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