Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fiduciary Administrative Closures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Monongalia County commissioners hold hearing on administrative estate closures; three estates exempted from closure list
Summary
During a public hearing Sept. 17 the Monongalia County Commission heard objections from relatives of several estates and voted to remove three estates from the county's administrative closure list while approving the remainder for closure.
The Monongalia County Commission held a hearing Sept. 17 on an "order to administratively close" estates that county staff identified as inactive and then voted to remove three estates from the closure list while approving administrative closing for the remaining estates.
County Administrator Renetta McClure opened the hearing and invited anyone with an objection to the planned administrative closures to come forward, state their name and the estate at issue. Several relatives and representatives did so, describing unresolved claims and ongoing probate work.
Resident Tim Buzzo asked that the estate of Shirley J. Buzzo be removed from the closure list, saying past fiduciary proceedings and outstanding issues remained. Michael Lyons and James Reed spoke for the estate of Rhonda Lou Reed, explaining that a creditor claim and missing lien-release paperwork were preventing them from clearing title to a vehicle tied to that estate. Attorney Jeff Arnett (speaking for the record as counsel) requested the estate of William Tennant be left open because the estate remains in litigation and a status hearing was scheduled for Sept. 23.
Commissioners then moved to proceed with administrative closings as presented but to exclude the Shirley J. Buzzo, Rhonda Lou Reed and William Tennant estates from the closure list. A commissioner announced an abstention from the vote on the grounds of being a party to another matter; the motion otherwise carried.
County staff and speakers noted next steps for estates left open: objecting to creditor claims where appropriate and meeting clerk's bond requirements and other probate prerequisites to allow administrators to obtain required paperwork from creditors. The county clarified that the commission's role during the hearing was limited to whether to remove estates from the administrative closure list, not to direct how probate matters should be resolved.
The commission's action: approve administrative closing for the listed estates except for Shirley J. Buzzo, Rhonda Lou Reed and William Tennant, which remain open pending further resolution of claims or litigation.
The hearing record shows public comment from relatives and counsel and the commission's vote to exempt the three named estates while approving the broader administrative closure process for other estates on the list.
