Probate in Marion County

Probate Court Record

Marion County Circuit Court

Marion County · Twentieth Judicial Circuit

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

Marion County Courthouse, 219 Adams Street, Room 211, Fairmont, WV 26554

Filing in person

Appointment required

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Marion County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Marion County? →Settling an estate in Marion County →

Probate Firms Serving Marion County

Serves Kanawha County from Charleston, with West Virginia offices in Martinsburg, Morgantown and Parkersburg. Its Private Client Services lawyers advise executors and trustees through estate and trust administration, handle estate and gift tax matters, and represent fiduciaries and beneficiaries in will and trust contests. Founded in 1920.

Since 1920Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+7

Serves Monongalia County from Clay Street in Morgantown. Partner Joshua S. Rogers handles probate and litigates will contests, will and trust construction actions and probate disputes, and the firm's private client group advises executors and trustees on estate administration and estate tax. Rogers conducts the statewide probate training for West Virginia's fiduciary supervisors and county clerks.

Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+3

Serves Monongalia County from Morgantown, with additional offices in Charleston and Wheeling. Guides executors and trustees through probate filings, trust administration and distribution, and represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in will contests, trust disputes and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Counsel Richard R. Marsh focuses on trust and estate planning, administration and litigation.

Since 1991Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+3

Serves Monongalia County from Morgantown, with a second office in Charleston. Guides executors and trustees through probate, estate and trust administration and estate tax returns, and represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in will contests and trust disputes. Formed by the merger of Gianola Barnum & Jecklin and Lewis Glasser.

Since 1985Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+6

Serves Hancock County from Weirton, with offices in Wheeling and Clarksburg. Handles estate administration and probate alongside elder law, including nursing-home Medicaid eligibility, special needs trusts and transfer-on-death deeds, and an accredited VA attorney assists veterans seeking long-term care benefits.

Free consultationEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs PlanningAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planning

Serves Monongalia County from Morgantown, with a second office in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and practices estate planning and elder law only. Walks families through probate and helps successor trustees secure trust assets, pay taxes and make distributions after the grantor's death. Also handles long-term-care Medicaid and VA Improved Pension applications.

Free consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planning+2

All 18 West Virginia probate firms serving Marion County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in West Virginia

Free West Virginia forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for West Virginia.

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Revocable Living Trust

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Last Will and Testament

In West Virginia, a will is signed before 2W.Va. Code § 41-1-3Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavitW.Va. Code § 41-1-3Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.

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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in West Virginia

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in West Virginia: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool.

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in West Virginia costs an estimated $30,331W.Va. Code § 44-4-12 (attorney fees as reasonable expenses of the fiduciary, allowed by the fiduciary commissioner; no statutory schedule); § 44-3A-42(c) (fee vouchers); § 44-2-1(a) ($300 ceiling)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.6%Modeled estimate under W.Va. Code § 44-4-12 (attorney fees as reasonable expenses of the fiduciary, allowed by the fiduciary commissioner; no statutory schedule); § 44-3A-42(c) (fee vouchers); § 44-2-1(a) ($300 ceiling): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source to 2.6%Modeled estimate under W.Va. Code § 44-4-12 (attorney fees as reasonable expenses of the fiduciary, allowed by the fiduciary commissioner; no statutory schedule); § 44-3A-42(c) (fee vouchers); § 44-2-1(a) ($300 ceiling): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in West Virginia: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysW. Va. Code § 44-1-14Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 2 monthsW. Va. Code §§ 44-1-14a, 44-2-4, 44-2-21, 44-2-26Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

West Virginia sets executor compensation by statute — about $20,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 4.0%W.Va. Code § 44-4-12a(a) (5% first $100K, 4% to $400K, 3% to $800K, 2% above $800K, on personal estate and real estate sold); §§ 44-4-12a(b) (unsold real estate 1%), 44-4-12a(d), 44-4-12a(f)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.

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Do I Need Probate?

In West Virginia, estates with personal property of $50,000W.Va. Code § 44-1A-2Verified Sep 9, 2026View source or less use the Small Estate AffidavitW.Va. Code § 44-1A-2Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, 60 daysW.Va. Code § 44-1A-2Verified Sep 9, 2026View source after death, a court filing short of full probate.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In West Virginia, the 2 monthsW.Va. Code § 44-1-14a(a)(7) (sixty days from the date of first publication); § 44-3A-4(b) (the same sixty days in fiduciary-supervisor counties)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source period after first publication of the creditor notice protects a representative who distributes after it; late claims can still reach undistributed assets.

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Can I Self-File Probate?

West Virginia has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableW.Va. Code § 44-12-1 (clerk of the county commission admits wills and qualifies executors and administrators in vacation, ex parte); § 44-1-4(a) (the county commission or its clerk during recess)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.

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