Searching Preston County: what to expect
Preston County keeps a modest online footprint — 2 of the 8 sources below are the county's own; the rest is statewide coverage. West Virginia courts search county by county, and Preston County has no public online docket listed — case records mean the clerk's office, or the statewide options on the West Virginia court records page. Two local sources do most of the work — prestoncountyclerkwv.com for local vital-records requests, preston.wvassessor.com for parcel and property-tax data. One gap: recorded documents aren't published by the county itself. Use the West Virginia recorded documents page for those.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Preston County record-source URLs verified against the official local and West Virginia state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Preston County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Preston County, West Virginia — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
34,055
Population
Census estimate
12,623
Households
Census estimate
$60,136
Median income
Annual household
$147,400
Median home value
Census ACS
Kingwood
County seat
In West Virginia
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
1 source
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
3 sources
Vital records
3 sources
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Preston County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Preston County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | 39 - Preston County | West Virginia Judiciary |
| Criminal records | |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Property Record - Preston County Assessor's Office Preston Parcel Viewer |
| Vital records | Deaths Vital Records (Interactive) - West Virginia Culture Center :… |
| Voter records | Preston County Results - sos.wv.gov |
| Professional licenses | |
| Recorded documents | Preston County |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Preston County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Preston County Records
2026
Preston County court records portal verified
State court system links for Preston County verified against the West Virginia judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Preston County property records online
Preston County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside West Virginia, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Preston County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Preston County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Preston County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the West Virginia statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the West Virginia state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Preston County Records
MYTH"Preston County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Preston County are held by the West Virginia state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Preston County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Preston County data."
FACTOnly the official West Virginia state repository has verified, current Preston County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Preston County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Preston County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.courtswv.gov — Court records — official source
- www.mapwv.gov — Property records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Preston County & West Virginia Records
For records not specific to Preston County, use West Virginia's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 West Virginia statewide record systems:
- West Virginia Court Records →
- West Virginia Criminal Records →
- West Virginia Property Records →
- West Virginia Vital Records →
- West Virginia Voter Records →
- West Virginia Wants & Warrants →
- West Virginia Licenses →
- West Virginia Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
West Virginia statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Looking for a person, not a database? Start with the West Virginia guides:
About Preston County, West Virginia
Preston County is located in West Virginia. The county seat is Kingwood.
- Population: 34,055
- Households: 12,623
- Median household income: $60,136
- Median home value: $147,400
- Below poverty line: 13.8%
- Land area: 648.8 sq mi
- Population density: 52.5 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 2
- NCES schools indexed: 11
Deaths
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to Preston County are ordered here. If a link breaks, start from wvculture.org directly.
Vital Records (Interactive) - West Virginia Culture Center : West Virginia Culture Center
Official Free
Search Vital Records The Vital Research Records Project is placing Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates on-line. Users can search the records and view
Document Inquiry | Preston County Clerk
Official Free
The Preston County Clerk makes no guarantees regarding the collection, accuracy, authenticity or use of these records. The Clerk shall in no way be held responsible for errors or omissions in these records nor for any actions resulting from their use. The Clerk disclaims any liability and/or.
Property Record - Preston County Assessor's Office
Official Free
Property assessment records for Preston County, West Virginia. Exemptions — homestead, senior, veteran — show on the parcel record where claimed. Values follow the reassessment cycle, so a recent sale may not show immediately.
Preston Parcel Viewer
Official Free
Parcel mapping for Preston County, West Virginia with ownership and assessment layers. Click any parcel for the ownership and assessment record tied to it. Printable map exports are standard for title and permit work.
Property Search - WV Real Estate Assessment
Official Free
This WV Property Assessment portal is designed for searching and displaying property ownership and location information for all 55 counties in West Virginia through the Property Search and Property Viewer Applications. The FAQ and Resources have been provided to help answer questions.
39 - Preston County | West Virginia Judiciary
Official Free
Court case information for Preston County — dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. If a link breaks, the office homepage at courtswv.gov carries the new path.
Preston County Results - sos.wv.gov
Official Free
In an ongoing effort to keep you informed of election night results, these pages contain data supplied by the counties in West Virginia. As this data is received from the various counties, the Secretary of State's office will summarize and post the information to this site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Preston County?
Preston County court cases are searchable through the 39 - Preston County | West Virginia Judiciary portal: https://www.courtswv.gov/node/30859. West Virginia also operates a state-level case lookup through the WV Courts system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in West Virginia?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most West Virginia counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
Are West Virginia marriage records public?
Marriage records in West Virginia are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
Are Preston County records free to search?
Yes — every link on this page goes to an official government source. Basic searches are free. Certified copies and formal background checks carry the standard government fee.