Back to West Virginia
Wood County, WV Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Wood County information |
|---|---|
| Probate authority | Wood County Commission, through the Wood County Clerk's office (W. Va. Code § 7-1-3). |
| Filing office | Wood County Clerk, probate counter, Room 306, third floor. |
| Courthouse address | Wood County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Parkersburg, WV 26101. |
| Mailing address | Wood County Clerk, P.O. Box 1474, Parkersburg, WV 26102. |
| Phone | (304) 424-1898 for probate. The Record Room is (304) 424-1870. |
| Fax | (304) 424-1861 for probate. |
| [email protected], the clerk's general mailbox. Use the probate phone line for estate questions. | |
| Office hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (304) 424-1898 to schedule an appointment before you come. |
| Filing fee | No single statewide opening charge. Wood County uses per-document charges under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, plus the $20 publication charge for the notice to creditors under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(g), as of August 2026, and the settlement recording charge under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(c). The county publishes a fee schedule and a recording fee calculator, but call the probate line for the current amount. |
| Local forms | Yes. Wood County publishes six probate PDFs, including How to File a Will, the Appraisement Form for ET 6.01 under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, the Affidavit for Small Estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2, and both ancillary affidavits. |
| E-filing | No e-filing for probate. Estate papers are filed on paper with the Wood County Clerk's office, in person at the appointment or by mail to P.O. Box 1474. |
| Record search | No statewide estate search. The Wood County Clerk publishes an online document index whose document types include the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, the qualification, settlements, and small-estate filings under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. Records are also searched in person in Room 103. WVPASS searches circuit court records only. |
| Remote participation | Not published by the Wood County Clerk's office. Most estates never involve a hearing. Ask the clerk's office if one is scheduled. |
| Website | https://woodcountywv.com/county-offices/county-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you call Wood County to schedule the appointment, build the asset and family list. Wood asks you to bring the addresses of all heirs, and the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and the nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 are due back to the Wood County Clerk's office within 90 days of qualification.
Sunset searches more than 2,300 institutions so families can identify accounts, insurance, investments, and other assets before the first Parkersburg visit. That makes estate settlement faster because the bond question under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8, the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and the closing path all depend on knowing what the person owned and owed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
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 Wood County, the papers go to the Wood County Clerk's office at the courthouse in Parkersburg.
The Wood County Clerk publishes one probate counter for the whole county: Room 306 on the third floor of the Wood County Courthouse, 1 Court Square. The county's own instruction is that the estate should be administered in the county where the person lived, and Wood publishes no branch probate counter outside Parkersburg.
If a will was probated in another state but refers to real estate in Wood County, Wood's How to File a Will sheet says to bring an authenticated copy of the will from the county and state where it was probated. That local instruction fits the ancillary real-estate filing route in W. Va. Code § 41-5-13 and W. Va. Code § 44-1-14b.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the asset list and family list. The appraisement required by W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 is due within 90 days of qualification, and Wood asks you to bring the addresses of all heirs to the appointment.
- Get the Wood County forms. Read the county's How to File a Will sheet and download the Appraisement Form, the Affidavit for Small Estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 if the estate qualifies, and the ancillary affidavits if a nonresident owned Wood County real estate.
- Call the probate line at (304) 424-1898 to schedule the appointment. Wood County asks you to call first, and its own sheet says to allow about 30 minutes for the initial visit.
- Bring the original will, a copy of the death certificate or the Social Security number and date of death, and the addresses of all heirs. Wood County keeps the original will, so make a copy before you arrive or ask the office about copying it for a fee.
- Go to Room 306 on the third floor of the Wood County Courthouse, 1 Court Square in Parkersburg. The courthouse is at the corner of Third and Market Streets. Mail later papers to Wood County Clerk, P.O. Box 1474, Parkersburg, WV 26102.
- Prove the will if Wood County requires more than the original document. The county says typed wills require two witnesses. If a typed will does not have an affidavit of witnesses attached, the witnesses come to the office, or if they are not living or cannot be found, two people come to verify the signature. A handwritten will requires two people to come to the office to verify the handwriting and signature.
