Marshall County Court Records Search
WestVirginiaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on WestVirginiaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Marshall County, West Virginia, is situated in the northern panhandle of the state along the Ohio River, with its county seat in Moundsville. The county’s judicial system encompasses a Circuit Court, a Family Court, a Magistrate Court, and several municipal courts serving the county’s cities and towns. Records produced by these courts — including case filings, orders, judgments, and hearing information — are maintained by two primary custodians: the Circuit Court Clerk for circuit and family court matters, and the County Clerk for vital records, probate filings, and recorded instruments.
West Virginia residents looking to locate court case information have multiple tools available. Clerk offices, online portals, and public records requests all provide pathways to court documents. WestVirginiaCourts.us can help direct users to publicly available case information across the state, including access to the statewide court search systems and individual county clerk contact details.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Marshall County?
Marshall County is part of the Second Judicial Circuit, which also includes Tyler and Wetzel Counties. The Circuit Court Clerk serves as the official registrar, recorder, and custodian of all documents filed in the Circuit and Family Courts. For magistrate-level matters, the Magistrate Court has its own clerk.
Marshall County Circuit Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 600 Seventh Street, Room 127, Moundsville, WV 26041 |
| Phone | (304) 845-2130 |
| Fax | (304) 845-3948 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
Marshall County Magistrate Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Christopher M. DeMuth |
| Address | 511 Sixth Street, Moundsville, WV 26041 |
| Phone | (304) 221-2701 |
| Fax | (304) 845-1740 |
| Magistrates | Zachary B. Allman ((304) 845-4602); Mark A. Kerwood ((304) 845-4608); Tom Wood ((304) 845-5752) |
Online Case Search Tools
The West Virginia Judiciary provides two primary online systems for searching court records:
- WVPASS (West Virginia Public Access Search System): Launched in March 2025, WVPASS provides public online access to circuit court documents from all 55 West Virginia counties, including Marshall County, dating back to 1999. Registered users can search and download publicly available criminal and civil case files for $0.25 per page.
- West Virginia Magistrate Case Records Search: The Magistrate Case Records Search is a free tool that allows anyone to look up magistrate court case information statewide by entering a first name, last name, or case number. Results return up to 30 records at a time. Returned records represent a complete civil or criminal history; contact the Magistrate Court Clerk to validate information or request official copies.
Both tools are accessible from the West Virginia Judiciary’s Court Record Access page.
Are Court Records Public in Marshall County?
The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1 et seq.) establishes a strong presumption of public accessibility for government records. Court records in Marshall County are therefore generally open to inspection and copying by any member of the public, with no obligation to state a reason for the request.
Records generally available to the public include:
- Circuit court civil and criminal case filings, motions, orders, and judgments
- Magistrate court civil and criminal case records
- Family court orders (unless sealed)
- Probate filings and estate records held by the County Clerk
- Property instruments — deeds, liens, mortgages, UCC filings — recorded with the County Clerk
- Marriage records 50 years old or older
Records that are restricted or withheld under W. Va. Code § 29B-1-4 include:
- Juvenile court records — proceedings involving minors are confidential; access is limited to the juvenile, their parents or guardians, attorneys of record, and authorized government agencies
- Adoption files — sealed by law and inaccessible to the general public
- Sensitive personal information — home addresses, Social Security numbers, credit and debit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, and marital status or maiden name within court documents are not publicly disclosed
- Records involving confidential medical or financial information — protected when disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
- Marriage and divorce records under 50 years old — access limited to parties named in the records, their offspring, and authorized legal representatives
- Birth records — restricted to the subject (age 18 or older), parents, grandparents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, spouses, and legal guardians or representatives
- Records sealed by court order — any document or case file sealed by a judge is withheld from public inspection
The burden of proving that a record is exempt from disclosure rests with the public body asserting the exemption, not the requester.
Marshall County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Marshall County are divided by severity. Felony charges and serious criminal cases are prosecuted in the Circuit Court. Misdemeanors, traffic violations, summary offenses, and preliminary hearings for felony matters fall within the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Court.
Searching Criminal Records Online
- Use WVPASS to search circuit-level felony criminal case documents from 1999 onward. A registered account is required; document downloads cost $0.25 per page.
- Use the free Magistrate Case Records Search for misdemeanor and lower-level criminal cases handled at the magistrate level.
Requesting Criminal Case Copies
For circuit court criminal records not available through WVPASS, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (304) 845-2130 or visit Room 127 at the Marshall County Courthouse, 600 Seventh Street, Moundsville. Written requests can be submitted by mail to the same address. Include the full names of all parties, the case number if known, the approximate filing date, and a description of the specific documents needed.
Marshall County Sheriff’s Office
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Mike Dougherty, is located at 601 Seventh Street, Moundsville, WV 26041, and can be reached at (304) 843-1500. The Sheriff’s Office maintains information on active criminal matters and community safety resources. For inmate location and detention status, the Marshall County Commission’s Locate an Inmate page directs users to available detention and corrections resources. West Virginia’s Regional Jail Authority also maintains a public daily incarcerations search for statewide inmate lookups.
Municipal Courts
Several Marshall County municipalities maintain their own courts handling local ordinance violations and traffic matters:
| Municipal Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Benwood Municipal Court | 430 Main Street, Benwood, WV 26031 | (304) 232-4320 |
| Cameron Municipal Court | 44 Main Street, Cameron, WV 26033 | (304) 686-2366 |
| Glen Dale Municipal Court | 402 Wheeling Avenue, Glen Dale, WV 26038 | (304) 845-5511 |
| McMechen Municipal Court | 47 9th Street, McMechen, WV 26040 | (304) 232-3140 |
| Moundsville Municipal Court | 800 6th Street, P.O. Box E, Moundsville, WV 26041 | (304) 845-3394 |
Marshall County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Marshall County are distributed between the Circuit Court (larger civil disputes, appeals, and equity matters) and the Magistrate Court (small claims and civil disputes within its jurisdictional limits). The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all civil case files for circuit-level proceedings, while the Magistrate Court Clerk manages magistrate civil records.
