks for majority heir consent in the first 30 days where the will names no executor or there is no will. After that, the county publishes that anyone, including a creditor under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, can be appointed without consent. |
| Bond may be corporate or property based | Bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 can be handled through a corporate bond or, for an in state fiduciary, a property bond using another person's West Virginia real estate. Out of state fiduciaries must use a corporate bond, according to Raleigh's questionnaire. |
| Small estate treatment is not automatic | The county's current probate page says a small estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 is at the office's discretion, cannot be used if there is probate real estate, and may not be accepted by every bank or financial institution. |
| The commission approval step happens at a different address | The paperwork is handled at the county clerk's office on Main Street. The Raleigh County Commission, which acts under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, meets at 116 North Heber Street. |
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Raleigh County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | If the home was owned jointly with survivorship, it does not pass through the probate estate, but it belongs on the nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7. If the home was in the decedent's name alone, the spouse completes the Raleigh questionnaire, gets tax tickets and assessed value from the Raleigh County Assessor, and sends the packet to the probate office for scheduling. If there is probate real estate, the small estate route under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 is not available. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts and nonprobate assets before the questionnaire, the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and the bond analysis under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. |
| Out of state adult child with a small estate | Call (304) 252-0161 before traveling. The questionnaire and documents go to the office by email or mail first, and the office then schedules the appointment. If the small estate route under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 might fit, ask the office for the current packet. Raleigh publishes that the route is unavailable if there is probate real estate and that some institutions require a full probate. If appointed while living out of state, the child must use a corporate bond and the bonded amount is doubled under the county's bond instructions and W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. | Sunset helps find the assets that determine whether W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 is even possible and helps the family avoid an unnecessary trip to Beckley before the office has reviewed the packet. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because there is probate real estate, the small estate route under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 is not the path. The parent completes the questionnaire, brings tax tickets and the selling price if the property is to be sold, is appointed at the courthouse, files the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and works through creditor notice and claims under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a before distribution. | Sunset helps find accounts and debts, organize real estate and nonprobate information, and connect the family to a vetted attorney if sale authority, creditor claims, bond or heirship becomes contested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh County Clerk probate office | Appointments, the county probate questionnaire and checklists, probate fee schedule, appraisement form, and questions about an open estate. | (304) 252-0161, fax (304) 252-0163, Raleigh County Courthouse, 215 Main Street, Beckley, WV 25801. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Raleigh County Clerk Record Room and Document Center | Recorded wills, appraisements under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, settlements, copies of recorded estate documents, certified copies and the downloadable WV Estate Appraisement form. | (304) 255-9123, [email protected], 215 Main Street, Beckley. |
| Raleigh County Assessor | Property tax tickets and assessed values requested by the probate office before appointment, plus real property search and tax map tools. | Real estate line 304-255-9120, 215 Main Street, Beckley, WV 25801. |
| Raleigh County Commission | The body with probate jurisdiction under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3 and the agendas and minutes for its regular sessions. | 304-255-9146, [email protected], 116 North Heber Street, Beckley, WV 25801. |
| Legal Aid of West Virginia, Beckley office | Free civil legal help for eligible people. Its Beckley office covers Raleigh County, but its published service list does not say that it handles estate administration. | Apply by phone at 866-255-4370. Beckley office: 115 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV 25801, 304-255-0561 or 800-319-4187. |
| West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Referral to a local lawyer, with the Bar publishing a 30 minute consultation for $25.00 or less, current to the referral service page reviewed August 2026, plus a volunteer lawyer hotline. | (800) 642-3617. Hotline hours are Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; requests also taken online. |
| West Virginia Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal question and answer clinic for qualifying users, answered by volunteer West Virginia lawyers by email. | Online only. |
When to hire an attorney
A lawyer makes sense in Raleigh County when 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 Raleigh County, when the estate is referred to a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3A-5 and W. Va. Code § 44-3, when real estate must be sold to pay debts, when heirs or beneficiaries do not agree, when the bloodline the county questionnaire requires is hard to establish, when bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 has to be arranged from out of state, or when a creditor claim under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a is disputed. Sunset connects families with a vetted probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Raleigh's questionnaire asks for detailed account, vehicle, stock, bond, cash, certificate of deposit, lawsuit and life insurance information before the office schedules the appointment. Sunset helps families build that estate settlement inventory before the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 are due.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information Raleigh asks for, including names, addresses, asset ownership, debts, property tax information and bond details under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8, so the county questionnaire and supporting documents are ready for review.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate involves a will contest under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11, an appeal under W. Va. Code § 58-3-1, a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3, disputed creditor claims under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, out of state bond issues, or a home sale, Sunset can help connect you to a vetted West Virginia probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset gives families a single place to organize estate settlement tasks, find assets and accounts, prepare for the Raleigh County Clerk's office, and decide when legal help is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Raleigh County?
File with the Raleigh County Clerk's office at the Raleigh County Courthouse, 215 Main Street, Beckley, WV 25801. The Raleigh County Commission holds probate jurisdiction under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, and the county clerk's office handles routine estate appointments at the counter.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Raleigh County?
Yes. Raleigh's probate questionnaire says the office will not schedule an appointment until it receives the completed questionnaire and all required documents, and it asks families to allow five to seven business days for a response.
What do I need before the Raleigh County probate office will schedule me?
You need the completed questionnaire, photo identification for the person seeking appointment, the original will if there is one, death certificate information showing Raleigh County as the county of residence under W. Va. Code § 41-5-4 and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4, property tax tickets if there is real estate, and names, addresses and relationships for beneficiaries or heirs.
What does it cost to open an estate in Raleigh County?
Raleigh's probate fee schedule posted February 2023 lists many probate recordings at $12.00 each, including a will, appointment, appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8, claim, settlement and waiver. The county questionnaire posted February 2023 lists appointment fees from $12.00 to $250.00, set by the office at the appointment. Recording charges are tied to W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, and publication is tied to W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a.
Does Raleigh County have its own probate forms?
Yes. The county clerk publishes a WV Estate Appraisement form, a probate questionnaire, a probate fee schedule, a checklist for a will estate and a checklist for an intestate estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1-4. Ask the probate office at (304) 252-0161 for the current packet before using an older handout.
Do I have to post a bond in Raleigh County?
Not always. Bond is governed by W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. Raleigh publishes that bond may be excused where the will or the sole beneficiary rule allows it. If bond is required, Raleigh describes a corporate bond and, for an in state fiduciary, a property bond using another person's West Virginia real estate. An out of state fiduciary must use a corporate bond under the county's instructions.
Can I file a Raleigh County estate online?
No probate e-filing is available through the West Virginia Judiciary for routine estates. Raleigh County estate papers are filed on paper with the county clerk, but the county clerk's probate office accepts the completed questionnaire and supporting documents by email or mail before the appointment.
Can I look up a Raleigh County estate file online?
The Raleigh County Clerk's office does not publish an online estate record search on its website. Estate records are requested through the Record Room in Beckley, in person, by mail, or by email to [email protected]. WVPASS is a circuit court records system and does not contain estate files.
Do I have to travel to Beckley if I live out of state?
Call the probate office at (304) 252-0161 before traveling. Raleigh reviews the questionnaire and documents first, then schedules the appointment. If you are appointed while living out of state, the county publishes that a corporate bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 is required and that the bonded amount is doubled.
Who approves the estate once the paperwork is done?
The Raleigh County Commission, acting under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, enters the confirming order. The estate paperwork is handled at the county clerk's counter on Main Street, while the commission meets at 116 North Heber Street in Beckley.
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.