- Qualify as personal representative. The Wood County Clerk admits the will to record and appoints the executor or administrator under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10 and W. Va. Code § 44-1-4. You take an oath and, unless W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 excuses bond or surety, give bond. Wood says that when there is no will, the administrator needs either a corporate surety bond from an insurance company or a West Virginia property owner may encumber real estate as bond.
- Receive the certificate of qualification. This is the authority document that West Virginia families and banks usually call letters testamentary when there is a will or letters of administration when there is not. Certified copies are what banks and transfer agents accept.
- 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. Wood's page states that the appraisement and inventory form must be filed after the fiduciary is appointed.
- Let the notice and claims period run. The Wood County Clerk publishes the notice to creditors once a week for two successive weeks, and creditors have 60 days from first publication to file claims under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a. The clerk collects the $20 publication charge under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(g), as of August 2026.
- Proceed without a fiduciary commissioner unless one is requested or required. Wood's notices use the article 2 wording: settlement proceeds without reference to a fiduciary commissioner unless a party in interest requests a reference or an unpaid creditor files a claim and good cause is shown under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(a)(10), W. Va. Code § 44-2-1, and W. Va. Code § 44-3.
- Close the estate through the clerk. In Wood County, the article 2 closing document is a waiver of final settlement under W. Va. Code § 44-2-29 or a report of receipts, disbursements, and distribution under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(c). The clerk records and mails it, holds it 10 days for objections, and the Wood County Commission confirms it under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3.
Executor duties
- Bring the original will and copy it first. Wood County keeps the original will, and its own sheet says to make a copy before arriving or ask the office about copying it for a fee.
- Bring the addresses of all heirs. Wood asks for them at the appointment, and the personal representative must mail the notice required by W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a to the spouse, beneficiaries or heirs, and reasonably ascertainable creditors.
- Prove the will if it is not self proving. Wood requires the two witnesses at the office if a typed will lacks an affidavit of witnesses. If the witnesses cannot be found, two people who can verify the signature come instead. A handwritten will requires two people to verify the handwriting and signature.
- Plan for bond when there is no will. Wood publishes that an administrator needs either a corporate surety bond from an insurance company or, for a West Virginia property owner, a bond secured by encumbering real estate. W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 controls when bond or surety is excused.
- Return the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and the nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 to the clerk's office within 90 days of qualification.
- If the decedent owned real estate in more than one county, file an appraisement describing that property in each county where it sits under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, and record a certified copy of the probated will in each county where devised real estate sits under W. Va. Code § 41-5-18.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Wood County
Wood County publishes probate forms on the County Clerk page and repeats them in the county's downloads area. West Virginia does not use a statewide numbered probate form set, so Wood's local PDFs are the practical starting point for estate settlement in Parkersburg.
| Form | How Wood County uses it |
|---|---|
| How to File a Will | Wood County's one page instruction sheet for the first visit. It tells you to bring the original will, a copy of the death certificate or the Social Security number and date of death, and the addresses of all heirs, and to allow about 30 minutes. |
| Appraisement Form | Wood County's hosted appraisement packet for ET 6.01 under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and the nonprobate inventory, ET 6.02, under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7. Wood's copy is an image scan, so use the clerk's instructions and the statute for the deadline. |
| Affidavit for Small Estate | Wood County publishes the current affidavit for the small-estate route under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. The form states that the aggregate fair market value of small assets does not exceed $50,000 under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-1 and requires the successor to swear that the decedent did not own probate real estate. |
| Ancillary Form With Will | Wood County's testate ancillary affidavit for a nonresident decedent who had a foreign will and Wood County real estate, tied to W. Va. Code § 41-5-13. |
| Ancillary Form Without Will | Wood County's intestate ancillary affidavit for a nonresident decedent who owned Wood County real estate, tied to W. Va. Code § 44-1-4 and W. Va. Code § 44-1-14b. |
| Small-estate explanation sheet | Ask the Wood County Clerk's probate line before relying on older explanatory material. The affidavit PDF itself is the Wood County form to use for W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. |
Fees
West Virginia has no single statewide probate filing fee. What you pay the Wood County Clerk's office is a set of per-document recording charges under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, plus the $20 publication charge for the notice to creditors under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(g), as of August 2026, the settlement recording and mailing charge under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(c), and any newspaper cost or bond premium under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8.
