Signing checklist for West Virginia

The signing steps in West Virginia law, step by step. Pick your documents to see them.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Short answer

This checklist lists the signing rules in West Virginia law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

Financial power of attorney: Notarized
Health care directive: Notarized and signed in front of two witnesses

Financial power of attorney: West Virginia

Choose your form State of West Virginia Statutory Form Power of Attorney. You do not have to use it. You do not have to use this form, but banks' duty to accept a power of attorney applies only to an acknowledged statutory form power of attorney. The form ends with a signature and notary acknowledgment block. Official text
Law: W. Va. Code §§ 39B-3-101, 39B-1-120
Sign it Signed by you, or in your conscious presence by another person you direct to sign your name.
Law: W. Va. Code § 39B-1-105
Notary or witnesses Sign the power of attorney and acknowledge it before a notary public (or another official authorized to take acknowledgments).
Law: W. Va. Code § 39B-1-105
The agent signs too No signed acceptance is required. An agent accepts by acting as agent or by other conduct showing acceptance.
Law: W. Va. Code § 39B-1-105
If you sign electronically A photocopy or electronically transmitted copy of a power of attorney has the same effect as the original, unless another statute says otherwise.
Law: W. Va. Code § 39B-1-105
If it may be used for real estate A notice of termination of a power of attorney can be filed with the clerk of the county commission where real property is located; after that, good-faith reliance does not protect a conveyance of that property.

Health care directive: West Virginia

Choose your form State of West Virginia Living Will; Medical Power of Attorney; Combined Medical Power of Attorney and Living Will. You do not have to use it. Official text
Law: W. Va. Code § 16-30-4
Sign it In writing and dated, signed by you (or by another person in your presence at your express direction if you are physically unable).
Law: W. Va. Code § 16-30-4(a), (b)
Notary or witnesses Sign and date the living will, medical power of attorney or combined form in front of two qualified adult witnesses, who also sign. The witnesses' signatures and attestations must be acknowledged before a notary public (the statutory forms' notary certificate covers you and both witnesses). Both the witnesses and the notary are required.
Law: W. Va. Code § 16-30-4(a), (b)
Who cannot witness Two or more witnesses at least 18 years old must see you sign and must sign and attest; their signatures and attestations must be acknowledged before a notary public. A witness cannot be: the person who signed for you; related to you by blood or marriage; entitled to part of your estate under your will (unless unaware of it); directly financially responsible for your medical care; your attending physician; or your medical power of attorney representative or successor representative.
Law: W. Va. Code § 16-30-4(a), (b)
If you live in a nursing facility When you are admitted to a health care facility you must be told about these forms and offered help completing them, but admission cannot depend on having one.
Law: W. Va. Code § 16-30-4(a), (b)

After signing

Give copies to the right people Keep the signed documents in a safe place and give copies to your health care proxy and your doctors. Some states have registries that store an advance directive for doctors and your proxy.

Signing checklist

This checklist lists the signing rules in West Virginia law. It does not check whether your document is valid.

Free help in West Virginia

Report abuse or exploitation

West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Social Services - Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect (Adult Protective Services)