WEST VIRGINIA CODE
WVC 48 - 6 - 202
§48-6-202. Agreement for spousal support beyond the death of the
payor.
When a separation agreement is the basis for an award of
spousal support, the court, in approving the agreement, shall
examine the agreement to ascertain whether it clearly provides for
spousal support to continue beyond the death of the payor or the
payee or to cease in such event. When spousal support is to be
paid pursuant to the terms of a separation agreement which does not
state whether the payment of spousal support is to continue beyond
the death of the payor or payee or is to cease, or when the parties
have not entered into a separation agreement and spousal support is
awarded, the court shall have the discretion to determine, as a
part of its order, whether such payments of spousal support are to
be continued beyond the death of the payor or payee or cease. In
the event neither an agreement nor an order makes provision for the
death of the payor or payee, spousal support other than
rehabilitative spousal support or spousal support in gross shall
cease on the death of the payor or payee. In the event neither an
agreement nor an order makes provision for the death of the payor,
rehabilitative spousal support continues beyond the payor's death,
in the absence of evidence that the payor's estate is likely to be
insufficient to meet other obligations or that other matters would
make continuation after death inequitable. Rehabilitative spousal
support ceases with the payee's death. In the event neither an
agreement nor an order makes provision for the death of the payor or payee, spousal support in gross continues beyond the payor's or
payee's death.
Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session