Court Records, State Judiciary & PACER

West Virginia Court Records

West Virginia court records come from two separate court systems: the state judiciary (trial, appellate, supreme courts) and the federal judiciary (U.S. District, Bankruptcy, and Circuit Courts of Appeal). Each has its own public docket search.

West Virginia Court Records at a Glance

Search official West Virginia court records, case information, and judicial resources.

1Free Access To All West Virginia Court Records And Court Information

Access West Virginia Courts online directly. Search court records; from West Virginia county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, West Virginia dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Link to West Virginia probate sources with helpful information. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. West Virginia state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.

2Federal & National Authoritative Sources

These federal and national sources complement West Virginia's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when West Virginia state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.

PACER, Public Access to Court Electronic Records
The U.S. federal judiciary's unified electronic records system. Every federal district, bankruptcy, and appellate case docket is here.
https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ (pacer.uscourts.gov)
U.S. Courts, Federal Court Finder
The official directory of every federal district, bankruptcy, and circuit court. Use it to identify the correct West Virginia district(s) before searching PACER.
https://www.uscourts.gov/federal-court-finder (uscourts.gov)
National Center for State Courts
The NCSC's directory of state court websites, technology standards, and public-access policies.
https://www.ncsc.org/information-and-resources/browse-by-state (ncsc.org)
 Frequently Asked Questions

West Virginia Court Records, FAQ

Are court records free?

State court records are usually free to view at the courthouse and often free online, with per-page fees for certified copies. PACER charges $0.10 per page (capped at $3.00 per document), waived under $30 per quarter.

Do sealed cases show up?

No. A sealed case is hidden from the public docket index by court order. Its existence may still be confirmable by number, but documents are not accessible.

What's the difference between civil and criminal court records?

Civil cases involve disputes between parties (contracts, torts, family). Criminal cases are brought by the government. Both are indexed by the same court clerks but tracked in separate sub-dockets.

Can I search every court at once?

Not in one search. PACER covers all federal courts. Most states have a statewide judiciary portal that covers their state courts, but a few require per-county lookups. This page links to West Virginia's official portal.

 Last reviewed: April 2026  Updated: April 2026  Cite as: www.publicrecordcenter.com/west_virginia_court_records.htm