How Does the West Virginia Magistrate Court Work?

West Virginia Magistrate Courts oversee the application and enforcement of municipal and state laws. The state of West Virginia currently has 158 magistrates, and each of the state’s 55 counties has at least two magistrates. Magistrates are elected through non-partisan elections for four-year terms, and these magistrates are administratively supervised by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

In situations where a magistrate seat is vacant before the end of a four-year term, the Chief Circuit Judge will appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of the term. Replacement magistrates that wish to continue serving in office will be required to run in the next election. Following statutory law, magistrates do not have to be lawyers.

West Virginia Magistrate courts have limited jurisdiction over certain types of criminal and civil cases. These include:

• Civil cases where the total financial amount in dispute is not more than $10,000
• Civil matters involving less than $300
• Misdemeanor cases
• Conduction of preliminary examinations in felony cases
• Issuance and recording of affidavits and complaints
• Issuance and recording of arrest and search warrants
• Setting of bail
• Decisions concerning proposed plea agreements
• Collection of court costs, cash bonds, and fines
• Issuance of emergency protective orders in cases that involve domestic violence
• Cases involving probable cause involuntary hospitalization; (These types of cases fall under the jurisdiction of Magistrate Courts in counties that do not have mental hygiene commissioners. However, the magistrate does not have jurisdiction over final commitment or guardianship cases)

Magistrate Court criminal and civil cases may involve juries; however, most do not. Note that defendants in the state of West Virginia have the right to demand a jury by trial. In civil cases that involve more than $20 or real estate, this should be done in writing, not later than either of the following timelines:

• Twenty days after the first timely filed answer to the complaint has been served.
• Five days after the service of summons and complaints in cases that involve expedited proceedings; examples of these include actions for unlawful entry and illegal occupation.

The Magistrates usually set timeframes for trials. In criminal cases where the defendant is found guilty, a sentence must be imposed within 60 days. The state’s Circuit Courts hear appeals on decisions rendered by Magistrate Courts.

Copies of West Virginia Magistrate Court records can be obtained by contacting the Clerk at the Magistrate Court, where the case was heard. These courts can be contacted at the following locations:

Barbour County Magistrate Court
47 Church Street
P.O. Box 541
Philippi, WV 26416
Phone: (304) 457–3676

Berkeley County Magistrate Court
Berkeley County Judicial Center
380 West South Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401
Phone: (304) 264–1957

Boone County Magistrate Court
Boone County Courthouse
200 State Street
Madison, WV 25130
Phone: (304) 369–7364

Braxton County Magistrate Court
307 Main Street
Suite 205
Sutton, WV 26601
Phone: (304) 765–7362

Brooke County Magistrate Court
Brooke County Courthouse
744 Charles Street
Suite 4
Wellsburg, WV 26070
Phone: (304) 737–1321

Cabell County Magistrate Court 1
Cabell County Courthouse
750 5th Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
Phone: (304) 526–8642

Calhoun County Magistrate Court 2
363 Main Street
P.O. Box 186
Grantsville, WV 26147
Phone: (304) 354–6698

Clay County Magistrate Court
225 Main Street
P.O. Box 393
Clay, WV 25043
Phone: (304) 587–2131

Doddridge County Magistrate Court
Doddridge County Courthouse
118 East Court Street
P.O. Box 207
West Union, WV 26456
Phone: (304) 873–2694

Fayette County Magistrate Court
100 Church Street
Fayetteville, WV 25840
Phone: (304) 574–4279

Gilmer County Magistrate Court
201 North Court Street
Glenville, WV 26351
Phone: (304) 462–7812

Grant County Magistrate Court
Grant County Courthouse
4 North Main Street
Petersburg, WV 26847
Phone: (304) 257–4637

Greenbrier County Magistrate Court
Greenbrier County Courthouse
203 Green Lane
Lewisburg, WV 24901
Phone: (304) 647–6632 ext. 311

Hampshire County Magistrate Court
Hampshire County Judicial Center
50 South High Street
P.O. Box 881
Romney, WV 26757
Phone: (304) 822–4311

Hancock County Magistrate Court
900 North Chester Street
P.O. Box 626
New Cumberland, WV 26047
Phone: (304) 564–3080

Hardy County Magistrate Court
Hardy County Courthouse
204 Washington Street
Moorefield, WV 26836
Phone: (304) 530–0212

Harrison County Magistrate Court
306 Washington Avenue
Room 222
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Phone: (304) 624–8648

Jackson County Magistrate Court
Jackson County Courthouse
100 Main Street
P.O. Box 368
Ripley, WV 25271
Phone: (304) 373–2313

Jefferson County Magistrate Court
110 North George Street
P.O. Box 607
Charles Town, WV 25414
Phone: (304) 728–3233 ext. 342

