While there have been some rumblings about handling digital assets in the probate process in West Virginia, there has been no legislation enacted to give specific guidance. Do you need a digital property estate plan? And what is digital property anyway?

A trust is a common tool used to manage or pass on a person's assets. In West Virginia, as elsewhere, trusts are used for a variety of purposes, such as tax planning, providing financial security for one or more trust beneficiaries, or donating to a charity; however, not all trusts are the same. The purpose or type of a trust—particularly a West Virginia irrevocable trust— may determine who can be a beneficiary or even whether it can be changed after it is created.

As an estate planning attorney, I am always surprised by the number of friends and family who have not yet completed their estate planning.  For me, it seems like such an important and natural part of adulthood.  One evening as I watched MythBusters, I began to think of some of the myths I encounter in my profession.  If you’re one of those people who believes that estate plans are not for everyone, read on to learn the reasons why everyone needs an estate plan.

As of July 7, 2017, employers have much more leeway to conduct workplace drug testing in WV for illegal drugs--but only if employers also institute new procedural safeguards. That is because on April 8, 2017 the House of Delegates passed the West Virginia Safer Workplaces Act.

Employers and insurers should take note of a West Virginia Supreme Court decision involving permanent total disability thresholds. In March 2017, the Court issued its decision in Cooper v. Appalachian Power Company, determining that the Rule 20 spine impairment tables must be used when calculating whole body medical impairment ratings in WV.