| Charge | Wood County note |
|---|---|
| Per-document recording | W. Va. Code § 59-1-10 sets recording charges, including $10 for a document of five pages or fewer, $1 for each additional page, and $5 to administer an oath, as of August 2026. Wood County publishes a fee schedule and an online recording fee calculator, but the published schedule is dated 2017, so call (304) 424-1898 for the current probate total. |
| Notice publication | The clerk collects $20 for the notice to creditors under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(g), as of August 2026. The newspaper's charge is separate. |
| Closing settlement | Wood County follows the article 2 clerk pattern, so the settlement recording and mailing fee is tied to W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(c), as of August 2026. Wood's own fee schedule cites W. Va. Code § 44-2-1 for settlement rows. |
| Copies | Wood County's live page states that copies are $1.50 for the first two pages and $1.00 for each additional page, as of August 2026. Ask the clerk how many certified copies of the certificate of qualification you should buy for banks and transfer agents. |
| Fiduciary commissioner | If the estate is referred to a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3, that commissioner's fee is charged to the estate and is capped at $300 plus expenses under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(a), as of August 2026, unless the personal representative agrees to more or the Wood County Commission has adopted a fee schedule under W. Va. Code § 59-1-9 and W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. |
Wood County publishes different payment rules for different clerk services. Ask the probate line what payment methods the probate counter accepts before you come to Room 306.
Timeline
- Call first. Wood County asks you to call the probate line at (304) 424-1898 to schedule an appointment, and its How to File a Will sheet says to allow about 30 minutes for the initial visit.
- Qualify at the counter in Room 306. The Wood County Clerk admits the will to record under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10 or appoints an administrator for an intestate estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1-4, then issues the certificate of qualification.
- 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.
- The clerk publishes the notice to creditors once a week for two successive weeks, and creditors have 60 days from first publication under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a.
- If no reference is requested and no unpaid creditor claim supports a reference, the estate proceeds without a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(a)(10), W. Va. Code § 44-2-1, and W. Va. Code § 44-3.
- For closing, the clerk records and mails the waiver of final settlement under W. Va. Code § 44-2-29 or the report under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(c), then holds it 10 days for objections.
- The Wood County Commission sits on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. in Room 203, and the clerk's action is confirmed by the commission under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3. The county does not publish an estate calendar or a promised confirmation date.
Local nuance
Wood County-specific considerations
- Use the probate line, not the clerk's general number. Wood County publishes probate in Room 306 with its own phone, (304) 424-1898, and its own fax, (304) 424-1861.
- Call first. The county asks you to schedule an appointment and says to allow about 30 minutes for the initial visit.
- The original will stays with the office. Copy it before the appointment or ask about the office copying it for a fee.
- A handwritten will takes planning. Wood County requires two people to come to the office to verify the handwriting and signature. A typed will without an affidavit of witnesses also requires witness proof at the office.
- When there is no will, Wood County says the administrator needs bond. W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 controls when bond or surety is excused, and Wood publishes two ways to secure a no-will bond: a corporate surety bond from an insurance company or a West Virginia property owner's real estate.
- Estate records are in the Wood County Clerk's online document index. The index can be searched by name and narrowed by document type, including appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, qualification, settlement, and small-estate filings under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. The Record Room in Room 103 is the in-person route.
- The courthouse rooms matter. Estates open in Room 306 on the third floor. Certified copies of birth, death, and probate records are listed by the county in Room 201 on the second floor. Deed and lien books and plats are in Room 103 on the first floor.
