Search West Virginia court records online. Access criminal cases, civil suits, small claims, family law, probate, and appellate decisions through official West Virginia court portals.
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.
Access court case information through official West Virginia portals and county clerk offices.
Access CourtPlus (partial free) to search statewide case records. You can typically search by party name, attorney, case number, or filing date. Criminal and civil cases are usually searchable without charge.
West Virginia courts include: Trial Courts (circuit, district, superior), Appellate Courts (Court of Appeals), and the West Virginia Supreme Court. For local matters — misdemeanors, traffic, small claims — search at the county or municipal court level.
For older records or certified copies, contact the county court clerk in the county where the case was filed. Fees for certified copies vary by county (~$1–$5 per page). Clerks can also confirm whether a case is sealed or restricted.
Federal cases (bankruptcy, federal criminal, civil rights) are available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PACER charges $0.10/page but the first $30/quarter is free for casual users.
As there may be more one source to obtaining West Virginia criminal, civil and divorce records, it is important to search multiple state courts to find the correct records.
West Virginia State Court Structure:
The West Virginia municipal courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve DWI or DUI matters, moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic violations. The municipal courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases involving parking violations, and ordinance violations. West Virginia's circuit courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, and real property rights from $300 and up. These courts have exclusive mental health, estate, and civil appeals jurisdiction. Circuit courts hear domestic relations matters, misdemeanors, and DWI or DUI matters. Circuit courts have exclusive felony, and criminal appeals jurisdiction, and exclusive juvenile jurisdiction. Jury trials are available in these courts. West Virginia's magistrate courts have jurisdiction to hear cases that involve tort, contract, real property rights from $0 to $5,000, misdemeanors, DWI or DUI, domestic, violence matters, moving traffic violations, and other miscellaneous traffic violations. Magistrate courts hold venue to preliminary hearings. Jury trials are available in magistrate courts also. West Virginia's family courts are made up of 26 circuits, 35 judges, and hear domestic relations matters, including domestic violence. Jury trials are available. West Virginia's highest court is the supreme court. The supreme court has no mandatory jurisdiction. All cases are heard by discretion of the court. Discretionary jurisdiction in civil, non-capital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile,disciplinary, certified questions from federal courts, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases.
Most West Virginia court case information is free to view online through the official court portal: CourtPlus (partial free). Certified copies of court documents typically cost $1–$5 per page when requested from the county clerk. Federal court records through PACER cost $0.10/page after the $30/quarter free threshold.
Public West Virginia court records include: criminal cases (felonies, misdemeanors), civil lawsuits, small claims, family court (divorce, custody, support), probate (wills, estates), traffic cases, and appellate decisions. Juvenile records, sealed cases, and domestic violence protective orders may be restricted.
Request certified copies in person, by mail, or through the court's online portal from the county court clerk where the case was filed. Provide the case number, parties' names, and the type of document needed. Fees typically range from $1–$10 per page plus certification fees. Processing time is usually 1–5 business days.