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West Virginia · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Circuit Court Clerk (county level - each of WV's 55 counties) / Magistrate Court Clerk (county level) / Family Court Clerk (county level) / West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (felonies, major civil over $5,000, domestic relations/divorce), Magistrate Court (civil up to $10,000, misdemeanors, traffic), Family Court (domestic violence, domestic relations in many counties), Probate (estate - handled by County Clerk), or Supreme Court of Appeals
  2. Search online:
  3. WEST VIRGINIA COURTS CASE SEARCH (WCCS): courtswv.gov or through the WV Courts website; West Virginia has a statewide online case search system (eMap - Electronic Management of Access to Proceedings) covering Circuit Court, Magistrate Court, and Family Court cases; search by party name or case number
  4. WV SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS: courtswv.gov - opinions searchable online
  5. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed
  6. In-person access: visit the county courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online case search: free for basic case information; certified copies: typically $0.50-$1 per page; contact specific Circuit Court Clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Online: immediate for case information; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - courtswv.gov (WV Courts statewide case search)
Where to Go
Circuit Court Clerk (major civil/criminal/domestic); Magistrate Court Clerk (minor civil/criminal/traffic); County Clerk (probate/estate matters)
County-specific variations apply

WV's 55 counties are organized into 31 judicial circuits. Kanawha County (Charleston - 13th Circuit; largest; state capital), Cabell County (Huntington), Monongalia County (Morgantown), Wood County (Parkersburg), Berkeley County (Martinsburg - 23rd Circuit; fastest growing county due to DC suburb growth), and Jefferson County (23rd Circuit; Charles Town) have the most active court systems. Very small WV counties (Pendleton, Pocahontas, Wirt, Calhoun, Tucker, Gilmer, Webster, Doddridge) have minimal court activity.

West Virginia Notes

Important state-specific details

  • WV Courts case search system (courtswv.gov): covers Circuit, Magistrate, and Family Court cases.
  • Marriage records: County Clerk where license was issued; also WV Vital Registration.
  • Divorce records: Circuit Court Clerk in county where divorce was filed; WV Vital Registration also issues divorce certificates.
  • Criminal history background checks: WV State Police, Criminal History Unit - wvsp.gov | (304) 746-2195; fee-based.
  • WV Sex Offender Registry - registered.wvsexoffenderregistry.com - searchable online; managed by WV State Police.
  • Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules.
  • WV Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): public records presumed open; agencies must respond within 5 business days.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia / WV Courts - courtswv.gov | (304) 558-2601; WV State Police (criminal records) - wvsp.gov | (304) 746-2195