About West Virginia Public Records

West Virginia public records are governed by the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1 et seq.), which declares that every person has a right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body. The West Virginia State Police administers the Criminal Identification Bureau under W. Va. Code § 15-2-24, county Clerks hold land records under § 39-1-2, and the Supreme Court of Appeals publishes court information at courtswv.gov.

West Virginia Public Records

Court Records

Court Forms
Official Free
West Virginia Judiciary court forms, including family court and magistrate court forms, personal safety, guardianship, conservator, expungement, mental hygiene, and translator forms.
🌐 courtswv.gov
Court of Appeals | U.S. Fourth Circuit Records
Official Free
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals PACER database. Search for case records and obtain dockets and document copies. Access requires PACER registration and a small fee per search. Covers West Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina.
🌐 ca4.uscourts.gov
Court of Claims
Official Free
Use this service of the West Virginia Legislature to search the West Virginia Court of Claims Decisions by keyword.
🌐 wvlegislature.gov
Court Rules
Official Free
West Virginia Judiciary court rules, including: Supreme Court, Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court Proceedings; Rules Governing Lawyers and Judges; and Miscellaneous rules.
🌐 courtswv.gov
Criminal Records
Official Free
Search Systems Premium database of West Virginia criminal records statewide. Includes: misdemeanor and felony records from the 31 circuit courts; Department of Corrections inmates; and West Virginia registered offenders.
🌐 searchsystems.net

Criminal Records

Criminal Histories
Official Free
West Virginia State Police information on how to order criminal histories for employment, housing, and license certification.
🌐 wvsp.gov

Property Records

Codes
Official Free
Search West Virginia Codes by section, article and chapter or browse the West Virginia Code by chapter or title.
🌐 code.wvlegislature.gov
Flood Map
Official Free
WV National Flood Insurance Program Office GIS map of flood risks.
🌐 mapwv.gov
Flood Zones
Official Free
Searchable GIS map of flood zones and flood risks in West Virginia.
🌐 mapwv.gov
GIS Map
Official Free
Interactive GIS map of West Virginia roads, geography, topography, aerial photography, and more.
🌐 mapwv.gov
Liquor Stores
Official Free
Search by license type, county, DBA, and/or license number for West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration licensed retail and non-retail establishments. Requires registration and password.
🌐 portal.wvabca.com
State Register
Official Free
The State Register is published weekly to help citizens keep up-to-date on the meetings, rule making and other official actions of state government agencies, boards and commissions.
🌐 apps.sos.wv.gov
Voters
Official Free
West Virginia Secretary of State voter registration status check.
🌐 apps.sos.wv.gov

Vital Records

Birth Records
Official Free
Use this West Virginia Division of Culture and History service to search for birth records in selected counties between 1816 and 1931.
🌐 wvculture.org
Death Records
Official Free
Use this West Virginia Division of Culture and History service to search for death records in selected counties between 1853 and 1970.
🌐 wvculture.org
Marriage Records
Official Free
Use this West Virginia Division of Culture and History service to search for marriage records in selected counties between 1856 and 1970.
🌐 wvculture.org
Missing
Official Free
Children and adults listed as missing by the West Virginia State Police. Provides name, date of birth, photo, and a pdf poster alert.
🌐 wvsp.gov

Licenses

Companies and Corporations
Official Free
Search business organizations in WV. Includes business trusts, corporations, LLCs, LLPs, Professional LLPs, trademark holders, limited partnerships, general partnerships, and non-profits.
🌐 apps.sos.wv.gov

Business

Uniform Commercial Code
Official Free
Uniform Commercial Code filings from the West Virginia Secretary of State. Results provided are filing number, file date, type of document (e.g. UCC-1), secured party, and status. Document copies may be ordered online.
🌐 apps.wv.gov

Civic

Agencies
Official Free
West Virginia Government state agencies from A to Z.
🌐 wv.gov
Early Childhood Resource Lending Library
Official Free
Search the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services Early Childhood Resource Lending Library for available books, brochures, videotapes, workbooks, etc. for early childhood resource materials available to early childhood personnel and parents
🌐 wvdhhr.org

Other

Campaign Finance
Official Free
West Virginia Secretary of State campaign candidate and committee finance reports, historical filings, and Federal candidate reports.
🌐 cfrs.wvsos.gov
Community Resources
Official Free
Search by service and/or county for community resources such as addiction counseling, employment services, health care, housing, mental and behavioral health services, transportation, education, and churches.
🌐 dhhr.wv.gov
Executive Journal
Official Free
WV Secretary of State search of the Executive Journal for names that appear as appointees and commissioners, on boards and public service districts, and in executive orders and proclamations.
🌐 apps.sos.wv.gov
Military - Veterans
Official Free
Use this West Virginia Division of Culture and History "Memory Project" service to search for Veterans records by name, war, county, and/or keyword.
🌐 wvculture.org
Service of Process
Official Free
Search this West Virginia Secretary of State database for Service of Process information (summons & complaints, subpoenas, etc.) by civil action number, county, or defendant name.
🌐 apps.sos.wv.gov
Surname Exchange
Official Free
West Virginia Archives and History database of surnames and researchers who are interested in surname information exchanges.
🌐 wvculture.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What public records are available in West Virginia?

West Virginia provides public access to court records, criminal histories, vital records (birth/death/marriage), property records, professional licenses, voter registration, and business filings. Each record type has its own page on SearchSystems.net.

Are West Virginia public records free?

Most online lookups — court calendars, property assessor portals, license verification, voter status — are free. Certified copies and fingerprint-based criminal-history checks typically carry a state fee.

What law governs public records in West Virginia?

West Virginia public records are governed by W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1 et seq. (West Virginia Freedom of Information Act), which presumes records of every public body are open for inspection unless specifically exempted.

How do I request a record not available online?

File a written records request with the state or local agency that maintains the record. Most West Virginia agencies must respond within a fixed statutory window (typically 3–15 business days).