Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in West Virginia
Open to public?
Are wills, trusts, etc available to the public to view? Say I wanted to see the will of my deceased neighbor, could I and where would I go to view it?
Asked on 3/16/03, 9:12 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Zimmerman
Zimmerman Law Office
Re: Open to public?
Once admitted to probate, wills are public records. If the will contains a trust, it is also public record. Intervivos trusts, trusts made by a person in his or her lifetime are normally not recorded and are kept private. They could be recorded and must be recorded (or at least an abstract of trust) if real estate is to be conveyed by the trustee.
Answered on 3/17/03, 10:10 am