I own a home in West Virginia
Property taxes, the homestead exemption, deeds, and assessments.
WEST VIRGINIA GUIDE
Life in West Virginia comes
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From the annual personal property assessment and mineral rights to the County Clerk, flood season, and starting a business, CountyOffices gives you clear West Virginia-specific guidance for the things that matter.
Reviewed against official West Virginia government sources • Updated as laws and requirements change
What brings you here today?
I own a home in West Virginia
West Virginia's Homestead Exemption exempts the first $20,000 of assessed value from property tax for homeowners 65 or older (or 64 turning 65 before the following July 1) or those certified permanently and totally disabled - apply through your county Assessor between July 1 and December 1 each year for the following year's tax bill; you must have occupied the property at least 6 months prior and been a West Virginia resident for the two preceding years. There's no income limit attached. West Virginia has a genuinely distinctive tax collection structure: your property tax bill comes from, and gets paid to, the county Sheriff's Tax Office, not a separate Treasurer. Many local taxing entities - school boards, fire districts, other services - depend on voter-approved excess levies on top of the base rate, so actual tax rates vary meaningfully county to county and even within a county depending on which levies voters have approved. Deeds are recorded with the county Clerk.
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Assessor and Clerk offices, WV Code §11-6B-3
I'm buying or selling property
Closings, title searches, deeds, mineral rights, and recording fees.
I'm buying or selling property
West Virginia closings typically go through a title company or attorney, with deeds recorded by the county Clerk. A title search through the Clerk's records confirms there are no outstanding liens before closing - and in West Virginia, this search should also specifically address mineral rights, since coal, oil, and gas rights are frequently owned entirely separately from the surface land, a legacy of decades of mineral rights being sold or retained independently. Once you buy and move in, file for the Homestead Exemption ($20,000 off assessed value) through your county Assessor between July 1 and December 1 if you're 65+ or disabled - it never transfers with the sale. Remember your property tax bill in West Virginia comes from and gets paid to the county Sheriff's Tax Office, a genuinely distinctive structure compared to states using a separate Treasurer. If you're purchasing a vehicle along with the property, note that West Virginia requires you to list vehicles annually with the county Assessor and pay personal property tax each year, a recurring cost separate from registration.
Sources: county Clerk, Assessor, and Sheriff's Tax Office, West Virginia State Tax Dept.
I own land or mineral rights
Severed minerals, gas leases, timber, and property tax questions.
I own land or mineral rights
West Virginia has decades of history where coal, oil, and gas rights were sold, retained, or inherited entirely separately from the surface land above them - a legacy that makes severed mineral ownership genuinely common across much of the state, particularly in areas with active or historic extraction activity. This means owning a piece of West Virginia land doesn't automatically mean you own what's beneath it; minerals may belong to a completely different owner, a company, or a scattered chain of heirs. Mineral interests, gas and oil leases, and royalty arrangements are recorded and tracked through the county Clerk, the same office handling surface deeds, but as a genuinely distinct category of record requiring its own specific title search. If you're buying rural West Virginia land, don't assume mineral rights transfer with the surface deed - verify specifically what, if any, mineral interest is included. Surface and mineral rights are also taxed separately for property tax purposes, so if you own severed minerals, expect a distinct assessment and tax bill from your county Assessor and Sheriff's Tax Office, apart from any surface property you might separately own.
Sources: West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection, county Clerk and Assessor offices
Someone passed away
Probate at the courthouse, wills, estates, and appraisement steps.
