West Virginia runs one unified, state-administered court system rather than a loose set of county-controlled courts. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia sets statewide rules and supervises the judiciary through its Administrative Director. Yet the buildings you actually visit are local: a county courthouse in a seat like Clarksburg or Welch, a magistrate office on a main street, or a city hall court. Knowing which door to knock on saves a wasted trip, especially in mountain counties where the next courthouse may be an hour's drive away.

This page explains how the system fits together, which court handles which problem, and how the local offices in our directory map onto that structure. It is written for anyone holding a traffic ticket, a lawsuit, a custody dispute, or a jury summons and wondering where to start.

How the West Virginia Court System Is Organized from the Top Down

At the top sits the Supreme Court of Appeals, made up of five justices elected in nonpartisan statewide elections to twelve-year terms. It meets at the State Capitol complex in Charleston. In 2022 the state added the Intermediate Court of Appeals, a three-judge court that hears many appeals from circuit courts, family courts, and certain state agencies. That change eased the Supreme Court's workload and gave litigants an additional layer of review.

Below those courts are the trial courts, where most residents meet the system. West Virginia has circuit courts, family courts, magistrate courts, and municipal courts. The state is divided into judicial circuits, and some smaller counties share a circuit judge with their neighbors. In those places a courthouse may host a judge only on certain days. The Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals manages budgets, training, technology, and judicial assignments. County commissions generally provide and maintain the courthouse buildings.

It helps to know who does what inside a courthouse. Judges and magistrates decide cases. Clerks process filings, keep records, and schedule hearings, but they cannot give legal advice. Sheriff's deputies usually provide courtroom security and serve many court papers.

Municipal courts are the exception to the statewide pattern. Cities create them, and they hear violations of city ordinances rather than state crimes. Our directory includes municipal courts in Clarksburg, Charles Town, Grafton, Hamlin, Kingwood, Marlinton, and Moorefield. Decisions from these courts can be appealed to the circuit court of the county, so they are not always the final word.

Magistrate, Circuit, and Family Court: Which One Handles Your Problem

Most confusion comes from picking the wrong court. The short rule: small and fast matters go to magistrate court, serious or large matters go to circuit court, and family disputes go to family court.

Magistrate courts: the everyday front door

Every county has at least two magistrates, elected to four-year terms, and larger counties have more. Magistrate courts handle misdemeanors, state traffic offenses, small claims and civil disputes up to $10,000, and evictions. They also take the first steps in felony cases, such as setting bail and holding preliminary hearings. Magistrates issue arrest and search warrants and can grant emergency protective orders. Fairmont Magistrate Court on Jackson Street, Logan Magistrate Court on Stratton Street, and Martinsburg Magistrate Court on West South Street are typical examples.

Circuit courts: felonies, major civil cases, and appeals

Circuit judges serve eight-year terms after nonpartisan elections. Circuit courts try felonies and civil cases above the magistrate limit. They also handle adoptions, name changes, adult guardianships, expungements, and appeals from magistrate and municipal courts. The circuit clerk in each county accepts filings, keeps case files, and summons jurors. Our database lists circuit court offices in Charleston, Beckley, Huntington, Welch, Elkins, Fayetteville, Lewisburg, Madison, and Harrisville. The state also has a Business Court Division for complex commercial disputes.

Family courts: divorce, custody, and protective orders

Family court judges, also elected to eight-year terms, hear divorce, child support, custody, parenting plans, and domestic violence protective order petitions. You file the paperwork with the circuit clerk in your county, even though a family court judge hears the case. Family judges cover multi-county circuits, so hearing days vary by courthouse. Read your hearing notice carefully. Appeal deadlines are short, so speak with a lawyer or legal aid office quickly if you disagree with a ruling.

How Geography Shapes Court Access in West Virginia

Kanawha County is the busiest court center in the state. Charleston hosts the Supreme Court, the circuit court at 111 Court Street, and the federal courthouse for the Southern District of West Virginia. Size brings more magistrates, more hearing dates, and more specialized dockets such as drug court programs. If you are filing in Charleston, expect security screening, busy hallways, and parking that takes a few extra minutes.

The southern coalfields look very different. McDowell County, with Welch as its seat, has a dozen listings in our database even though its population has fallen for decades. Welch Circuit Court on Wyoming Street remains the main trial venue. Winding two-lane roads can add real time to a court date, and Logan, Mingo, and Mercer counties present similar travel challenges. Leave early, check the weather in winter, and call ahead if you run late.

North central West Virginia clusters around Clarksburg and Fairmont. Harrison County includes Clarksburg Municipal Court at 222 West Main Street, and Fairmont Magistrate Court at 200 Jackson Street serves Marion County. The federal Northern District of West Virginia also holds court in Clarksburg, Elkins, Martinsburg, and Wheeling. Federal courts are separate from state courts, so a state traffic ticket or divorce never goes there.

The Eastern Panhandle is one of the few growing regions, with many residents commuting toward the Washington, D.C. area. Martinsburg Magistrate Court in Berkeley County, Charles Town Municipal Court in Jefferson County, and Berkeley Springs Magistrate Court in Morgan County handle traffic, small claims, and local ordinance cases for people who often live in one state and work in another. If you received a citation in one of these counties, do not assume you can handle it from out of state without checking the instructions on the ticket.

