West Virginia court records are public by default, and you can search most of them for free through the state judiciary’s online portals or by visiting the Circuit Clerk’s office in the county where the case was filed. Circuit Court cases (including family court matters) and Magistrate Court cases each have their own search tool. Viewing records is free; copies cost $1.00 per page from the Clerk, or $0.25 per page for documents downloaded through the online Circuit Court portal.
Figure Out Which Court Handled the Case
West Virginia records originate in three trial-level courts, and the search path depends on which one heard the case.
- Magistrate Courts hear civil disputes of $20,000 or less, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings on felony charges. Every county has at least one magistrate.1West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 50-2-1
- Circuit Courts are the general trial courts, handling felonies, larger civil cases, equity, and appeals from magistrate and family courts. The 55 counties are grouped into 30 judicial circuits, and each county has its own Circuit Clerk who serves as the official record-keeper.2West Virginia Judiciary. Lower Courts – Circuit Courts
- Family Courts hear divorce, custody, and support matters. Their records are kept by the Circuit Clerk.
If you don’t know which court handled a case, start with the Circuit Court search. The Circuit Clerk holds the widest range of files, including family court proceedings.
Search the Free Online Portals
The judiciary runs two free search sites. Neither requires registration.
Circuit Court Search
The state’s Circuit Court portal covers all 55 counties.3West Virginia Judiciary. Court Record Access – Search Landing Page You can search by party name, case number, or filing date range. Results show the case docket, which is the chronological list of every filing, hearing, and order. In many counties you can also download the actual documents for $0.25 per page plus a small card-processing fee.
Online coverage depends on when each county digitized its files. Older cases, particularly those filed before electronic filing became standard, may exist only as paper in the Circuit Clerk’s office. A name search that returns nothing may simply mean the case predates the electronic system.
Magistrate Court Search
Magistrate cases have a separate search at MCRSearch.courtswv.gov.4West Virginia Court System. Magistrate Case Record Search Search by first or last name or by case number; the system returns up to 30 matches per query. Unlike the Circuit Court portal, the magistrate search shows only case index information, not downloadable documents.5West Virginia Judiciary. Magistrate Record Search To get copies of magistrate filings, contact the magistrate court clerk in the county where the case was filed.
View a Case File in Person
For older files, recent filings that haven’t been uploaded yet, or cases where the online docket looks incomplete, the Circuit Clerk’s office is still the most reliable source. The Clerk is the constitutional custodian of all circuit and family court records and makes them available for public inspection during business hours.6Doddridge County WV. Circuit Clerk
Bring the case number. A deputy clerk will pull the physical file or point you to a public-access terminal where you can view the electronic record. Viewing is free. You generally can’t remove documents from the room, and offices commonly restrict food and drink near files. In-person inspection doesn’t include copies; those are a separate request with separate fees.
Get Copies and Certified Copies
West Virginia treats regular copies and certified copies differently. Which one you need depends on what you plan to do with the document.
Regular Copies
A standard photocopy from the Circuit Clerk is $1.00 per page.7West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 59-1-11 – Fees to Be Charged by Clerk of Circuit Court The same document downloaded through the online Circuit Court portal, when available there, is $0.25 per page plus a card-processing surcharge. Regular copies work fine for personal reference but carry no official weight in a legal proceeding.
Certified Copies
A certified copy carries the Circuit Clerk’s seal and signature attesting that it is a true and accurate reproduction of the court record. You need one when a document must have legal effect outside the court that issued it, such as filing a judgment in another county or state, closing a real estate transaction, or satisfying an employer’s verification requirement. The Clerk charges the per-page copy fee plus a certification fee.7West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 59-1-11 – Fees to Be Charged by Clerk of Circuit Court Call the county’s Circuit Clerk before visiting to confirm the current total, since processing fees vary slightly by office.
Requesting by Mail
Most Circuit Clerk offices will process copy requests by mail. Include the full case number, list the specific documents you need, and say whether you want regular or certified copies. Payment is usually by check or money order to the Circuit Clerk. Because page counts and fees vary, call first to confirm the total and accepted payment methods. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope or ask whether the office charges a separate mailing fee. Expect at least one to two weeks for processing.
Records You Cannot Access
Several categories of court records are closed to the public by statute. You generally can’t view or copy them without a direct legal interest in the case or a court order.
- Juvenile records maintained by courts, the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or the Department of Human Services are confidential and can’t be released except as specifically authorized by statute or court order.8West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 49-5-101 – Confidentiality of Records; Non-Release of Records; Exceptions; Penalties
- Adoption records may not be disclosed except as permitted by the adoption statutes or a court order, and unauthorized disclosure carries civil liability.9West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 48-23-701 – Prohibited Conduct
- Domestic relations pleadings and supporting documents in divorce, custody, and support cases are not publicly accessible, though final orders entered in the civil order books remain public.10West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 48-1-303 – Confidentiality of Domestic Relations Court Files
- Mental health records, including the fact that a person has been a patient, are confidential and may be disclosed only in narrow circumstances such as involuntary commitment proceedings or when a court orders disclosure.11West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 27-3-1 – Definition of Confidential Information; Disclosure
Records identifying child abuse complainants and victims of certain criminal offenses, particularly sexual assault, are also restricted. If you believe you have a legal basis to see a confidential record, you will likely need to file a motion with the court explaining why disclosure is warranted.
Sealed and Expunged Cases
Any case can also be sealed by court order. Under West Virginia Code ยง53-8-17, a party can ask the court to seal all records in a case no earlier than two years after the final order or dismissal. The court holds a hearing, notifies the parties, and grants sealing only for good cause after weighing privacy against the public interest in access. Custodians then have 60 days to comply: paper files move to restricted storage, and electronic records come off the court system’s public websites.12West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 53-8-17 – Sealing of Records
Expungement goes further, ordering both the sealing of court records and the destruction of related law enforcement records. West Virginia allows expungement of certain misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies after waiting periods that depend on the offense.13West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 61-11-26A If a case has been sealed or expunged, it won’t turn up in the online portals or in the Clerk’s public files.
Using a Record Outside the United States
A certified copy from the Circuit Clerk is enough for use inside the U.S., but not always abroad. Countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention require an apostille, which authenticates the Clerk’s seal and signature. In West Virginia, the Secretary of State issues apostilles.14West Virginia Secretary of State. Authentication of Documents for International Use
The steps: get a certified copy from the Circuit Clerk with an original signature and raised seal, then submit it to the Secretary of State with a completed Form AC-1, $10 for the first document ($5 for each additional document certified by the same official), and the name of the destination country. You can file in person or by mail; if mailing, include a prepaid return shipping envelope for express delivery. For countries that aren’t part of the Hague Convention, you request an authentication certificate through the same office instead of an apostille.14West Virginia Secretary of State. Authentication of Documents for International Use