Someone passed away
Probate in West Virginia is handled at the County Clerk's office, a genuinely distinctive structure compared to states requiring a courtroom for every estate. The Clerk admits wills, qualifies executors and administrators, and oversees straightforward estate administration, with the County Commission providing oversight for the process rather than a probate judge - a lighter-touch structure than many states use. Only genuinely contested matters escalate further. West Virginia offers a simplified small estate process for estates under a statutory value threshold. Executors and administrators must file an appraisement (an inventory and valuation of estate assets) with the County Clerk as part of the process, a specific West Virginia term worth knowing. If the deceased had the Homestead Exemption on their home, it doesn't transfer automatically to heirs - whoever inherits and occupies the home needs to independently apply through the county Assessor. If the estate includes mineral rights, verify what the deceased actually held through the county Clerk's records, since minerals in West Virginia are frequently owned separately from surface land and can be easy to overlook. Property records for real estate in the estate are held by the same County Clerk handling the probate matter.
Sources: West Virginia Judiciary, West Virginia Code Chapter 44 (Administration of Estates)
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses, divorce filing, name changes, and official records.
I'm getting married or divorced
Marriage licenses in West Virginia come from the county Clerk. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. Divorce is filed in Circuit Court (heard in Family Court), and West Virginia's residency rule is genuinely distinctive: if you were married in West Virginia, either spouse just needs to be a current resident at filing, with no minimum duration required; if you married elsewhere, one spouse needs a full year of continuous West Virginia residency before filing. There's no fixed statutory waiting period after filing, but the court can't set a final hearing until at least 20 days after the other spouse is served. West Virginia's no-fault ground of irreconcilable differences requires no separation period at all if both spouses agree, making an uncontested case genuinely fast (roughly 30-45 days is realistic); the alternative no-fault path requires a full year of voluntary separation if one spouse doesn't consent. Courts divide marital property under an equitable distribution standard with a presumption of equal 50/50 division, and child custody carries a similar 50/50 presumption under a 2022 law. There's no waiting period to remarry once a West Virginia divorce decree is final.
Sources: West Virginia Judiciary, county Clerk offices, West Virginia Code Chapter 48
I'm caring for an aging parent
Senior services, the homestead exemption, benefits, and estate planning.
I'm caring for an aging parent
If your parent is 65 or older (or turning 65 before the following July 1), or certified permanently and totally disabled, help them apply for the Homestead Exemption through their county Assessor between July 1 and December 1 - it exempts the first $20,000 of their home's assessed value from property tax, with no income limit attached. This is generally a one-time application that continues as long as they own and occupy the home, though confirm your specific county's renewal expectations. If your parent needs help managing property or finances, a durable power of attorney can avoid the need for court-supervised guardianship in many situations. Remember property tax bills come from and get paid to the county Sheriff's Tax Office in West Virginia, a genuinely distinctive structure - if your parent has questions about a bill, that's who to contact, not a separate Treasurer. If your parent owns a vehicle, remember West Virginia requires annually listing vehicles with the county Assessor for personal property tax, a recurring yearly obligation separate from registration. Guardianship, when needed, goes through probate proceedings handled at the county Clerk's office with County Commission oversight.
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Assessor and Sheriff's Tax Office, West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services
I need an official record
Birth, death, marriage, court, property, and business records.
I need an official record
Birth and death certificates come from the West Virginia Dept. of Health and Human Resources Vital Registration office, a state office, though county Clerks can sometimes assist. Marriage records are held by whichever county Clerk issued the license. Property records - deeds, mortgages, liens, mineral interests - are recorded and searchable through the county Clerk, generally free to search in person with a fee for certified copies; because minerals are frequently severed from surface land in West Virginia, a complete property history often means checking both categories. Probate and estate records, distinctively, also come from the county Clerk's office rather than a separate court, with the County Commission providing oversight. Other civil and criminal court records come from the Circuit Clerk. Business entity records are filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation, the Homestead Exemption, and annual vehicle personal property assessments go through your county Assessor, while tax bills and payments go through the county Sheriff's Tax Office - a genuinely distinctive collection structure compared to most states.
Sources: West Virginia Dept. of Health and Human Resources, county Clerk, Assessor, and Sheriff's Tax Office, West Virginia Secretary of State
I'm starting or running a business
Licenses, permits, EIN, sales tax, and local requirements.
