Estate plan

West Virginia

Everything to plan your estate in West Virginia: execution requirements, the documents we generate, statutory citations, and the exact wording our generators insert.

Plan your West Virginia estate in 20 minutes

Will, living trust, durable power of attorney, and healthcare directive. All four documents, all valid in West Virginia, all for $29/year.

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West Virginia content last reviewed May 18, 2026.

Will

2W

Trust

POA

N

HC Directive

2W + N

E-will

Not adopted

RON

Limited

Since 2021, not all documents

ROW

Not allowed

Remote online witnessing

Community property

No

Minimum age

18

NW + N = N witnesses + notarizationNW = N witnesses, no notarizationN = notarization, no witnesses = no formal requirements
1

Will

W. Va. Code §41-1-1 et seq.

Witnesses: 2 required

Two competent witnesses must be present at the same time and sign in the presence of the testator and each other

Witnesses sign together: Required

West Virginia requires the attesting witnesses to sign in each other's presence; signing within a reasonable time of one another is not sufficient.

Notarization: Recommended

Not legally required, but recommended for self-proving affidavit

Holographic will: Valid

Handwritten wills without witnesses are recognized in West Virginia

Self-proving affidavit: Available

Allows the will to be admitted to probate without witness testimony

ViewWitness disqualification / interested-witness rule
W. Va. Code §41-2-1: an interested witness does not invalidate the will; the witness remains competent, but the devise or bequest to that witness (or to the witness's spouse) is void, except up to the amount of the witness's intestate share if the will is not established
2

Living Trust

Witnesses: None required

No formal execution requirements beyond settlor signature; notarization strongly recommended when funding real property

Notarization: Recommended

Not legally required for the trust document, but needed to transfer real property

3

Durable Power of Attorney

Witnesses: None required

No witnesses required for power of attorney

Notarization: Required

Notarization is required for a valid durable power of attorney

State-specific notes

Acknowledged before a notary public. W. Va. Code §39B-1-105
Durability is presumed unless the instrument expressly provides that it is terminated by the incapacity of the principal. W. Va. Code §39B-1-104
ViewStatutory warning notice
IMPORTANT INFORMATION (W. Va. Code §39B-3-101) This power of attorney authorizes another person (your agent) to make decisions concerning your property for you (the principal). Your agent will be able to make decisions and act with respect to your property (including your money) whether or not you are able to act for yourself. The meaning of authority over subjects listed on this form is explained in the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, §39B-1-101 et seq. of this code. This power of attorney does not authorize the agent to make health care decisions for you. You should select someone you trust to serve as your agent. Unless you specify otherwise, generally the agent's authority will continue until you die or revoke the power of attorney or the agent resigns or is unable to act for you. Your agent is entitled to reasonable compensation unless you state otherwise in the special instructions. This form provides for designation of one agent. If you wish to name more than one agent you may name a coagent in the Special Instructions. Coagents are not required to act together unless you include that requirement in the Special Instructions. If your agent is unable or unwilling to act for you, your power of attorney will end unless you have named a successor agent. You may also name a second successor agent. This power of attorney becomes effective immediately unless you state otherwise in the Special Instructions. If you have questions about the power of attorney or the authority you are granting to your agent, you should seek legal advice before signing this form.
ViewAgent acknowledgment wording
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR AGENT (W. Va. Code §39B-3-101) Agent's Duties. When you accept the authority granted under this power of attorney, a special legal relationship is created between you and the principal. This relationship imposes upon you legal duties that continue until you resign or the power of attorney is terminated or revoked. You must: (1) Do what you know the principal reasonably expects you to do with the principal's property or, if you do not know the principal's expectations, act in the principal's best interest; act in good faith; (2) Do nothing beyond the authority granted in this power of attorney; and (3) Disclose your identity as an agent whenever you act for the principal by writing or printing the name of the principal and signing your own name as "agent." Unless the special instructions in this power of attorney state otherwise, you must also: (1) Act loyally for the principal's benefit; (2) Avoid conflicts that would impair your ability to act in the principal's best interest; (3) Act with care, competence, and diligence; (4) Keep a record of all receipts, disbursements, and transactions made on behalf of the principal; (5) Cooperate with any person that has authority to make health care decisions for the principal to do what you know the principal reasonably expects or, if you do not know the principal's expectations, to act in the principal's best interest; and attempt to preserve the principal's estate plan if you know the plan and preserving the plan is consistent with the principal's best interest. Termination of Agent's Authority. You must stop acting on behalf of the principal if you learn of any event that terminates this power of attorney or your authority under this power of attorney. Events that terminate a power of attorney or your authority to act under a power of attorney include: (1) death of the principal; (2) the principal's revocation of the power of attorney or your authority; (3) the occurrence of a termination event stated in the power of attorney; (4) the purpose of the power of attorney is fully accomplished; or (5) if you are married to the principal, a legal action is filed with a court to end your marriage or for your legal separation, unless the Special Instructions in this power of attorney state that such an action will not terminate your authority. Liability of Agent. The meaning of the authority granted to you is defined in the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, §39B-1-101 et seq. of this code. If you violate the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, as set forth in §39B-1-101 et seq. of this code, or act outside the authority granted, you may be liable for any damages caused by your violation. If there is anything about this document or your duties that you do not understand, you should seek legal advice.
4

