Mingo County Court Records Search
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Mingo County sits in the southwestern corner of West Virginia along the Tug Fork River, with Williamson serving as the county seat. The county's judicial system is part of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which it shares with neighboring Logan County. Whether you're a resident, attorney, or researcher, finding what you need here means knowing which office handles which type of case, how to request records, and what limits state law places on access.
Court records in West Virginia are maintained by individual court clerks and are subject primarily to the West Virginia Trial Court Rules — specifically Rules 10.03 and 10.04 — alongside the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The county's court system spans a Circuit Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, and five Municipal Courts, each keeping its own dockets and files.
If you're searching for court case information in West Virginia, WestVirginiaCourts.us can help you identify the right court and locate publicly available case information. Case searches are also available directly through the West Virginia Judiciary's online portals, clerk offices, and public access terminals inside courthouse facilities.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Mingo County?
There are three main ways to search Mingo County court records: online state portals, in-person review at a clerk's office, and written request by mail.
Online Search Tools
The West Virginia Judiciary provides two primary online systems for public case searches:
- WVPASS (West Virginia Public Access Search System) — Launched in March 2025, WVPASS provides online access to all publicly available circuit court documents across all fifty-five West Virginia counties, with records dating back to 1999. This is the primary resource for searching Mingo County Circuit Court filings.
- Magistrate Case Record Search — Anyone with internet access can search magistrate court cases statewide by entering a party's first or last name or a case number. Results include a complete civil or criminal history for matching records. To get certified copies, contact the magistrate clerk directly.
Both tools are accessible through the West Virginia Judiciary's Court Record Access page.
In-Person Access
Public terminals are available at the Mingo County Courthouse during regular business hours. Clerks can help with docket lookups, file review, and copy requests. Office hours for recorded documents are 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
Mail Requests
Written requests may be mailed to the appropriate clerk's office. Include the full legal name of at least one party, the approximate filing date or case number, and the nature of the case. Copy fees apply, so contact the relevant clerk before submitting payment.
Mingo County Court Locations
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court | 78 East Second Avenue, Room 228, Williamson, WV 25661 | (304) 235-0340 |
| Magistrate Court | 101 Logan Street, Room 303, Williamson, WV 25661 | (304) 235-2445 |
| Family Court | 78 East Second Avenue, Room 325, Williamson, WV 25661 | (304) 235-6007 |
| County Clerk's Office | 78 East Second Avenue, Room 125, Williamson, WV 25661 | (304) 235-0330 |
Municipal Courts are also located throughout the county:
- Delbarton Municipal Court — 1 Riverside Drive, P.O. Box 730, Delbarton, WV 25670 | (304) 475-3359
- Gilbert Municipal Court — 101 Main Street, P.O. Box 188, Gilbert, WV 25621 | (304) 664-9625
- Kermit Municipal Court — 160 Logan Street, P.O. Box 385, Kermit, WV 25674 | (304) 393-3563
- Matewan Municipal Court — 20 McCoy Alley, P.O. Box 306, Matewan, WV 25678 | (304) 426-4092
- Williamson Municipal Court — 108 East 4th Avenue, P.O. Box 1517, Williamson, WV 25661 | (304) 235-1510
Are Court Records Public in Mingo County?
West Virginia law starts from a presumption of open access to court records. WV Trial Court Rule 10.04 establishes public access to court files under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, and Rule 15A.26 specifically extends those access provisions to electronically filed circuit and family court documents. In practice, members of the public may inspect case dockets, pleadings, judgments, and related filings without charge during regular courthouse hours.
That said, access is not unlimited. Under WV Trial Court Rule 10.03, a court may restrict access to specific materials upon formal motion. The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, codified at W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3, also identifies categories of information that agencies may withhold from disclosure.
Records commonly restricted from general public access include:
- Personal identifying details embedded in sensitive filings
- Law enforcement-sensitive material within criminal case files
- Proprietary or classified business information
- Inter-agency advisory communications
- Standardized testing or employment assessment data
- Bank account and financial records submitted under seal
Vital records — including birth, death, marriage, and divorce records — are separately governed by W. Va. Code § 16-5-27 and carry their own confidentiality timelines:
| Record Type | Public Access Threshold |
|---|---|
| Birth certificates | 100 years after event |
| Death certificates | 50 years after event |
| Marriage records | 50 years after event |
| Divorce records | 50 years after event |
Before the applicable threshold, access is limited to the record subject, legal representatives, or individuals presenting a valid court order. The WV Secretary of State County Clerk Directory has contact information for all county clerks who maintain vital records.
Mingo County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Mingo County are divided between two courts based on the severity of the offense. Felony charges and serious misdemeanors are prosecuted in the Circuit Court, while the Magistrate Court handles lower-level misdemeanors, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in felony cases. Both clerks maintain official records of their respective proceedings.
What criminal records contain:
- Indictments and charging documents
- Pre-trial motions and rulings
- Sentencing orders
- Probation and supervision records
- Appeal filings
To request criminal records in person or by mail, provide:
- Full legal name of the defendant
- Approximate filing date or date of offense
- Case number (if known)
- Nature of the charge or offense type
- Payment for any applicable copy fees
Circuit Court Clerk:
Address: 78 East Second Avenue, Room 228, Williamson, WV 25661
Phone: (304) 235-0340 | Fax: (304) 235-0342
Magistrate Court Clerk:
Address: 101 Logan Street, Room 303, Williamson, WV 25661
Phone: (304) 235-2445 | Fax: (304) 235-3179
For criminal history background checks — which are separate from court case records — requests must go through the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau. The State Police CIB processes fingerprint-based background checks through IdentoGO and does not accept walk-in requests at its headquarters. Individuals seeking their own criminal history record may contact the CIB directly, while employers and agencies follow specific statutory procedures for obtaining third-party checks.