I'm starting or running a business
Registering a business in West Virginia starts with the Secretary of State, where you file to form an LLC or corporation and register a trade name. Most businesses register with the State Tax Dept. for a business registration certificate and sales tax obligations if selling taxable goods or services, and get an EIN from the IRS if they're not a sole proprietor with no employees. Local business licenses and zoning approval vary by county and city, so check both levels for your specific location. If your business involves coal, oil, or gas extraction, expect a genuinely significant regulatory layer given West Virginia's extraction history, with mineral leases and royalty arrangements tracked separately from surface land at the county Clerk. Business real estate is assessed by your county Assessor, and property tax bills come from and get paid to the county Sheriff's Tax Office rather than a separate Treasurer. If you'll own commercial vehicles, remember West Virginia requires annually listing vehicles with the county Assessor for personal property tax - a recurring yearly obligation, not a one-time registration cost.
Sources: West Virginia Secretary of State, West Virginia State Tax Dept., IRS
How-To Guides for West Virginia
How do I access court records?
Read guide →How do I appeal my property tax assessment?
Read guide →How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?
Read guide →How do I find and access senior services?
Read guide →How do I get a business license?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a copy of a death certificate?
Read guide →How do I get a marriage license?
Read guide →How do I pay my property taxes?
Read guide →How do I register to vote or check my registration?
Read guide →How to Research Your Family History in West Virginia
Read guide →Open Records
Read guide →West Virginia Statewide Probate Guide
Read guide →West Virginia works differently. Here's what to know.
Probate at the County Clerk
Wills are admitted at the County Clerk's office, with the County Commission overseeing estates.
Probate at the County Clerk
West Virginia handles most estate administration through the county Clerk's office, a genuinely distinctive structure that surprises people expecting a courtroom to be involved in every estate. The Clerk admits wills to probate, qualifies executors and administrators, and oversees straightforward estate matters, with the County Commission providing supervisory authority rather than a dedicated probate judge - a lighter, less formal process than states where a judge must sign off on routine estate matters. Only genuinely contested cases - a will dispute, a challenge to an executor, disagreement among heirs - actually require judicial involvement, typically escalating to Circuit Court. Executors must file a specific document called an "appraisement," an inventory and valuation of the estate's assets, with the County Clerk as part of standard administration - worth knowing this specific term since it's distinctive West Virginia terminology. If you're settling an uncontested West Virginia estate, your primary destination throughout the process is the County Clerk's office, not a courtroom.
Sources: West Virginia Judiciary, West Virginia Code Chapter 44
The Sheriff Collects Taxes
Your property tax bill comes from and gets paid to the county Sheriff's Tax Office.
The Sheriff Collects Taxes
West Virginia routes property tax collection through the county Sheriff's Tax Office - a genuinely distinctive structure compared to most states, which use a separate elected Treasurer for this function. Your property tax bill comes from, and gets paid to, the Sheriff's office, not a Treasurer's office the way you might expect based on experience in other states. The Assessor, a separate elected office, still determines your property's value and administers exemptions like the Homestead Exemption, but once that value becomes an actual bill, it's the Sheriff's Tax Office handling billing, collection, and any delinquency proceedings if a bill goes unpaid. This means a question about your assessed value goes to the Assessor, while a question about your actual bill amount, payment options, or a due date goes to the Sheriff's Tax Office - two different elected offices for two different halves of the property tax process. Knowing this pairing can save a redirected call or visit, since "property tax bill" doesn't intuitively suggest the Sheriff's office to newcomers from other states.
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Sheriff's Tax Office and Assessor offices
Yearly Vehicle Assessment
You list your vehicles with the Assessor each year and pay personal property tax on them.