Combined Medical Power of Attorney and Living Will

W. Va. Code §16-30-1 et seq.

Witnesses: 2 required (plus notary)

West Virginia requires both 2 witnesses and notarization

Notarization: Required (with witnesses)

West Virginia requires both witnesses and notarization for a valid healthcare directive

State-specific notes

Requires both two witnesses AND a notary. W. Va. Code §16-30-4
Under §16-30-4(b), a witness may not be (1) the person who signed for the principal at direction, (2) related to the principal by blood or marriage, (3) entitled to any portion of the principal's estate under any will or codicil of the principal, (4) directly financially responsible for the principal's medical care, (5) the attending physician, or (6) the principal's medical power of attorney representative or successor representative
ViewWitness disqualification recital
W. Va. Code §16-30-4(b): a witness may not be (1) the person who signed for the principal at direction, (2) related to the principal by blood or marriage, (3) entitled to any portion of the principal's estate under any will or codicil of the principal, (4) directly financially responsible for the principal's medical care, (5) the attending physician, or (6) the principal's medical power of attorney representative or successor representative
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6 more documents with a subscription

$29/year unlocks the documents below alongside the four free ones above. Your answers and documents are saved privately to your account, encrypted in your browser, so you can revise them any time life changes.

Disposition of Remains Authorization

Names the agent who controls funeral, burial, or cremation decisions, with optional preferences.

HIPAA Authorization

Stand-alone PHI release that survives death for the period you specify, separate from the in-life authorization in your healthcare directive.

Nomination of Conservator

Pre-nominates the person you want a court to appoint if a conservator (or guardian of the estate) is ever needed.

Business Succession Declaration

Identifies your interests in any closely-held businesses and how they should be transferred or wound down.

Real-Estate Retitling Checklist

Step-by-step instructions for transferring real-property deeds into your trust so the trust actually controls those assets.

Letter of Instruction

Non-binding personal note to your executor and family: where to find documents, account access, funeral wishes, and other practical guidance.

Free vs. paid

Free
Paid
All 4 state-specific documents
State-specific signing guide
Download as PDF, print forever
Secure online storage
Covers real estate, business, digital, and funeral wishes
Disposition of remains authorization
Standalone HIPAA authorization
Nomination of conservator
Business succession declaration
Real-estate retitling checklist
Special needs trust provisions
Letter of instruction, pre-filled and editable
Edit anytime
Annual review reminder
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Electronic will status

West Virginia has not adopted electronic will legislation. A traditional paper will with physical signatures is required.

Digital assets access

West Virginia has adopted RUFADAA (2018). This is the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, which lets your executor, trustee, or agent access your email, social media, cryptocurrency wallets, cloud storage, and other digital accounts after death or incapacity.

To take advantage of RUFADAA, your will, trust, or power of attorney must explicitly grant authority to access digital assets. Without explicit authorization, service providers can deny access even to a court-appointed executor.

Remote online notarization (RON)

West Virginia authorized RON in 2021.

Will

Not allowed

Trust

Allowed

POA

Allowed

Remote online witnessing (ROW)

West Virginia does not allow remote online witnessing for estate planning documents. Witnesses must be physically present when you sign.

Will

Not allowed

Trust

Not allowed

POA

Not allowed

HC Directive

Not allowed

This information is general in nature and not legal advice. Laws change. Consult a licensed estate planning attorney in West Virginia for guidance specific to your situation.

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