Mason County Court Records

Mason County court records are official documents concerning court proceedings maintained by a local court clerk or other court personnel. These records include indexes, docket entries, petitions, pleadings, memoranda, transcripts of proceedings, electronic recordings, orders, and judgments.

Mason court records generally serve as official documentation of local court proceedings, offering pertinent details about the cases and insight into how court officials handled them. Researchers, attorneys, and other interested parties also rely on court records when conducting legal research. These records can also be cited to establish precedent in future cases and to initiate specific judicial processes, such as appeals.

Are Court Records Public in Mason County?

Yes. According to WV Code § 51-4-2, court records in West Virginia—including those in Mason County—are open for public inspection, and copies may be requested by anyone, unless otherwise restricted by state or federal law. Additionally, the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act and WV Trial Court Rule 10.04 state that everyone is entitled to full and complete access to information regarding the operation and affairs of the judicial system. Therefore, most court records are part of Mason County public records and are usually available to the general public.

Nonetheless, certain federal and state statutes exempt specific information and records from public accessibility. Examples of these exemptions include, but are not limited to:

• Adoption records
• Medical and mental health records
• Record sealed or expunged by court order
• Juvenile court records under WV Code §49-5-103
• Personal information such as an individual's Social Security Number (SSN), credit, or debit card number per WV Code §5A-8-22

Mason County Court Records Search

Record seekers can conduct a search for Mason County Court records through any of the following:

• The Mason Circuit Clerk's office or the clerk's office of a local court
• West Virginia Judiciary online resources
• Third-party online resources

Mason County Courts

Mason County has four (4) types of courts: a Circuit Court, a Magistrate Court, a Family Court, and six (6) Municipal Courts. The addresses and contact information for these courts are listed below:

Mason County Circuit Court
Mason County Courthouse
200 6th Street,
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-4400
Fax: (304) 675-7419

Mason County Magistrate Court
Mason County Courthouse
200 6th Street,
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-6840
Fax: (304) 675-5949

Mason County Family Court
Mason County Courthouse
200 6th Street,
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-4400
Fax: (304) 675-7419

Mason County Municipal Courts
Hartford Municipal Court
19 Front Street,
P.O. Box 96,
Hartford, WV 25247
Phone: (304) 882-2864
Fax: (304) 882-2521

Henderson Municipal Court
1 Chester Street, P.O. Box 205,
Henderson, WV 25106
Phone: (304) 675-5722

Leon Municipal Court
Drawer 136,
Leon, WV 25123
Phone: (304) 812-7070
Fax: (304) 458-2030

Mason Municipal Court
656 2nd Street, P.O. Box 438,
Mason, WV 25260
Phone: (304) 773-5200
Fax: (304) 773-5545

New Haven Municipal Court
218 5th Street, P.O. Box 217,
New Haven, WV 25265
Phone: (304) 882-3203
Fax: (304) 882-2465

Point Pleasant Municipal Court
400 Viand Street, P.O. Box 204,
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-2360
Fax: (304) 675-7220

Mason County Criminal and Civil Records

In Mason County, certain criminal records, including arrest records, are generated and maintained by local law enforcement agencies. Therefore, individuals looking for Mason County arrest records can query the specific local law enforcement agencies that generated them, such as the Mason County Sheriff's Office or a municipal police department. The procedures for requesting or accessing Mason arrest records from these agencies may differ. Nonetheless, record seekers must provide enough information about the sought-after record to identify it. Additionally, agencies may charge requesters a fee for each copy of a record they request.

On the other hand, interested individuals can obtain court records for a civil or criminal case in Mason County through the clerk's office of the specific court that handled the case. Civil and criminal cases may fall under the jurisdiction of either the Magistrate Court or the Circuit Court. The latter conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases, hears misdemeanor cases, and handles civil cases with disputes of $5,000 or less. Meanwhile, the former handles all civil cases with disputes over $300 and has jurisdiction over all felony cases and certain misdemeanors.

Record seekers can obtain court records of civil or criminal cases handled by the Mason County Circuit Court by contacting or visiting the Circuit Court Clerk to request the desired records at:

Mason County Circuit Clerk
200 Sixth Street Suite 9
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-4400
Fax: (304) 675-7419

Conversely, individuals may contact or visit the Magistrate Clerk to request court records of criminal and civil cases handled by the Magistrate Court at:

Mason County Courthouse
200 Sixth Street
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-6840
Fax: (304) 675-5949

Magistrate court records are also available online through the West Virginia Judiciary Magistrate Record Search portal. The portal is free to use, and users can search for relevant records by party name, case ID, or citation number.

Mason County Marriage Records

The Mason County Clerk's Office and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) Health Statistics Center serve as the custodians of marriage records. In addition to other types of Mason County vital records, marriage records dating back to 1806 can be accessed through the County Clerk. Meanwhile, the WVDHHR Health Statistics Center is the state-level custodian of vital records.

