Multiple probate estates opened in McDowell County, claims due January

A formal public notice posted with the McDowell County Clerk's Office on November 17, 2025 announces that multiple estates have been opened for probate in McDowell County. The notice, published again during the county publication cycle, lists the estates and the individuals appointed to administer or execute each estate, explains how and where interested parties may file claims or objections, and cites the applicable West Virginia Code sections that govern probate procedure.

The estates named in the notice include Clarence Hughes with Lisa Hughes serving as administrator, Dolly Davis with Susan Michelle Sparks as executrix, Catherine Kelly with Jimmy Lee Kelly as administrator, Gary O'Dell Lowe with Donna Jean Lowe Chandler as administratrix, Beatrice Maxine England with Dianna Sue Romans as executrix, Woodrow Kirk with Robert Burgess Kirk as administrator, Katherine Dicie Baker with Melissa Coleman as administratrix, and Glen Allen Rotenberry with Clifford F. Rotenberry as executor. The notice instructs creditors, distributees and legatees to present their claims in accordance with the procedures set forth and provides deadlines for objections.

Under the schedule in the notice, the first publication occurred November 17, 2025 and the deadline for filing claims is January 16, 2026. The notice also states that settlement of the estates will proceed without appointment of a fiduciary commissioner unless such an appointment is timely requested according to the procedures described. Interested parties are directed to file any claims or objections at the McDowell County Clerk's Office, where more information and the official filings are available.

For McDowell County residents this notice has direct implications. Families named in the filings will move into formal estate administration, which affects distribution of property, resolution of debts, and potential transfer of real property. Local businesses or service providers that extended credit to any of the decedents should review their records and consider filing timely claims. The absence of a fiduciary commissioner unless requested may streamline settlement, but it also places greater emphasis on claimants meeting statutory deadlines and following the clerk's filing requirements.

The probate process follows provisions of West Virginia law and the notice signals the start of formal legal steps that will determine how assets and obligations are resolved. Residents with questions about specific claims or their rights under the notice are advised to consult the McDowell County Clerk's Office or legal counsel to ensure compliance with the January 16, 2026 deadline.