Arrest records from recent bookings at the Mingo County Jail may also be searched at mingocountyjail.org for inmate roster and booking information. The Mingo County Sheriff's Office on Facebook occasionally publishes public arrest announcements, but the official record of an arrest is held by the court clerk once charges are filed.
Mingo County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Mingo County spans two court levels. The Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil claims without a dollar ceiling, handling contract disputes, personal injury actions, real estate matters, and similar cases. The Magistrate Court handles smaller civil disputes where the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000 — West Virginia's small claims threshold — following relatively informal procedures as described by Legal Aid WV.
Common civil case types include:
- Breach of contract
- Landlord-tenant disputes and evictions
- Debt collection and garnishments
- Personal injury and negligence
- Property boundary and title disputes
- Small claims matters (up to $10,000 in Magistrate Court)
Searching civil records online: The WVPASS portal covers Circuit Court civil filings statewide, including Mingo County. The Magistrate Case Record Search provides case-level data for magistrate civil matters. Neither system provides certified copies — those must be obtained from the respective clerk.
Filing fees in West Virginia magistrate civil cases are set by statute under W. Va. Code § 50-3-1, with fees varying by the amount in controversy. Plaintiffs must pay filing, court costs, and service of process fees before the magistrate court accepts a civil complaint. Circuit Court civil filing fees follow a separate schedule; contact the Circuit Clerk directly at (304) 235-0340 for current amounts.
In-person file inspection at the Circuit Clerk's office is available at no charge during regular business hours. Copies are available for a fee — confirm the per-page rate directly with the clerk's office before submitting a request.
Property records — often relevant to civil litigation — are maintained by the Mingo County Clerk and can be searched through MapWV, which provides online access to parcel numbers, owner names, and property addresses. The County Assessor's Office handles tax valuations and can be reached at 75 E. 2nd Avenue, Williamson, WV 25661, Phone: (304) 235-0310
Mingo County Family Court Records
Mingo County is part of the Eighth Family Court Circuit. The Family Court handles a defined set of domestic relations matters that are separate from general civil litigation and criminal prosecution.
Matters under Family Court jurisdiction include:
- Divorce proceedings and legal separation
- Child custody and visitation (parenting plan disputes)
- Child support establishment, modification, and enforcement
- Domestic violence protective orders
- Adoption proceedings (certain types)
- Annulment
The Mingo County Family Court is located at 78 East Second Avenue, Room 325, Williamson, WV 25661, with a direct line at (304) 235-6007. Divorce forms and family court procedural resources are available through the West Virginia Judiciary's Court Record Access page.
Family court case files are maintained by the Family Court Clerk and can be reviewed in person during courthouse hours. Because many family cases involve sensitive personal information — including financial disclosures, children's identities, and domestic violence allegations — certain documents within a file may be sealed or restricted under court order, even if the case itself appears in the public docket.
Divorce records are classified as vital records under W. Va. Code § 16-5-27. Divorce decrees and the underlying case files are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk (not the Family Court Clerk), since divorce proceedings are technically filed in circuit court even when the Family Court judge presides. To request a certified copy of a divorce decree, you'll need to provide:
- Full names of both parties
- Approximate date of divorce
- Valid government-issued photo identification
- Payment of applicable copy fees
Marriage records are held by the County Clerk's Office at Room 125, 78 East Second Avenue, Williamson, WV 25661, Phone: (304) 235-0330
Birth and death certificates associated with family matters are maintained at the same County Clerk's Office and are subject to the confidentiality periods noted in the public access section above.
Mingo County Probate Court Records
In West Virginia, probate and estate matters do not go through a standalone probate court. Instead, jurisdiction is shared between the Circuit Court and, in certain matters, the County Clerk's Office. The Circuit Court handles formal estate administration, contested will proceedings, and complex guardianship and conservatorship cases. The County Clerk's Office holds wills filed for safekeeping and manages certain administrative aspects of smaller estates.
Types of records found in Mingo County probate proceedings:
- Wills filed for safekeeping and admitted to probate
- Letters testamentary and letters of administration
- Inventories and appraisements of estate assets
- Final settlement accountings
- Guardianship and conservatorship orders
- Name change petitions (filed through Circuit Court)
To request probate records, contact the appropriate office based on the nature of the filing:
Circuit Court Clerk (contested estates, guardianships, conservatorships):
Address: 78 East Second Avenue, Room 228, Williamson, WV 25661
Phone: (304) 235-0340
County Clerk's Office (wills, estate filings, vital statistics):
Address: 78 East Second Avenue, Room 125, Williamson, WV 25661
Phone: (304) 235-0330 | Fax: (304) 235-0565
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Requests should include the full legal name of the deceased, the approximate date of death or probate filing, and the case number if known. Written requests by mail are accepted — include a self-addressed envelope and confirm applicable copy fees with the clerk before submitting payment.
The probate phone line at the County Clerk's Office — (304) 235-0330 — is the best first point of contact for most estate-related questions. The current County Clerk is Larry "Yogi" Croaff, as listed in the WV Secretary of State County Clerk Directory.
Genealogical researchers should note that the West Virginia Culture Center maintains an interactive vital research records project that places older birth, death, and marriage certificates online with scanned images — a useful supplement to in-person probate research for historical estate matters.