Preston County Court Records Search

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    Preston County, West Virginia, operates a multi-tiered court system that generates official records covering the full spectrum of civil, criminal, family, and probate proceedings. These documents—which include case filings, dockets, orders, judgments, transcripts, and any audio or video recordings produced during hearings—serve as the permanent legal record of how disputes and prosecutions are resolved in the county. Located in Kingwood, the county seat, Preston County’s courts sit within the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit and the Twentieth Family Court Circuit.

    People in West Virginia who need to locate court records have several paths available to them, including direct contact with clerk offices, in-person access at the courthouse, and statewide online search tools. WestVirginiaCourts.us provides a useful starting point for understanding how the state’s court system is organized and for identifying publicly available case information. The West Virginia Judiciary also maintains its own official online portals where records from magistrate and circuit courts across all fifty-five counties—including Preston—can be searched.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Preston County?

    Which office you contact depends entirely on the type of case you are researching. Preston County has three main trial-level courts, each maintaining its own records, plus a series of municipal courts in incorporated communities throughout the county.

    Preston County Circuit Court
    Address: Preston County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street, Room 301, Kingwood, WV 26537
    Clerk: Lisa Leishman
    Phone: (304) 329-0047
    Fax: (304) 329-1417

    Preston County Magistrate Court
    Address: Preston County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street, Room 201, Kingwood, WV 26537
    Clerk: Marsha Bolyard
    Phone: (304) 329-2762, ext. 3508 or 3507
    Fax: (304) 329-0855

    Preston County Family Court (Twentieth Family Court Circuit)
    Address: Preston County Courthouse, 101 West Main Street, Room 301, Kingwood, WV 26537
    Phone: (304) 329-0047
    Fax: (304) 329-1417

    Preston County Clerk’s Office (vital records, land records, probate)
    Address: 106 W. Main Street, Suite 103, Kingwood, WV 26537
    Phone: (304) 329-0070
    Fax: (304) 329-0198
    Email: PCClerk@PrestonCountyWV.gov
    Hours: Monday 8:30 AM–5:30 PM; Tuesday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

    Online Search Options

    The West Virginia Judiciary offers multiple official portals through its Court Record Access landing page:

    • WVPASS (West Virginia Public Access Search System): Launched in March 2025, WVPASS provides online access to all publicly available circuit court documents statewide dating back to 1999. Registration is free, and documents can be downloaded directly from the system.
    • Magistrate Case Record Search: The Magistrate Court Case Search portal allows anyone to search by name or case number and returns up to 30 case records per query. It covers civil and criminal case histories in the magistrate courts.

    Municipal Courts in Preston County

    Several municipalities maintain their own limited-jurisdiction courts for ordinance violations and minor matters. Contact information for the major municipal courts is listed below:

    Municipal CourtAddressPhone
    Kingwood Municipal Court313 Tunnelton Street, Kingwood, WV 26537(304) 329-1225
    Reedsville Municipal Court207 South Robert Stone Way, P.O. Box 397, Reedsville, WV 26547(304) 864-3437
    Rowlesburg Municipal Court42 Poplar Street, P.O. Box 458, Rowlesburg, WV 26425(304) 454-2441
    Bruceton Mills Municipal CourtP.O. Box 302, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525(304) 379-7079
    Terra Alta Municipal Court701 A East State Avenue, Terra Alta, WV 26764(304) 789-6664
    Newburg Municipal CourtP.O. Box 40, Newburg, WV 26410(304) 892-3341
    Masontown Municipal CourtP.O. Box 340, Masontown, WV 26542(304) 864-5555
    Tunnelton Municipal CourtP.O. Box 396, Tunnelton, WV 26444(304) 568-2992

    Are Court Records Public in Preston County?

    The general rule in West Virginia is that court records are open to the public. The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, codified at WV Code §§ 29B-1-1 through 29B-1-7, establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. Under WV Code § 29B-1-3, every person has the right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body in the state, subject only to express statutory exemptions.

    Several categories of records are withheld from public access under applicable federal and state law:

    • Juvenile records — Restricted under WV Code § 49-5-103, which makes findings and orders in juvenile proceedings confidential. Disclosure is permitted only to specifically authorized parties. Juveniles transferred to adult criminal jurisdiction may have their records treated differently.
    • Social Security numbers and personal identifiers — WV Code § 5A-8-22 prohibits the disclosure of Social Security numbers and similar personal identifiers contained in public records.
    • Adoption records — Sealed under state law and not available for general inspection.
    • Medical records — Protected by both state privacy statutes and federal law.
    • Sealed or expunged records — Removed from public access by court order; these cannot be disclosed without further judicial authorization.

    Members of the public may inspect open records in person at the relevant clerk’s office during business hours. The West Virginia Judiciary’s online portals provide remote access to records that are not otherwise restricted.

    Preston County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal prosecutions in Preston County pass through two court levels depending on the severity of the offense. Misdemeanors and less serious criminal matters are initially heard in the Magistrate Court, while felony cases and more serious charges are handled by the Circuit Court—currently presided over by Judge Hilary Bright and Judge Steven L. Shaffer within the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit.

    Searching Criminal Records Online

    Both the Magistrate Case Record Search and the WVPASS circuit court system are available for online criminal case lookups. The magistrate portal allows searches by name or case number and returns records reflecting a complete civil and criminal history at that court level. WVPASS covers circuit court criminal filings back to 1999. Users are advised to verify any retrieved information directly with the relevant clerk’s office, as online records may not reflect the most recent case activity.

    Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Reports

    The Preston County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of the county. Arrest records and incident reports generated by the Sheriff’s Office or municipal police departments are held by those agencies rather than by the courts. For state-level criminal history background checks, requests must be directed to the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau. Third-party requesters are required to submit a signed, notarized authorization from the individual named in the record. The Bureau can be reached by phone at (304) 746-2450 or by fax at (304) 746-2294.

    Preston County Civil Court Records

    Civil disputes in Preston County are handled at two levels based on the amount in controversy. The Magistrate Court has jurisdiction over civil claims, with West Virginia having increased the magistrate court civil jurisdiction cap to $20,000 effective July 2025 under HB 2761. The Circuit Court handles civil matters exceeding the magistrate court’s jurisdictional threshold, as well as cases involving equity, injunctive relief, and complex litigation.

    Small Claims

    Small claims cases—those involving amounts not exceeding $5,000—are heard in the Magistrate Court under informal procedures designed to be accessible without an attorney. The West Virginia Judiciary’s lower courts page provides background on how magistrate court civil cases are filed and processed.

    Requesting Civil Records

    • Circuit Court civil records: Contact Lisa Leishman, Circuit Clerk, at (304) 329-0047 or visit Room 301 at the Preston County Courthouse. Provide the case number, party names, or approximate filing date.
    • Magistrate Court civil records: Contact the Magistrate Clerk, Marsha Bolyard, at (304) 329-2762 or visit Room 201 at the courthouse.
    • Online: Civil case information for both court levels is searchable through the Court Record Access portal.

    Land Records

    Deeds, liens, and other property instruments are maintained by the Preston County Clerk’s Office at 106 W. Main Street, Suite 103. The Preston County Assessor’s Office maintains property valuation and assessment records and can be reached at (304) 329-1220 at the same courthouse address.

    Preston County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Preston County are heard by the Family Court, which is part of the Twentieth Family Court Circuit—a circuit that also encompasses Monongalia County. Family Court proceedings are administered through the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at Room 301 of the Preston County Courthouse. Presiding Family Court judges handle matters that include:

    • Divorce and legal separation proceedings
    • Child custody and visitation disputes
    • Child support establishment and modification
    • Spousal support orders
    • Domestic violence protective orders
    • Adoption proceedings (records of which are sealed by law)
    • Guardianship of minors

    Divorce records are considered sensitive documents in West Virginia. Access is generally restricted to the parties to the proceeding, their legal representatives, or individuals granted access by specific court order. To request divorce records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk at (304) 329-0047.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records are maintained by the Preston County Clerk’s Office. Certified copies are accessible to the spouses, immediate family members, and other authorized parties. To request a certified copy, complete the Application for Certified Copies of Vital Records, attach a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, and submit the $5.00 per certificate fee by mail or in person to the Clerk’s Office at 106 W. Main Street, Suite 103.

    Marriage records may also be obtained through the West Virginia Department of Health’s Vital Registration Office at a fee of $12.00 per certified copy:

    Vital Registration Office
    Room 165, 350 Capitol Street
    Charleston, WV 25301-3701
    Phone: (304) 558-2931

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth and death certificates are restricted vital records not available to the general public. Certified copies are limited to the subject of the record, their parents, current spouse, children, siblings, and authorized legal representatives. Requests through the Preston County Clerk’s Office require the same Vital Records Application and a fee of $5.00 per certificate. State-certified copies through the WV Department of Health Vital Registration Office cost $12.00 per copy and require a completed application and a color copy of valid photo identification.

    Preston County Probate Court Records

    In West Virginia, probate—the formal process of administering a decedent’s estate and proving a will’s validity—is handled by the County Clerk rather than a separate probate court. The Preston County Clerk’s Office manages all probate and estate administration matters, with Fiduciary Supervisor Ashley Cole available at acole@prestoncountywv.gov or (304) 329-7416.

    Important: Under West Virginia law, a will must be delivered to the County Clerk within 30 days after the decedent’s death.

    Testate Estates (with a Will)

    An appointment is required before visiting the Clerk’s Office. Call (304) 329-0070 to schedule. Bring the following:

    1. The original will (the clerk retains this document upon recording)
    2. A list of names and addresses of all beneficiaries and heirs
    3. A copy of the death certificate if the deceased died in West Virginia (a certified copy will be issued directly from WV Vitals); or a certified or original death certificate if death occurred in another state
    4. Cash or check for recording fees, which typically range from $45.00 to $65.00 depending on the length of the will and the number of appointment letters required

    Note: Handwritten wills and wills executed in another state may require additional paperwork. If the will does not waive the bond requirement for the executor, a surety bond must be arranged before probate can begin.

    Intestate Estates (without a Will)

    Appointment required—call (304) 329-0070. The process involves determining the total value of the estate solely in the decedent’s name, then securing a surety bond before an administrator can be appointed. The person posting bond must accompany the applicant on the day of the appointment.

    Probate Forms Available from the Clerk’s Office

    The following forms are available to assist with estate administration:

    Probate case information that has been entered into the circuit court case management system may also be searchable through WVPASS. For historical probate records or matters not reflected in online systems, a direct request to the Preston County Clerk’s Office is the most reliable approach.