| Circuit Clerk | Wood County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| County Clerk (probate) | Wood County Clerk |
| Clerk address | Circuit Clerk: Wood County Judicial Annex, 2 Government Square, Room 131, Parkersburg, WV 26101 (mail: Room 133). County Clerk: 1 Court Square, Parkersburg, WV 26101 |
| Phone | Circuit Clerk (304) 424-1700; County Clerk (304) 424-1850 (probate appointments (304) 424-1898); Magistrate Court Clerk (304) 422-3444 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Earliest records noted | 1999 |
| Plain copy fee | $1.00 per page, prepared by the Circuit Clerk to leave the office (W. Va. Code §59-1-11(b)) |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Wood County, anchored by Parkersburg, keeps circuit and family court records with the Wood County Circuit Clerk, based in the Judicial Annex on Government Square. The office handles civil actions, domestic relations, adoptions, mental hygiene cases, guardianships, juvenile cases, appeals from magistrate court, and criminal cases; Wood County is also an e-filing county for attorneys.
Wills and estates go through the Wood County Clerk, a separate office at 1 Court Square that records wills after death, appoints fiduciaries, and processes estate inventories and final settlements. It also runs an online document-inquiry tool covering recorded deeds, liens, and marriage records back to 1899.
Misdemeanors, small claims, and preliminary felony hearings are heard in magistrate court, whose clerk's office is a few blocks away on Second Street. WVPASS covers Wood County's circuit-court records statewide from 1999 forward, and the free Magistrate Court Record Search covers magistrate cases, but neither reaches the County Clerk's probate files.
Search Wood County court records online
Circuit Clerk
Wood County Circuit Clerk
- Cost
- Free terminal search at the courthouse; WVPASS available online for a per-page download fee
- Coverage
- Civil actions, domestic relations, adoptions, mental hygiene, guardianships, juvenile, and criminal cases, plus appeals from magistrate court
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family
Wood County is an e-filing county; attorneys file electronically, and the public can search available records through WVPASS.
County Clerk (probate)
Wood County Clerk
- Cost
- Free online document inquiry for recorded documents; fees for copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estate administration, and recorded land, lien, and marriage records back to 1899
- Records
- Probate
Probate services are handled in Room 306 of the courthouse; the office records wills after death but does not draft them.
Other courts
Wood County Magistrate Court Clerk
- Cost
- Free to search the statewide index; nominal per-law copy fee at the clerk's counter
- Coverage
- Misdemeanor, small-claims, and preliminary-hearing records for Wood County
- Records
- Criminal, Civil, Traffic
The clerk's office is at 401 Second St, Suite 12, Parkersburg; contact it directly for copies of case documents.
What is available online
WVPASS covers Wood County circuit-court case records from 1999 forward, with a per-page download charge after free registration. The statewide Magistrate Court Record Search covers magistrate cases for free but returns only an index of up to 30 results. The County Clerk's online document inquiry covers recorded deeds, liens, and marriage records back to 1899, but not probate case files or court records.
Which clerk has your record
In West Virginia, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the West Virginia page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Courts (30 circuits, 55 counties) | Felony criminal cases; Civil cases above the magistrate-court limit; Divorce, custody, and other family cases (as the family court's record custodian) | Circuit Clerk of the county |
| Family Courts | Divorce and annulment; Child custody and support; Domestic violence protective orders | Circuit Clerk of the county (family court has no separate clerk) |
| Magistrate Courts | Misdemeanor criminal cases; Civil claims of $20,000 or less; Preliminary hearings in felony cases | Magistrate Court Clerk of the county |
| Municipal Courts | City ordinance violations; Traffic tickets issued by city police | Municipal court clerk for that city |
Request records in person or by mail
Wood County clerk offices
Circuit Clerk: Wood County Judicial Annex, 2 Government Square, Room 131, Parkersburg, WV 26101 (mail: Room 133). County Clerk: 1 Court Square, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Phone: Circuit Clerk (304) 424-1700; County Clerk (304) 424-1850 (probate appointments (304) 424-1898); Magistrate Court Clerk (304) 422-3444
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Circuit-court and family-court records. Search WVPASS online or visit the Judicial Annex at 2 Government Square for a free terminal search. Request copies in person or by mail; call ahead to confirm the current per-page fee.
Probate and estate records. Contact the Wood County Clerk's probate office (Room 306, 1 Court Square). Appointments are recommended for probate matters. Personal representatives must file an appraisement and inventory within 90 days of qualification.
Magistrate-court records. Use the statewide Magistrate Court Record Search for a free index lookup, then contact the Wood County Magistrate Court Clerk at 401 Second St for copies.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | $1.00 per page, prepared by the Circuit Clerk to leave the office (W. Va. Code §59-1-11(b)) |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
The base per-page copy fee for circuit clerk documents is set by W. Va. Code §59-1-11. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee, and county clerks (probate) and magistrate courts may charge different schedules; none of those additional amounts were confirmed on an official statewide fee schedule, so call the specific clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
West Virginia court records are presumed open, but several categories are not available in public search or index:
The West Virginia guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search Wood County court records online?
Use WVPASS for circuit and family court cases from 1999 forward, or the statewide Magistrate Court Record Search for misdemeanors and small claims.
Where do I find a will or estate file in Wood County?
Contact the Wood County Clerk's probate office at 1 Court Square. It records wills after death and handles estate administration, separately from the Circuit Clerk.
Which office has my Wood County divorce or custody case?
The Wood County Circuit Clerk. Domestic relations and juvenile cases are part of its circuit and family court caseload.
Can I look up recorded deeds or marriage records for Wood County online?
Yes. The County Clerk's online document inquiry tool covers deeds, liens, and marriage records dating back to 1899, separate from the court case search tools.
How do I get certified copies of Wood County court records?
Request them in person or by mail from the office that holds the file — Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, or Magistrate Court Clerk. Call ahead to confirm the current fee.
Sources
- Wood County Circuit Clerk — https://woodcountywv.com/county-offices/circuit-clerk/
- Wood County Clerk — https://woodcountywv.com/county-offices/county-clerk/
- Wood County online document inquiry — https://inquiries.woodcountywv.com/legacywebinquiry/default.aspx
- West Virginia Judiciary — Magistrate Court Record Search — https://www.courtswv.gov/lower-courts/magistrate-courts/magistrate-record-search
- West Virginia Judiciary — Lower Courts — https://www.courtswv.gov/lower-courts
- West Virginia Judiciary — Circuit Courts — https://www.courtswv.gov/lower-courts/circuit-courts
- West Virginia Judiciary — Court Record Access (WVPASS and Magistrate Record Search) — https://www.courtswv.gov/court-record-access
- WVPASS (West Virginia Public Access Search System) — https://wvpass.courtswva.com
- Supreme Court of Appeals — Opinions — https://www.courtswv.gov/appellate-courts/supreme-court-of-appeals/opinions
- West Virginia State Police — Criminal Records Section — https://www.wvsp.gov/departments/criminalrecords/Pages/default.aspx
- West Virginia Code §61-11-25 — Expungement (acquittal or dismissal) — https://code.wvlegislature.gov/61-11-25/
- West Virginia Code §61-11-26 — Expungement of certain convictions — https://code.wvlegislature.gov/61-11-26/
- West Virginia Code §59-1-11 — Circuit Clerk fees — https://code.wvlegislature.gov/59-1-11/
See also: all West Virginia counties.