West Virginia Public Records
The mission of this website is to provide all West Virginia citizens with the right to obtain, preview, and examine public records. This ensures that West Virginians are given access to such information, which is in accordance with the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act. This law specifies that all government information and records are presumed accessible to the public.
The tools on this website help to ensure that all members of the general public have the right and ability to access these records easily and concisely, without requiring personal information unless otherwise specified by constitutional or statutory law or by a court decision.
The information documented on this website includes criminal records, court records, vital records, and over 15 million additional transparent public records.
Are West Virginia Records Public?
Yes. Most West Virginia public records generated or maintained by the government are considered public and available to the general public upon request. The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act describes a public record as any piece of writing that contains information prepared, used, or received by a public body regarding handling official business. According to the Act, "writing" may include books, letters, maps, papers, cards, photographs, tapes, recordings, or other information-storing materials, regardless of the size or form.
Interested individuals who wish to obtain public records in West Virginia can submit a request to the appropriate public body. The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act mandates public bodies to attend to all public records requests regardless of the requester's residential status.
What is Considered Public Information in West Virginia?
Public records in West Virginia include:
- West Virginia death records
- West Virginia bankruptcy records
- West Virginia birth records
- West Virginia marriage records
- West Virginia divorce records
- West Virginia sex offender records
- West Virginia public criminal records
- West Virginia public property records
- West Virginia public court records
- West Virginia public arrest records
- West Virginia public inmate records
However, a public record does not include recorded information about any public official's personal lives or activities. Furthermore, certain records are exempt from paid or free public data searches in West Virginia. As such, anyone who submits a public records act request for a protected or closed document may have their request denied by the custodian.
How Do I Find Public Records in West Virginia?
Requestors can find public records in West Virginia by reaching out to the public body in charge of the documents. Under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, public bodies are required to respond and provide access to their records as soon as a record request is received. The requirements to obtain public records may differ because there are several public bodies in West Virginia. Below are some of the basic steps to obtain West Virginia public records:
Know the Type of Information or Record
Requestors who wish to obtain West Virginia public records must identify the specifics of the document they seek. Is the record court record or property record? Also, interested persons are required to provide other relevant information that may facilitate the record search. Examples of such information required include case number, the filing date of the record, names of parties involved, case type, name of the requestor, and more. Note, most records requests are denied due to vague descriptions.
Contact the Public Body in Charge
Requestors must contact the public body in charge of the public record before they can obtain a West Virginia public record. Therefore, requestors must be able to identify the public body or department in charge of a record. For example, the West Virginia State Police maintains records of sex offenders in its jurisdiction, while the West Virginia Regional Jail & Correctional Facility Authority provides access to inmate records.
Create a Written Request
Requestors must submit a record request to obtain a West Virginia public record. Some public bodies provide access to request forms, while others may require a request in writing. An example is the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources that provides request forms online for ordering vital records. Generally, a written request allows record custodians to track the requests with ease and avoid errors or mix up. Examples of some of the information required to create a written request include:
- Full name of the requestor
- Contact information of the requestor
- The type of record
- The period (date) of the record
- A clear description of the record
- Names of parties included in the record
- The chosen mode of delivery for the record
- Other relevant information to assist with the record search
Review and Submit the Request
Here, requestors may review the information they have provided and submit their record requests to the record custodian. Depending on the public body, requestors may obtain West Virginia public records in person, by fax, by mail, or online. Interested persons can access any public body’s contact details on their official website.
How to Use Third-Party Sites to Find Public Records in West Virginia
City Records
Public city records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Public Records
Public records can also be accessed from third-party websites. These third-party public records aggregate websites offer search services that are non-geographically limited, making the search result expansive and typically straightforward. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record as long as the subject is not a juvenile
- The last known or location of the record subject
Third-party public records search websites are not government-sponsored services. Therefore, the availability and accuracy of results can vary.
How Do I Lookup Public Records for Free in West Virginia?
Requestors who often ask "where can I get public records for free" may achieve that by inspecting physical copies of a record or accessing the electronic versions of the documents. However, looking up a public record for free in West Virginia will depend on the type of record and the public body in charge. Requestors who only wish to inspect physical copies of a document must contact the public body in charge. Such persons may be allowed to walk in and inspect their desired records during business hours.
As an alternative, interested persons who wish to obtain public records for free in West Virginia can search for electronic versions of the documents. In recent times, most public bodies maintain or provide online public access to their records. For example, the West Virginia State Police maintains and provides online public access to sex offender information. Residents or interested persons may access the online sex offender registry using last name, city, street name, county, and other search combinations. Similarly, county clerk's offices (that also fulfill the roles of county recorders) allow free public records searches in West Virginia.
West Virginia started collecting and creating public records in the year 1917, and these records cover all 55 counties, which ensures West Virginia abides by the commitment of the United States of America to remain a fair and just society for all. Thanks to the digitization of public records - a process that has become the standard for the past 30 years - websites, both governmental and third-party, can offer these records online with increased reliability and transparency.
