Cabell County Commission orders two estates to fiduciary commissioners, admits copy of lost will to probate

County Attorney William Watson told the Cabell County Commission on Nov. 12 that two estate matters required formal action. Watson recommended removing the personal representative for the Estate of William Harvey Chafin, saying the named administratrix, Tonia Lynn Porter, is "incapable of dealing with this responsibility due to drug use and the mental state that she is in." The Commission voted unanimously to turn that estate over to a fiduciary commissioner after a motion from Commissioner Kelli Sobonya and a second from Commissioner Jim Morgan.

Watson also said no one had come forward to settle the Estate of Excel Edward Ferguson and recommended turning that estate over to a fiduciary commissioner; the Commission approved the recommendation by motion of Jim Morgan, seconded by Kelli Sobonya, unanimously.

On a related probate matter, attorney Paul Ryker told the Commission that the original will of Winslow G. Terry had been lost and that he had paperwork supporting admission of a copy; Ryker stated the paperwork indicated the will had not been changed. Commissioner Kelli Sobonya moved to allow the copy of the will into probate, Jim Morgan seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The three probate items were accepted as motions on the record; the Commission provided no additional public discussion in the transcript and moved on to the next agenda items.