Yearly Vehicle Assessment
West Virginia taxes vehicles as personal property every single year, requiring you to list your vehicles with the county Assessor annually rather than treating vehicle taxation as a one-time cost at purchase or registration. The State Tax Dept. values vehicles using data from a nationally recognized source (currently NADA), applying the lowest "loan" value to your assessment based on the vehicle's VIN, which keeps assessed values on the conservative side. Once assessed, this becomes part of your annual personal property tax bill, billed and collected by the county Sheriff's Tax Office alongside your real estate tax, if you own any. This means a car, truck, or other vehicle you own genuinely generates a recurring annual tax obligation in West Virginia, distinct from and in addition to your vehicle registration fee - a real ongoing cost that surprises newcomers from states where vehicle taxation is folded into registration or doesn't exist as a separate annual bill. Budget for this every year rather than assuming vehicle costs are settled once you've registered and titled the car.
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Assessor and Sheriff's Tax Office
Minerals May Be Severed
Coal, gas, and oil rights are often owned separately from the surface land above them.
Minerals May Be Severed
West Virginia has decades of history where coal, oil, and gas rights were sold, retained, or inherited entirely separately from the surface land above them - a genuinely common legacy given the state's extraction-heavy history, especially in the southern coalfields and areas with active or historic natural gas development. This means owning West Virginia land doesn't automatically mean you own what's beneath it; minerals may have been "severed" from the surface generations ago and now belong to a completely different owner, a company, or a scattered chain of heirs across multiple generations. Mineral interests, leases, and royalty arrangements are recorded and tracked through the county Clerk, the same office handling surface deeds, but as a genuinely distinct category of record requiring its own dedicated title search. Surface and mineral rights are also assessed and taxed separately by the county Assessor, so severed mineral ownership generates its own distinct property tax obligation apart from any surface property. If you're buying rural West Virginia land, verify specifically what, if any, mineral interest is included - don't assume it transfers automatically with the surface deed, and check your own existing property's mineral status too, since many landowners genuinely don't know whether they hold the minerals beneath their own land until they specifically check.
Sources: West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection, county Clerk and Assessor offices
Homestead Exemption at 65
Homeowners 65 or older, or fully disabled, can exempt part of their home's value.
Homestead Exemption at 65
West Virginia's Homestead Exemption exempts the first $20,000 of assessed value from property tax for homeowners 65 or older, or those certified permanently and totally disabled - a genuinely meaningful, flat-dollar reduction with no income limit attached at all. To qualify, you must own and occupy the property exclusively for residential purposes, have occupied it for more than six months before applying, and have been a West Virginia resident for the two consecutive years preceding the relevant tax year. Apply through your county Assessor between July 1 and December 1 for the exemption to take effect on the following year's tax bill; if you'll turn 65 before July 1 of the coming year, you can apply in the year before your birthday to get the exemption starting right when you become eligible. A genuinely accommodating feature: if you're living with family or in a nursing home due to illness, accident, or infirmity of old age, you can retain your homestead exemption on your original property as long as it isn't used commercially or become someone else's residence. This exemption doesn't transfer to a new owner if you sell - reapplication is always required for whoever newly qualifies.
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Assessor offices, WV Code §11-6B-3
Excess Levies on the Ballot
Schools and services often depend on voter-approved levies, so rates differ by county.
Excess Levies on the Ballot
Much of West Virginia's local government and school funding depends on voter-approved excess levies - additional property tax rates that go directly before voters at the ballot box rather than being set purely by elected officials, and that typically need renewal on a set cycle (often every five years). This means your actual property tax rate is a genuine composite of base rates plus whatever excess levies your specific county's voters have approved and continued to renew over the years - school operations, fire and EMS services, libraries, and other local services frequently depend on this voter-approved funding mechanism staying in place. Because excess levies vary from county to county based on what local voters have actually approved, tax rates for genuinely comparable homes can differ meaningfully between neighboring West Virginia counties, reflecting different local funding choices rather than any difference in state law. If an excess levy comes up for renewal and voters reject it, the affected services (often schools specifically) can face real funding gaps, making these votes genuinely consequential rather than routine. If you're new to a West Virginia county, understanding what excess levies currently apply to your property, and when they're next up for renewal, is worth knowing as part of understanding your actual tax picture.
