Commission moves to revoke probate in estate of Cheryl L. Vanneman after petition and counter-recommendations

The Monongalia County Commission on Feb. 26 considered petitions and counter-recommendations in the estate of Cheryl L. Vanneman and took two separate recorded motions concerning the probate order.

Attorney Jeffrey L. Arnett, identified in the meeting as the executor named in the Montague County probate record, explained that petitioners claimed the decedent’s residence was in South Carolina and sought to revoke the county’s probate order to avoid competing administrations. Arnett said no assets were found in West Virginia and that he would waive executor fees if necessary.

Arnett said the petitioners had asked that the executor not receive compensation and that any assets collected be transferred to the South Carolina administration; he reported there were no funds to transfer. He also said a death certificate from South Carolina had been presented to open the Montague County probate record.

Following the explanation, the commission took two motions. First, a motion "to deny the petition to revoke probate order" was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners then took a second, separate motion "to revoke the probate order in the estate of Cheryl L. Vanneman," which was moved, seconded and also approved by voice vote.

Both motions were recorded as passed in the meeting's minutes. The transcript does not include further explanation reconciling why the commission approved both denying a petition to revoke and then approved revocation of the probate order in separate motions; the commission did not elaborate further on the record at the meeting.

The commission chair resumed the meeting after the votes and no additional directions or implementation steps were described on the public record.

This item was handled during the fiduciary matters portion of the Feb. 26 meeting.