In the south-central part of the state, Raleigh County relies on Beckley Circuit Court at 222 Main Street. Hinton Magistrate Court in Summers County and Lewisburg Circuit Court in Greenbrier County serve the New River and Greenbrier valleys. Ohio Valley courts, such as those in Marshall County, follow the same statewide structure but may keep different hearing schedules.

What to Bring and Do Before You Visit a West Virginia Courthouse

A little preparation prevents most problems at the counter. Use this checklist before you leave home.

Our listings come from public records, and phone numbers or addresses can change. Treat each entry as a starting point, then confirm details directly with the office. When your case involves a deadline, write down the date and who told you, and keep copies of everything you file.

Courts in West Virginia operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The West Virginia Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 169 cities across West Virginia. They are spread across 56 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Clarksburg, Fairmont, Logan, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of West Virginia should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of West Virginia who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across West Virginia to find the nearest location.

Records, Deadlines, and Local Practice in West Virginia Courts

Court records in West Virginia stay close to where the case was heard. Circuit court and family court files are kept by the circuit clerk in the county of filing, while magistrate court files stay with the magistrate court clerk. Marriage licenses, deeds, and wills are handled by the county clerk, a separate office often found in the same courthouse. If you are unsure, ask the clerk at the courthouse where the case began.

Local practice differs more than the statutes suggest. In Fayette County, Fayetteville Circuit Court at 100 North Court Street handles trial matters for a largely rural county. In Greenbrier County, Lewisburg Circuit Court at 200 North Court Street serves the Greenbrier Valley. Smaller offices may keep shorter hours, so a phone call before you drive is worth the two minutes.

Deadlines deserve special attention. A traffic citation lists a date or a window to pay or contest. Ignoring it can bring added penalties, including consequences for your driver's license. Appeals from magistrate and municipal courts run on tight clocks that start when the order is entered. Jury summonses come from the circuit clerk and carry legal consequences if ignored.

Small towns still keep local courts. Grantsville Magistrate Court in Calhoun County, Glenville Magistrate Court in Gilmer County, and Keyser Magistrate Court in Mineral County are examples. Confirm any address or phone number directly, since offices move and reorganize.

Frequently Asked Questions About West Virginia Courts

Read the citation first, because it names the court. Tickets for state traffic law violations usually go to the magistrate court of the county where the stop occurred, such as Fairmont Magistrate Court in Marion County or Buckhannon Magistrate Court in Upshur County. Tickets written under a city ordinance go to that city's municipal court, such as Charles Town Municipal Court. You can usually pay the fine or request a hearing, but you must act by the stated deadline. Missing it can lead to added penalties and trouble with your license. If the instructions are unclear, call the clerk's office listed on the ticket.

Divorce, custody, and child support cases begin with a petition filed at the circuit clerk's office in your county, and a family court judge then hears the case. Residency rules apply. West Virginia generally expects one spouse to have lived in the state for a set period before filing, with some exceptions, so confirm your situation with the clerk or an attorney. The clerk can provide standard forms but cannot advise you on which ones fit your case. Courthouses in Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, and Elkins handle sizable family caseloads, so ask about hearing schedules and filing fees before you go.

You can file a petition at your county's magistrate court or through the circuit clerk for family court. A magistrate can issue an emergency protective order quickly when there is immediate danger, and a hearing before a family court judge follows to decide whether protection should continue. You do not need a lawyer to start. Bring identification and details of the incidents, including dates, injuries, and any police report numbers. If you are in danger right now, call 911 first. Court staff and local advocates can explain the steps and help you plan for your safety.

West Virginia handles small claims in magistrate court, which hears civil disputes up to $10,000. That covers unpaid debts, security deposit disputes, property damage, and similar claims. You file a complaint with the magistrate court clerk in the appropriate county, generally where the defendant lives or where the dispute arose, and pay the filing fee. The court then arranges service on the other party. You do not need a lawyer, though you may hire one. Bring contracts, receipts, photos, and any texts or emails. Logan Magistrate Court and Glenville Magistrate Court follow the same process, though scheduling differs.

In some situations, yes. Legal Aid of West Virginia provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income residents on matters such as evictions, family law, and public benefits. The West Virginia State Bar also offers lawyer referral resources for people who can pay a reduced or standard fee. In criminal cases where jail is possible, you may ask the judge at your first appearance for a court-appointed lawyer if you cannot afford one, and public defender offices handle many of those assignments. Court clerks cannot give legal advice, but they can tell you which forms exist and where to file them.

Appeals from magistrate court go to the circuit court of the same county, and in many cases the circuit court hears the matter fresh instead of simply reviewing the magistrate's work. The deadline is short and begins when the judgment or sentence is entered, so do not wait. You usually file a written notice with the magistrate clerk and may need to pay fees or post a bond, depending on the case type. Appeals from municipal court also go to circuit court. Because rules differ for civil and criminal matters, speak with an attorney or a legal aid office promptly.