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Commission and Board of Education offices
The questions West Virginia residents actually ask
West Virginia county records online availability varies by county and record type. Many County Clerk offices provide online deed searching through county websites. The West Virginia eCourts portal provides Circuit Court case information for participating courts. The West Virginia Secretary of State provides free online business entity searching. Vital records require ordering through the Office of Vital Registration. For West Virginia county records not available online, the Freedom of Information Act at West Virginia Code Section 29B-1-1 provides a five-business-day inspection framework. Rural and southern coalfield counties may have more limited digital access than northern and eastern counties.
West Virginia birth and death certificates from 1917 onward are maintained by the West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Registration in Charleston. Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek, by mail, or in person at the Charleston office. Birth records are restricted to the individual named, immediate family members, and legal representatives. Pre-1917 births and deaths are found in county registers, church records, and Virginia-era census materials held by the West Virginia State Archives. For families in West Virginia before 1917, county registers and church records are the primary sources of vital documentation.
West Virginia county records for real property are held by the County Clerk in the county where the property is located. The County Clerk records deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, and plats. Many West Virginia counties provide online deed searching through the County Clerk's website. Property tax assessment data is held by the County Assessor, and tax collection records are maintained by the County Sheriff rather than a Treasurer. For West Virginia mineral rights research, the County Clerk's deed books contain separate chains of title for surface and various mineral estates, requiring researchers to search multiple deed indexes to establish complete ownership of a West Virginia parcel.
The West Virginia eCourts portal at courtswv.gov provides online access to Circuit Court case information for courts that have transitioned to the statewide system. Coverage is expanding but not yet uniform across all 31 judicial circuits and 55 counties. Case details include party names, charges, hearing dates, and case dispositions. For complete case files, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. West Virginia county records for probate and estate matters are part of the Circuit Court's jurisdiction and are held at the county level. Magistrate Court records for minor civil and criminal matters are held by the Magistrate Court in each county.
The West Virginia State Archives in Charleston is the primary repository for historical West Virginia county records, holding microfilmed deed books, court minutes, and vital records from many of the state's 55 counties. Because West Virginia was created from Virginia in 1863, pre-statehood research requires accessing Virginia county records at the Virginia State Archives in Richmond for the relevant predecessor Virginia county. FamilySearch has digitized significant West Virginia county records microfilm. County libraries and genealogical societies hold local collections. The West Virginia Genealogical Society provides research assistance and county resource guides for all 55 counties.
West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act at West Virginia Code Section 29B-1-1 et seq. provides public access to government records held by all West Virginia government agencies including county offices. Submit a written request to the custodian of records at the relevant county agency. The agency must permit inspection within five business days. No reason for the request is required. Fees are limited to actual costs of reproduction. If a request is denied, the agency must cite the specific statutory exemption. Disputes over denied West Virginia county records can be pursued in circuit court, and prevailing requesters may be awarded attorney fees for wrongful denial.
The County Clerk in West Virginia maintains one of the broadest record collections of any county officer in the Appalachian region. West Virginia county records held by the County Clerk include deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, plats, and other recorded property instruments; marriage licenses and marriage record books; voter registration rolls; election records; county commission minutes and resolutions; and certain professional license records. The County Clerk does not maintain court case records (held by the Circuit Court Clerk), property assessment records (held by the County Assessor), or tax collection records (held by the Sheriff). For researchers, the County Clerk is the starting point for property, marriage, and voter research in West Virginia.
Marriage licenses in West Virginia are issued by the County Clerk in the county where the license was obtained. To obtain a copy, contact the County Clerk with the names of both parties and the approximate marriage date. The West Virginia Office of Vital Registration holds statewide marriage records from 1921 onward. Historical marriage records before 1921 are found in County Clerk files and church records, with many collections held by the West Virginia State Archives. FamilySearch provides indexed West Virginia marriage records from many counties. For families in present-day West Virginia before 1863, marriage records are found in Virginia county records for the predecessor Virginia county.
