OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. Note that West Virginia's highest court is still called the "Supreme Court of Appeals" — that name was retained even after the new intermediate court was added in 2022.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through the WV statewide case information system
🔍 Arrest records from county sheriffs and municipal police
📋 Criminal history checks through WV State Police
🏛️ Vital records, property records, and open-records requests
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county where the record was created

How Records Work in West Virginia

West Virginia's court and arrest records run across state, county, and arresting-agency levels. The state judiciary — now with the new Intermediate Court of Appeals sitting between trial courts and the Supreme Court of Appeals — maintains appellate records. WV State Police holds statewide criminal history through its Criminal Identification Bureau. Most of what people need — Circuit Court filings, deeds, marriage licenses, arrest reports — lives at the county level.

West Virginia has 55 counties. Each has its own Circuit Clerk (for Circuit Court records), County Clerk (for deeds, wills, and vital records filed locally), sheriff, and Magistrate Court. The statewide case search covers all 55 counties' Circuit and Family Court records, but older records and some specialized filings may require an in-person visit to the clerk's office.

Counties in West Virginia

West Virginia has 55 counties. Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. Older court filings and some specialized records require contacting the clerk's office directly. The Intermediate Court of Appeals is still relatively new, so its procedures and coverage continue to evolve. When in doubt, call the agency directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026