Kanawha County Magistrate Court
Kanawha County Judicial Building
111 Court Street
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 357–0400

Lewis County Magistrate Court
117 Court Avenue
Room 143
Weston, WV 26452
Phone: (304) 269–8230

Lincoln County Magistrate Court
Lincoln County Courthouse
8000 Court Avenue
P.O. Box 573
Hamlin, WV 25523
Phone: (304) 824–7990 ext. 235

Logan County Magistrate Court
Logan County Courthouse
300 Stratton Street
Logan, WV 25601
Phone: (304) 792–8651

Marion County Magistrate Court
200 Jackson Street
Room 211
Fairmont, WV 26554
Phone: (304) 367–5330

Marshall County Magistrate Court
511 6th Street
Moundsville, WV 26041
Phone: (304) 845–4811

Mason County Magistrate Court
Mason County Courthouse
200 6th Street
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675–6840

McDowell County Magistrate Court
105 Wyoming Street
P.O. Box 447
Welch, WV 24801
Phone: (304) 436–8587

Mercer County Magistrate Court
Mercer County Courthouse
120 Scott Street
Suite 103
Princeton, WV 24740
Phone: (304) 431–7115

Mineral County Magistrate Court
105 West Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788–2625

Mingo County Magistrate Court
Memorial Building
Logan Street and 1st Avenue
P.O. Box 986
Williamson, WV 25661
Phone: (304) 235–2445

Monongalia County Magistrate Court
Magistrate Court Building
265 Spruce Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: (304) 291–7296

Monroe County Magistrate Court
Union Volunteer Fire Department Building
55 Green Hill Road
P.O. Box 4
Union, WV 24983
Phone: (304) 772–3321

Morgan County Magistrate Court
77 Fairfax Street
Room 202
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
Phone: (304) 258–8631

Nicholas County Magistrate Court
511 Church Street
Summersville, WV 26651
Phone: (304) 872–7829

Ohio County Magistrate Court
1500 Chapline Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: (304) 234–3709

Pleasants County Magistrate Court
Pleasants County Courthouse
301 Court Lane
Room B–6
St. Marys, WV 26170
Phone: (304) 684–7197

Pendleton County Magistrate Court
Pendleton County Courthouse
100 South Main Street
P.O. Box 637
Franklin, WV 26807
Phone: (304) 358–2343

Pocahontas County Magistrate Court
Pocahontas County Courthouse
900 10th Avenue
Marlinton, WV 24954
Phone: (304) 799–6003

Preston County Magistrate Court
Preston County Courthouse
101 West Main Street
Room 201
Kingwood, WV 26537
Phone: (304) 329–2764

Putnam County Magistrate Court
Putnam County Judicial Building
12093 Winfield Road
Suite 15
Winfield, WV 25213
Phone: (304) 586–0234

Raleigh County Magistrate Court
Raleigh County Judicial Center222 Main Street
Beckley, WV 25801
Phone: (304) 255–9197

Randolph County Magistrate Court
Randolph County Courthouse
11 Randolph Avenue
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: (304) 636–5885

Ritchie County Magistrate Court
130 North Court Street
Harrisville, WV 26362
Phone: (304) 643–4409

Roane County Magistrate Court
201 Main Street
Spencer, WV 25276
Phone: (304) 927–4750

Summers County Magistrate Court
Summers County Judicial Annex
123 Temple Street
Hinton, WV 25951
Phone: (304) 466–7108

Taylor County Magistrate Court
Taylor County Courthouse
214 West Main Street
Grafton, WV 26354
Phone: (304) 265–5762

Tucker County Magistrate Court
211 1st Street
Suite 305
Parsons, WV 26287
Phone: (304) 478–2655

Tyler County Magistrate Court
225 Main Street
P.O. Box 127
Middlebourne, WV 26149
Phone: (304) 758–2137

Upshur County Magistrate Court
Upshur County Courthouse Annex
38 West Main Street
Room 204
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Phone: (304) 472–2053

Wayne County Magistrate Court
Wayne County Courthouse
700 Hendricks Street
P.O. Box 667
Wayne, WV 25570
Phone: (304) 272–6388

Webster County Magistrate Court
112 Bell Street
Suite A
Webster Springs, WV 26288
Phone: (304) 847–2613

Wetzel County Magistrate Court
303 Main Street
P.O. Box 147
New Martinsville, WV 26155
Phone: (304) 455–5171

Wirt County Magistrate Court
1 Court Street
P.O. Box 249
Elizabeth, WV 26143
Phone: (304) 275–3642

Wood County Magistrate Court
401 2nd Street
Suite 12
Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: (304) 422–3444

Wyoming County Magistrate Court
Wyoming County Courthouse Annex
44 Cedar Street
P.O. Box 598
Pineville, WV 24874
Phone: (304) 732–8000 ext. 218