(a) A will may validly devise or bequeath property to the trustee of a trust established or to be established: (i) during the testator's lifetime by the testator, by the testator and some other person, or by some other person including a funded or unfunded life insurance trust, although the trustor has reserved any or all rights of ownership of the insurance contracts; or (ii) at the testator's death by the testator's devise to the trustee, if the trust is identified in the testator's will and its terms are set forth in a written instrument, other than a will, executed before, or concurrently with the execution of the testator's will or in another individual's will if that other individual has predeceased the testator, regardless of the existence, size, or character of the corpus of the trust. The devise or bequest is not invalid because the trust is amendable or revocable, or because the trust was amended after the execution of the will or the testator's death.
(b) Unless the testator's will provides otherwise, property devised or bequeathed to a trust described in subsection (a) is not held under a testamentary trust of the testator but it becomes a part of the trust to which it is devised or bequeathed, and must be administered and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the governing instrument setting forth the terms of the trust, including any amendments thereto made before or after the testator's death.
(c) Unless the testator's will provides otherwise, a revocation or termination of the trust before the testator's death causes the devise or bequest to lapse.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 3. Provisions as to Construction
§41-3-1. When Will Takes Effect
§41-3-2. When Advancement Deemed Satisfaction of Devise or Bequest
§41-3-3. Death of Devisee or Legatee Before Testator
§41-3-4. Failure or Invalidity of Devise or Bequest
§41-3-5. Construction of Devises in General Terms
§41-3-6. Operation of Devise or Bequest as Exercise of Power of Appointment
§41-3-7. Courts of Equity May Construe Wills
§41-3-8. Testamentary Additions to Trusts
§41-3-9. Effect on Existing Wills