West Virginia criminal history records are maintained by the West Virginia State Police, Criminal Records Section. The public can request a criminal background check through the State Police online portal for a fee. Individual county-level criminal case records within West Virginia county records are accessible through the West Virginia eCourts portal for participating courts or by contacting the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. Certified criminal history information requires a formal State Police request with identifying information and applicable fees. Some West Virginia records may be expunged under West Virginia expungement statutes upon petition to the Circuit Court.
Free access to West Virginia county records for land varies by county. Many County Clerk offices provide free or low-cost online deed searching through county websites. Searching in person at the County Clerk's office is generally free. The West Virginia State Archives provides free in-person access to microfilmed West Virginia county records including deed books. FamilySearch provides free online access to digitized West Virginia land records and vital records from many counties. The BLM General Land Office records portal provides free access to federal land patents for early West Virginia entries. Pre-1863 Virginia land records relevant to West Virginia families are accessible through the Library of Virginia's online portal.
West Virginia's coal, oil, and natural gas economy has produced extensive severance of mineral rights from surface estates, creating a layered ownership structure that significantly complicates West Virginia county records research. A single parcel may have separate owners for the surface, coal seam, oil and gas rights, and other mineral strata, each with its own recorded chain of title in the County Clerk's deed books. Researchers examining West Virginia property ownership must search multiple deed indexes to identify all severed mineral owners in addition to the surface owner. Abstractor companies specializing in West Virginia coal and mineral titles exist to assist with this complex research, particularly for coalfield counties in the southern and central parts of the state.
Fees for West Virginia county records vary by record type and county. West Virginia's FOIA limits copying fees to actual costs of reproduction. Certified copies of deeds and recorded instruments carry per-page fees set by state statute. The West Virginia Office of Vital Registration charges fixed fees for certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Circuit Court fees for copies of case documents are set by West Virginia court rules. County Assessor and Sheriff fees for certified property assessment and tax records vary by county. Contacting the relevant office before submitting a request is the best way to confirm current fee schedules and available delivery options.
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Important Deadlines in West Virginia
West Virginia's personal property assessment - a genuinely annual requirement covering vehicles, boats, trailers, and similar items you owned as of July 1 - must be filed with your county Assessor between July 1 and October 1 each year, either online or by mail.
Important Deadlines in West Virginia
West Virginia's personal property assessment - a genuinely annual requirement covering vehicles, boats, trailers, and similar items you owned as of July 1 - must be filed with your county Assessor between July 1 and October 1 each year, either online or by mail. Businesses face an earlier deadline: personal and real property returns due by September 1, with late or non-filers subject to a 10% value increase and real fines. The Homestead Exemption ($20,000 off assessed value for owner-occupants 65+ by July 1 of the relevant tax year, or permanently and totally disabled) has a genuinely firm filing window: new applicants must apply between July 1 and December 1 - miss it, and you wait until the following year. Once approved, it renews automatically as long as the home remains your primary residence. Real estate value appeals to the Assessor must be completed by January 31, and the county Board of Equalization and Review meets in February to hear appeals (appointments required). Property tax bills offer a real 2.5% early-payment discount if the first half is paid by September 1 and the second half by March 1; the absolute last day to pay without penalty is April 30. Remember unpaid personal property tax can genuinely block your vehicle registration renewal at the DMV, so staying current matters beyond just avoiding interest.
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Assessor and Sheriff's Tax Office, W. Va. Code §11-3-2, §11-3-9, and §11-3-12
Assessment Appeals in West Virginia
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, West Virginia's process starts informally: contact your county Assessor's office directly and share comparable sales or other evidence supporting a different market value - genuinely worth trying first, since many disagreements resolve without a formal hearing.
