West Virginia Code § 44-5-3

Appointment of nonresident; bond; service of notice and process; fees;
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
penalty.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no individual who is a nonresident of this
state, nor any banking institution which does not maintain a main office or branch office
within this state nor any corporation having its principal office or place of business outside
this state, may be appointed or act as executor, administrator, curator, testaementary
guardian, guardian or conservator in this state, except that:
(1) An individual who is a nonresident of this state may be appointed ancillary administrator
of a nonresident decedent's assets situate in this state if such nounresident individual is
lawfully acting as executor in said decedent's state of domicile and submits letters of
probate authenticated by the probate authorities of the decetdent's state of domicile to the
clerk of the county commission of any county of this state wherein ancillary administration is
sought;
(2) An individual who is a nonresident of this state lmay be appointed ancillary administrator
of a nonresident decedent's assets situate in tshis state if such nonresident individual is
acting as administrator in said decedent's state of domicile and submits letters of
administration authenticated by the probate authorities of the decedent's state of domicile to
the clerk of the county commission ogf any county of this state wherein ancillary
administration is sought;
(3) An individual who is a nonresident of this state may be appointed and act as
testamentary guardian of a nonresident infant and thereby exercise dominion and control
over such nonresident infant's assets situate in this state upon submission of authenticated
documentation that such nonresident testamentary guardian was so appointed at the place
of domicile of the nonresident infant. Such authenticated documentation shall be submitted
to the clerk of the county commission of any county of this state wherein assets belonging to
such nonresident infant are situate;
(4) An individual who is a nonresident of this state and who is named executor by a resident
decedent may qualify and act as executor in this state;
(5) An individual who is a nonresident of this state may be appointed and act as
administrator of a resident decedent's assets in this state if appointed in accordance with the
provisions of section four, article one of this chapter;
(6) An individual who is a nonresident of this state may be appointed as the testamentary
guardian of a resident infant if appointed in accordance with the provisions of section one,
article ten of this chapter; and
(7) An individual who is a nonresident of this state may be appointed as guardian or
conservator of a resident incompetent: Provided, That such appointment is made in
accordance with the provisions of article two, chapter forty-four-a of this code and if such
nonresident individual may otherwise qualify as guardian or conservator.
(b) Nonresident individuals enumerated in subsection (a) of this section shall give bond with
corporate surety thereon, qualified to do business in this state, and the amount of such bond
shall not be less than double the value of the personal assets and double the value of any
real property authorized to be sold or double the value of any rents and profits from any real
property which the nonresident individual is authorized to receive, except theat:
(1) Any nonresident individual enumerated in subsection (a) of this section who is the
spouse, parent, sibling, lineal descendent or sole beneficiary of a resident or nonresident
decedent shall give bond with corporate surety thereon qualifiedu to do business in this state,
with such penalty as may be fixed pursuant to the provisions of sections seven or eight,
article one of this chapter, as approved by the clerk of the cotunty commission;
(2) Where the terms of a decedent's will directs that a anonresident individual enumerated in
subdivisions (1), (3), (4) and (6), subsection (a) of this section named in a decedent's will
shall not give bond or give bond at a specified amolunt, it shall not be required or shall be
required only to the extent required under thes terms of the will, unless at the time the will is
admitted to record or at any time subsequently, on the application of any person interested,
or from the knowledge of the commission or clerk admitting the will to record, it is deemed
proper that greater bond be given. g
(c) When a nonresident individual is appointed as executor, administrator, testamentary
guardian, guardian or conservator pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) of this
section, said individual thereby constitutes the clerk of the county commission wherein such
appointment was made as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact upon whom may be
served all notices and process in any action or proceeding against him or her as executor,
administrator, testamentary guardian, guardian or conservator or with respect to such
estate, and such qualification shall be a manifestation of said nonresident individual's
agreement that any notice or process, which is served in the manner hereinafter provided in
thisW subsection, shall be of the same legal force and validity as though such nonresident was
personally served with notice and process within this state. Service shall be made by leaving
the original and two copies of any notice or process together with a fee of $5 with the clerk
of such county commission. The fee of $5 shall be deposited with the county treasurer. Such
clerk shall thereupon endorse upon one copy thereof the day and hour of service and shall
file such copy in his or her office and such service shall constitute personal service upon
such nonresident: Provided, That the other copy of such notice or process shall be forthwith
sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, deliver to addressee only, by
said clerk or to such nonresident at the address last furnished by him or her to said clerk
and either: (1) Such nonresident's return receipt signed by him or her; or (2) the registered
or certified mail bearing thereon the stamp of the post office department showing that
delivery therefore was refused by such nonresident is appended to the original notice or
process filed therewith in the office of the clerk of the county commission from which such
notice or process was issued. No notice or process may be served on such clerk of the county
commission or accepted by him or her less than thirty days before the return date thereof.
The clerk of such county commission shall keep a record in his or her office of all such
notices and processes and the day and hour of service thereof. The provision for service of
notice or process herein provided is cumulative and nothing herein contained shall be
construed as bar to service by publication where proper or the service of notice or process in
any other lawful mode or manner.
(d) The personal estate of a resident decedent, infant or incompetent may neot be removed
from this state until the inventory or appraisement of that resident decedent's, infant's or
incompetent's assets have been filed and any new or additional bond rerquired to satisfy the
penalty specified in subsection (b) of this section has been furnished. The liability of a
nonresident executor, administrator, testamentary guardian, guardian or conservator and of
any such surety shall be joint and several and a civil action on any such bond may be
instituted and maintained against the surety, notwithstandintg any other provision of this
code to the contrary, even though no civil action has been instituted against such
nonresident.
(e) Any such nonresident who removes from this state assets administered in and situate in
this state without complying with the provisiosns of this section, the provisions of article
eleven of this chapter or any other requirement pertaining to fiduciaries generally, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or
confined in the county jail for not mgore than one year, or, in the discretion of the court, by
both such fine and confinement.
(f) If a nonresident appointed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section fails or refuses to file
an accounting required Lby this chapter, and the failure continues for two months after the
due date, he or she may, upon notice and hearing, be removed or subjected to any other
appropriate order by the county commission, and if his or her failure or refusal to account
continues for six months, he or she shall be removed by the county commission.

‹ Prev All West Virginia sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.