- Wood County's own Affidavit for Small Estate is the post July 9, 2025 version for W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2, and it requires the successor to swear that the decedent owned no probate real estate.
- For a nonresident decedent with Wood County real estate, Wood publishes both ancillary affidavits and a separate ancillary notice process under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14b.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Wood County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | If the home was held jointly with survivorship, it does not pass through the estate, but it still belongs on the nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7. If the decedent's name was on the home alone, the estate has probate real property and the small-estate affidavit route under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 is not available. The spouse calls (304) 424-1898, schedules the Room 306 appointment, and brings the original will, a death certificate copy or the Social Security number and date of death, and heir addresses. If the spouse is the sole beneficiary, W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 controls whether surety is required. | Sunset helps identify accounts, debts, real estate, and nonprobate assets before the first appointment, so the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and the nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 are easier to complete. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Plan the Parkersburg visit by phone. Wood asks for an appointment and says to allow about 30 minutes. If there is no will, Wood says the administrator needs bond, and W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 controls surety. If the will is handwritten, or typed without an affidavit of witnesses, Wood needs people at the office to prove it. If the estate qualifies for the small-estate route, Wood publishes the current Affidavit for Small Estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2, with the $50,000 personal-property limit under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-1 and no probate real estate. | Sunset helps the out-of-state child know whether the estate is small enough for W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2, whether there are accounts that need letters, and whether a single trip to Room 306 can be enough. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because probate real estate is involved, the small-estate affidavit route under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2 is closed. The parent is appointed in the ordinary way at Room 306. The real estate goes on the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14. If real estate sits in more than one county, an appraisement describing that property is filed in each county where it sits, and W. Va. Code § 41-5-18 governs recording a certified copy of the probated will in each county where devised real estate sits. Creditors have 60 days from first publication under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a. A sale to pay debts, a dispute, or a creditor claim may lead to a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3, with the default $300 cap under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(a), as of August 2026. | Sunset helps locate mortgages, bank accounts, insurance, and other assets before estate settlement decisions are made, then helps organize the information for the Wood County appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and attorney review if a sale or creditor issue arises. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Wood County Clerk, probate | Opens the estate, admits the will, appoints the executor or administrator, takes the appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, accepts closing papers, and publishes Wood County probate forms. | Room 306, third floor, 1 Court Square, Parkersburg. Phone (304) 424-1898. Fax (304) 424-1861. Mail to P.O. Box 1474, Parkersburg, WV 26102. Website: https://woodcountywv.com/county-offices/county-clerk/ |
| Wood County Clerk Record Room | Provides access to deed, lien, and plat records from 1799 to the present and helps locate indexes and books. The office states that it does not perform title searches. Copies are $1.50 for the first two pages and $1.00 for each additional page, as of August 2026. | Room 103, first floor, 1 Court Square, Parkersburg. Phone (304) 424-1870. |
| Wood County Clerk Online Document Inquiry | Searches recorded documents by name and can narrow by document type. The document types include appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, qualification, settlements, and small-estate filings under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. Coverage by year was not established. | https://inquiries.woodcountywv.com/legacywebinquiry/default.aspx |
| Legal Aid of West Virginia, Parkersburg office | Free civil legal help for people who qualify. Its published program list does not name probate, so ask whether your estate settlement issue is something it can review. | Helpline 866-255-4370. Parkersburg office, 327 Ninth Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101. Phone (304) 485-7522 or 800-675-7970. Website: https://legalaidwv.org/about-us/our-locations/ |
| West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service | Referral to a West Virginia lawyer through the State Bar's online referral form, with practice areas including estate planning and real estate law. | (304) 553-7220. Website: https://wvlawyerreferral.org/go |
| West Virginia Free Legal Answers | Online civil legal question clinic for qualifying users. Volunteer West Virginia lawyers answer by email, and the site states that volunteers cannot call you or represent you in a proceeding. | https://wv.freelegalanswers.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
Consider a West Virginia probate attorney if someone may file a will contest under W. Va. Code § 41-5-11, if an appeal is needed under W. Va. Code § 58-3-1, if a Wood County estate is referred to a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3 and W. Va. Code § 44-2-1, if real estate must be sold to pay debts, if a handwritten will or missing witnesses make proof difficult, or if an out-of-state personal representative needs help arranging bond under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. Sunset connects you to a vetted West Virginia probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches for financial accounts, insurance, investments, and other assets so the Wood County appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 and nonprobate inventory under W. Va. Code § 11-11-7 are built from real information, not guesses.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for estate settlement, including the asset list, debt list, heir addresses, and Wood County form path, so the Room 306 appointment can focus on qualification and the certificate of qualification.