Assessment Appeals in West Virginia
If you disagree with your property's assessed value, West Virginia's process starts informally: contact your county Assessor's office directly and share comparable sales or other evidence supporting a different market value - genuinely worth trying first, since many disagreements resolve without a formal hearing. If you can't reach agreement, a formal appeal to the Assessor on value must be completed by January 31. If that doesn't resolve things, the County Commission convenes as the Board of Equalization and Review during the month of February each year to hear appeals - appointments are generally required, so contact your county Commission's office promptly once February approaches rather than assuming you can walk in. Bring genuine supporting evidence: comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of a factual error in your property's characteristics. Because West Virginia assesses property at 60% of market value, remember your assessed value is not meant to match your home's actual worth directly - check the math before assuming a discrepancy is an error. If the Board of Equalization and Review's decision doesn't resolve things in your favor, further appeal to circuit court remains available. Remember businesses that fail to file their personal property return by September 1 genuinely forfeit their right to appeal that year's estimated assessment - a real, serious consequence of missing the filing deadline.
Read the full property tax appeal guide →
Sources: West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Assessor and County Commission offices, W. Va. Code §11-3-24 and §11-3-25
Public Records Access in West Virginia
The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records.
Public Records Access in West Virginia
The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes that records held by state and local government agencies are open to public inspection, and like most states' open-records laws, you generally don't need to explain your reason for a request or demonstrate a personal interest in the records. Agencies must respond within 5 business days, and cite a specific statutory exemption if a request is denied - common exemptions include certain law enforcement investigative records, personnel and medical information, and other categories the legislature has carved out. Real estate records - deeds, mortgages, liens - are recorded and searchable through the county Clerk. Probate matters are also a genuine County Clerk function here: wills are admitted directly at the Clerk's office, with the County Commission overseeing estate administration - a real, distinctive structure without a dedicated probate court or judge for routine matters. Business entity records are filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State, searchable statewide. Property valuation records go through your county Assessor, while your property tax bill genuinely comes from and is paid to the county Sheriff's Tax Office - a real, notable combination, since the Sheriff's role as tax collector is distinctive to West Virginia among most states. If you're researching rural property, checking mineral rights specifically is worth doing separately, since coal, gas, and oil rights are frequently severed and owned apart from the surface land - a real, common feature of West Virginia land ownership. If a FOIA request is denied, disputes can ultimately go to circuit court.
Read the full open records guide →
Sources: West Virginia Secretary of State, W. Va. Code §29B-1 (FOIA), county Clerk, Assessor, and Sheriff's Tax Office
Flood & Storm Help in West Virginia
West Virginia's flood risk genuinely peaks spring through summer, and the state's mountainous terrain and narrow hollows create real, distinctive flash flood risk - water can rise fast in confined valleys, and West Virginia has genuine, extensive recent experience with severe, sometimes catastrophic flash flooding.
Flood & Storm Help in West Virginia
West Virginia's flood risk genuinely peaks spring through summer, and the state's mountainous terrain and narrow hollows create real, distinctive flash flood risk - water can rise fast in confined valleys, and West Virginia has genuine, extensive recent experience with severe, sometimes catastrophic flash flooding. Know your specific hollow or valley's flood history and evacuation routes before flood season, since narrow terrain can mean limited escape options if water rises quickly. Your county Emergency Management office coordinates local response and maintains current road closure and warning information - mountain roads here can become impassable or dangerous quickly during heavy rain, so treat closure notices seriously. After a flood or storm causes damage, your county Assessor can adjust your property's valuation to reflect the damage, and if a federal disaster is declared, FEMA assistance becomes available for both individuals and local governments - West Virginia has genuine, recurring experience with major flood disaster declarations. Insurance claims should be filed promptly with documentation (photos, a written inventory, receipts for emergency repairs), and flood insurance specifically is essential if you're in or near a hollow or creek bottom, since standard homeowner's policies typically exclude flood damage and many West Virginia flood-prone areas sit outside mapped high-risk zones despite real, demonstrated flood history. Building permits for storm repairs go through your county building department.
Sources: West Virginia Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, county Emergency Management and Assessor offices
New to West Virginia?
