State guide
West Virginia
West Virginia’s adult guardianship and conservatorship cases are filed with the circuit clerk, and the petition fee is set directly in the Guardianship and Conservatorship Act at $110. The judiciary also publishes a dedicated guardianship/conservatorship forms set, and appointed guardians or conservators must complete mandated education.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions are filed with the clerk of the circuit court, and the circuit court has jurisdiction.
- What it's called
- guardian (person) and conservator (property/financial affairs).
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $110 petition filing fee.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- No supported decision-making statute was found on the official pages searched; the Act requires the court to consider less restrictive alternatives, including advance directives.
- Law
- W. Va. Code Chapter 44A (West Virginia Guardianship and Conservatorship Act).
Official resources in West Virginia
Official overview page for filing a petition, required training, and related guardianship/conservatorship resources.
Official statewide court forms list including GC01 petition, GC04 evaluation report, GC11 training affidavit, GC30 accounting, and GC31 guardian report.
Official county probate office page with guardian forms and contact information for local estates and guardianship-related assistance.
Key facts for West Virginia
- Petitions are filed with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the alleged protected person resides or is located in a facility.
- The filing fee for a guardianship or conservatorship petition is $110.
- State court forms include GC01 Petition for the Appointment of a Guardian / Conservator and GC04 Evaluation Report of Licensed Physician / Psychologist.
- The court must consider less restrictive alternatives, including advance directives.
- Appointed guardians or conservators must complete mandated education and file an affidavit of completion.
County court guardianship pages in West Virginia
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County Circuit Clerk’s Office Kanawha | Charleston | Not published* | Circuit clerk office that keeps circuit court records, including guardianship matters, and provides procedural assistance to pro se litigants. |
| Kanawha County Fiduciary & Probate Department Kanawha | Charleston | Not published* | County fiduciary/probate office with guardian forms and assistance on estates and guardianship matters; appointments requested by phone. |
| West Virginia Judiciary Mental Hygiene Division / Guardianship Training | Charleston | Not published* | Official state court resource for petition guidance, training, and forms. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Start with GC01 and the required physician or psychologist evaluation report before filing.
- Budget for the $110 petition fee unless you qualify to proceed without paying costs.
- If you are in Kanawha County, review the local Fiduciary & Probate guardian forms as well as the statewide judiciary forms.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from West Virginia's population center, for comparison only):
- Allegheny County Orphans’ Court, Pennsylvania · about 117 miles
- Franklin County Probate Court - Guardianship, Ohio · about 150 miles
- Franklin County Probate Court - Guardianship Investigators, Ohio · about 150 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.West Virginia Judiciary: Mental Hygiene & Guardians
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: County Commissioners' Association of West Virginia →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the West Virginia page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.