Record seekers can access Mason County marriage records in person at the Mason County Clerk's record room. Alternatively, they can request copies of a marriage certificate for a $5 fee by completing the Certificate Request Application and submitting it along with photo identification to the Mason County Clerk. The application may be submitted in person or by mail. For mail-in requests, requesters must mail the completed application, the required fee (via personal check or money order payable to the Mason County Clerk), and a self-addressed stamped envelope. For in-person requests, requesters can visit the County Clerk's office, and they must come along with all necessary items. Applications must be submitted at:

Mason County Clerk
200 Sixth Street Suite 7
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-1997
Fax: (304) 675-2521

On the other hand, requesters can order a Mason County marriage certificate from the WVDHHR for a $12 fee by completing and submitting the agency's marriage certificate application form. The application form may be submitted in person or online. If the person requesting the marriage certificate is a third party, they must present a completed Marriage Permission Slip for in-person requests. The completed application form and other required items should be submitted in person or by mail at:

Vital Registration Office
350 Capitol Street, Room 165
Charleston, WV 25301-3701

Mason County Divorce Records

The Mason County Circuit Clerk serves as the official record keeper of divorce records. These records are subject to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act and are accessible to the public upon request. Thus, interested persons can query the County Circuit Clerk to obtain divorce records.

Mason County Birth and Death Records

Like other vital records, the Mason County Clerk's Office and the WVDHHR Health Statistics Center maintain birth and death records. The County Clerk's office is the primary custodian of these records. As a result, older birth and death records (dating back to 1853) are available through the County Clerk's Office.

According to WV Code §16-5-27, birth and death records remain confidential after being created for 100 years and 50 years, respectively. Consequently, Mason County birth records that are less than 100 years old and death records that are under 50 years old are accessible only to certain eligible individuals. These include, but are not limited to, the registrant (for birth records), their immediate family members, legal representatives, and individuals or entities who possess a court order to access the record.

Eligible individuals can request a copy of a birth or death certificate from the Mason County Clerk's office for a $5 fee using the Certificate Request Application. Applicants may also request a laminated Mason County birth certificate for a $7 fee per copy. After completing the Certificate Request Application, they can submit it along with other required items, either in person or by mail, to the Mason County Clerk's office. These required items include the relevant fees and the requester's ID.

Eligible individuals can similarly request Mason County birth and death records from the WVDHHR Health Statistics Center for $12 per copy, either in person or by mail. The center offers dedicated application forms (the death certificate request form and birth certificate request form) that interested individuals can use to facilitate their request. Note that requesters must present a valid form of identification when requesting these records. Acceptable forms of identification include only one of the following:

• State-issued driver's license (can be expired)
• United States or Foreign passports
• Military ID
• Photo ID cards from a government-sponsored program

Or any two of the following:

• Major credit card
• Motor vehicle registration card
• State social services program card
• A recent utility bill in the name of the person who is requesting the certificate

It is important to note that third-party requesters must present a Completed Birth Permission Slip when requesting birth records from the WVDHHR Health Statistics Center in person.

Mason County Probate Court Records

In Mason County, probate matters, including probate wills and estate administration, are handled by the Court Clerk's Office. Most probate records fall under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Consequently, interested individuals can contact or visit the Mason County Clerk's Office to request or obtain probate records.

Mason County Property Records

Mason County property records provide information about local properties' ownership history, value, and encumbrances. The County Clerk's and Assessor's offices generate and maintain these records. The County Clerk's Office records official property documents and encumbrances, such as deeds, liens, plats, and mortgages. Meanwhile, the Assessor's Office evaluates all properties within the County to determine their fair market value.

Interested individuals can use the online record portal provided by the Mason County Clerk's Office to search for and access property records held by the office. Alternatively, individuals can visit or contact the County Clerk's Office to access or request copies of relevant property records. Meanwhile, property records and information generated by the Mason County Assessor's Office are accessible online through the office's GIS website. Record seekers may also request these records by contacting the Assessor's Office at:

Mason County Assessor
County Courthouse
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Phone: (304) 675-2840
Fax: (304) 675-6358
Email: aduncan@wvassessor.com

Mason County Court Records Online

Mason County court records are accessible online through third-party websites, such as Westvirginiacourtrecords.us. These third-party websites are convenient alternatives to the traditional government channels, enabling users to search for and access court records without having to visit local courthouses. Moreover, searches conducted through these third-party websites are not limited to records from a specific court type but often span multiple courts, further simplifying the search process. However, users are usually charged a fee to use these websites' services. Additionally, these websites often operate independently from government entities. Thus, the records they provide may contain outdated or incomplete information.