As a new West Virginia resident, check with the WV DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - and remember your personal property tax must genuinely be current before the DMV will renew your vehicle registration, so don't let a tax bill lapse.
New to West Virginia?
As a new West Virginia resident, check with the WV DMV for the current specific window to transfer your out-of-state driver's license and register your vehicle - and remember your personal property tax must genuinely be current before the DMV will renew your vehicle registration, so don't let a tax bill lapse. File your annual personal property assessment (vehicles, boats, trailers, and similar items) with your county Assessor between July 1 and October 1 each year. If you've purchased a home and are 65+ by July 1 of the tax year, or permanently and totally disabled, apply for the Homestead Exemption ($20,000 off assessed value) with your county Assessor between July 1 and December 1 - note West Virginia also requires two consecutive years of state residency before the July 1 preceding your application to qualify. Register to vote through your county Clerk. Remember your property tax bill comes from and is paid to the county Sheriff's Tax Office, a genuinely distinctive combination compared to most states. If you're purchasing rural land, check mineral rights specifically at the county Clerk's office, since coal, gas, and oil rights are frequently severed and owned separately from the surface here. Estate and probate matters, including wills, are handled directly at the county Clerk's office with County Commission oversight.
Sources: West Virginia DMV, West Virginia State Tax Dept., county Assessor, Clerk, and Sheriff's Tax Office
Find the services available in your county
West Virginia laws apply statewide, but offices, services, procedures and local requirements can vary by county. Select your county for verified local offices, services and official resources.
All 55 West Virginia counties
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Barbour CountyPhilippiBerkeley CountyMartinsburgBoone CountyMadisonBraxton CountySuttonBrooke CountyWellsburgCabell CountyHuntingtonCalhoun CountyGrantsvilleClay CountyClayDoddridge CountyWest UnionFayette CountyFayettevilleGilmer CountyGlenvilleGrant CountyPetersburgGreenbrier CountyLewisburgHampshire CountyRomneyHancock CountyNew CumberlandHardy CountyMoorefieldHarrison CountyClarksburgJackson CountyRipleyJefferson CountyCharles TownKanawha CountyCharlestonLewis CountyWestonLincoln CountyHamlinLogan CountyLoganMarion CountyFairmontMarshall CountyMoundsvilleMason CountyPoint PleasantMcDowell CountyWelchMercer CountyPrincetonMineral CountyKeyserMingo CountyWilliamsonMonongalia CountyMorgantownMonroe CountyUnionMorgan CountyBerkeley SpringsNicholas CountySummersvilleOhio CountyWheelingPendleton CountyFranklinPleasants CountySt. MarysPocahontas CountyMarlintonPreston CountyKingwoodPutnam CountyWinfield
Raleigh CountyBeckleyRandolph CountyElkinsRitchie CountyHarrisvilleRoane CountySpencerSummers CountyHintonTaylor CountyGraftonTucker CountyParsonsTyler CountyMiddlebourneUpshur CountyBuckhannonWayne CountyWayneWebster CountyWebster SpringsWetzel CountyNew MartinsvilleWirt CountyElizabethWood CountyParkersburgWyoming CountyPineville
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Sources and References
- West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, West Virginia Code Section 29B-1-1 et seq.
- West Virginia State Archives: wvculture.org/history/wvsamenu.html
- West Virginia Office of Vital Registration: dhhr.wv.gov/bph/pages/vital-registration.aspx
- West Virginia eCourts: courtswv.gov
- West Virginia Secretary of State, Business: sos.wv.gov/business-licensing
- West Virginia State Tax Department, Property Tax: tax.wv.gov/PropertyTax
- West Virginia State Police, Criminal Records: wvsp.gov
55COUNTIES COVEREDAcross West Virginia
1.7M+RESIDENTS REPRESENTEDWest Virginia population covered
1,000+TOPICS & GUIDESAnswers for real life
VerifiedSOURCED TO OFFICIAL RESOURCESEvery guide links to primary government sources