Requesting Civil Case Records
For circuit court civil filings and orders, contact or visit the Circuit Court Clerk at the Marshall County Courthouse, 600 Seventh Street, Room 127, Moundsville. Alternatively, use WVPASS to search and download publicly available civil case documents from 1999 onward at $0.25 per page. For magistrate civil matters, the free Magistrate Case Records Search allows party name or case number searches and provides a civil and criminal case history.
Property and Land Records
Real estate instruments — including deeds, deeds of trust, liens, releases, appraisements, settlements, UCC filings, leases, wills, and military discharge records — are maintained by the Marshall County Clerk’s Office. The County Clerk recently relocated temporarily to 705 Tomlinson Avenue, Moundsville, WV 26041 (the former AEP building). The permanent address is:
Marshall County Clerk’s Office
600 Seventh Street, Room 106
P.O. Box 459
Moundsville, WV 26041
Phone: (304) 845-1220
Fax: (304) 845-5891
Email: estates@marshallcountywv.gov (probate/fiduciary matters)
Copies of recorded documents cost $1.50 for the first two pages and $1.00 for each additional page. Public computers are available in the Clerk’s Office for searching tax and indexing records. An IDX Document Search portal also allows online search and purchase of scanned County Clerk documents, including land books, deeds, and other recorded instruments. The current County Clerk Fee Schedule is available on the County’s website.
Property data including ownership information, parcel details, tax documentation, and assessment records can also be accessed through the West Virginia Property Assessment portal and the Marshall County Assessor’s search tool.
Marshall County Family Court Records
Marshall County’s Family Court operates as part of the Second Family Court Circuit, sharing jurisdiction with Tyler and Wetzel Counties. Family Court handles divorce and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, domestic violence civil protection orders, paternity, and adoption proceedings. The Circuit Court Clerk serves as the record custodian for all Family Court filings and orders.
Divorce Records
Divorce records in West Virginia are not open to public access until 50 years after the dissolution is granted. Before that threshold, only the parties named in the proceedings, their immediate family members, and attorneys of record may request these documents. Third parties require a valid court order to access specific divorce documents.
To request a divorce record from Marshall County, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (304) 845-2130 or write to:
Marshall County Circuit Clerk
600 Seventh Street, Room 127
Moundsville, WV 26041
Note that divorce records are not available from the West Virginia Vital Registration Office or the West Virginia Archives and History Library. The Circuit Clerk’s Office is the exclusive custodian for divorce decrees and related court records in Marshall County.
Marriage Records
Marriage records are held by the Marshall County Clerk’s Office. Under West Virginia law, certified copies of marriage records less than 50 years old are available only to the parties listed on the certificate, their offspring, and legal representatives presenting proof of authority. The general public may access marriage records that are 50 years old or older without restriction.
To request a certified copy of a marriage record by mail, complete the Vital Records Request Form and send it along with a photocopy of valid photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a non-refundable fee of $5.00 per certified copy to:
Marshall County Courthouse
600 Seventh Street, Room 106
P.O. Box 459
Moundsville, WV 26041
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates for Marshall County are maintained by the County Clerk’s Office and by the West Virginia Department of Health’s Vital Registration Office. For birth certificates, eligible requesters include the subject of the record (age 18 or older), parents, grandparents, adult children and grandchildren, adult siblings, spouses, and legal guardians or representatives with proof of their authority. Death certificates may be requested by the informant named on the certificate, parents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, and legal representatives.
The certified copy fee for birth and death certificates is $12.00 per copy through the West Virginia Department of Health, which includes a non-refundable search fee. For local certified copies from the County Clerk, the fee is $5.00 per copy. Use the Vital Records Request Form for mail requests to the County Clerk’s Office.
Marshall County Probate Court Records
In West Virginia, probate jurisdiction belongs to the County Clerk, not the Circuit Court. The Marshall County Clerk’s Office administers all probate and estate matters, including recording and probating wills, appointing fiduciaries in estate matters, and processing conservatorships and guardianships.
Key Probate Procedures and Requirements
- All probate appointments must be scheduled in advance — walk-in probate service is not available
- All required documentation must be assembled and ready before an appointment is confirmed
- A $300.00 deposit is required at the time of all probate appointments to cover potential costs of a Fiduciary Commissioner if the matter is referred during probate. This deposit is separate from other fees and must be paid in cash, check, or money order. The deposit is refunded after settlement is approved if no referral was made.
Contacting the Probate Division
For probate and estate questions, contact the Marshall County Clerk’s Office:
- Phone: (304) 845-1220
- Email: estates@marshallcountywv.gov
- Address: 600 Seventh Street, Room 106, P.O. Box 459, Moundsville, WV 26041 (temporarily located at 705 Tomlinson Avenue during office relocation)
Searching Probate Records Online
Probate-related case records that have gone through the Circuit Court — such as contested estate disputes — may be searchable through WVPASS at $0.25 per page. The County Clerk’s IDX Document Search portal provides online access to scanned probate filings and land records maintained by the Clerk’s Office. Downloadable County Clerk Forms for probate and related matters are also available on the Marshall County Commission website.
Historical probate records for genealogical research, including probate records dating to 1850, are indexed in the county’s historical archives and may be researched through the West Virginia Archives and History Library in Charleston.