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, sale of real estate, creditor issues under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a, or a fiduciary commissioner under W. Va. Code § 44-3, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted West Virginia attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset for estate settlement support, asset discovery, document organization, and attorney matching without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Wood County?
File with the Wood County Clerk's probate counter in Room 306 on the third floor of the Wood County Courthouse, 1 Court Square, Parkersburg, WV 26101. West Virginia places probate jurisdiction with the county commission through the clerk under W. Va. Code § 7-1-3, and Wood County's venue follows where the person lived under W. Va. Code § 41-5-4.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Wood County?
Yes. Wood County asks you to call the probate line at (304) 424-1898 to schedule an appointment. The county's How to File a Will sheet says to allow about 30 minutes for the initial visit.
What do I need to bring to the Wood County Clerk's office?
Wood County says to bring the original will, a copy of the death certificate or the Social Security number and date of death, and the addresses of all heirs. The original will stays in the probate office. The clerk admits the will to record under W. Va. Code § 41-5-10.
What does it cost to open an estate in Wood County?
There is no single statewide opening charge. Wood County charges per-document recording amounts under W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, the $20 notice publication charge under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14a(g), as of August 2026, the settlement recording charge under W. Va. Code § 44-2-1(c), and any newspaper cost or bond premium under W. Va. Code § 44-1-8. Wood publishes a fee schedule and a recording fee calculator, but call (304) 424-1898 for the current probate amount.
Does Wood County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Wood County publishes six probate PDFs on the County Clerk page, including How to File a Will, the Appraisement Form for ET 6.01 under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, the Affidavit for Small Estate under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2, and both ancillary affidavits.
Can I file a Wood County estate online?
No e-filing is published for probate. West Virginia Judiciary e-filing is for appellate, circuit, and family filings, not routine estate papers. Wood County estate papers are filed on paper with the Wood County Clerk's office, either at the appointment or by mail to P.O. Box 1474, Parkersburg, WV 26102.
Can I look up a Wood County estate record online?
Wood County publishes an Online Document Inquiry through the Wood County Clerk. It lets you search recorded documents by name and document type, and its document types include appraisement under W. Va. Code § 44-1-14, qualification, settlement, and small-estate filings under W. Va. Code § 44-1A-2. WVPASS is different: it searches circuit court records, not estate files.
Do I have to travel to Parkersburg if I live out of state?
Plan on a Wood County counter appointment if you are qualifying as executor or administrator. Call (304) 424-1898 first. Later recorded documents can be mailed to the Wood County Clerk. If there is no will, Wood County says the administrator needs bond, and W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 controls bond and surety issues.
Do I have to post a bond in Wood County?
Bond is required by default under W. Va. Code § 44-1-6 unless W. Va. Code § 44-1-8 excuses bond or surety. Wood County states that when there is no will, the administrator needs either a corporate surety bond from an insurance company or, for a West Virginia property owner, a bond secured by encumbering real estate.
What happens with a handwritten will in Wood County?
Wood County says a handwritten will requires two people to come to the office to verify the handwriting and signature. A typed will without an affidavit of witnesses also requires witness proof at the office. The clerk's authority to admit the will to record comes from W. Va. Code § 41-5-10.
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.