Who values estate property in West Virginia probate?
The personal representative, by statute. W. Va. Code § 44-1-14 directs the representative to appraise the decedent's personal probate property at date-of-death fair market value on the appraisement form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, and expressly permits hiring an expert, paid a reasonable sum from the estate, to assist with valuation.
What filings are due within 90 days in a West Virginia estate?
Two: the Appraisement of the Estate, listing each probate asset with its fair market value, and a separate Nonprobate Inventory covering nonprobate assets such as payable-on-death accounts. Both are due within 90 days of the representative's qualification, a paired requirement few other states codify this explicitly.
What qualifies as a small estate in West Virginia?
Probate personal property totaling $50,000 or less, with West Virginia real estate under $100,000, under the Small Estate Act at W. Va. Code § 44-1A-1. Qualifying estates use simplified collection procedures, and formal appraisals of non-cash personal property can be waived.
What happens after the appraisement is filed in West Virginia?
The county clerk publishes a Notice of Administration, which starts a 60-day creditor claim window, and the estate is referred to a fiduciary commissioner unless the appraisement shows probate assets of $200,000 or less or there is a single competent beneficiary. The appraised personal property total therefore directly controls how much supervision the estate receives.