What are West Virginia Property Records?
Property records in West Virginia are legal records that provide information on a piece of property within state limits. West Virginia property records typically encompass ownership records, deeds, the property's description, liens, plats, and associated documents.
Per Article X, Section I, of the West Virginia Constitution and Chapter 7 of the West Virginia Real Property Code, the assessors and clerk offices in every county in the state keep property records and update them frequently for property assessment and taxation purposes. These documents provide information on property assessments and property taxes, assessor maps, and change of ownership reappraisals.
Are West Virginia Property Records Public?
Yes, West Virginia property records are considered public under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Therefore, these records can be requested and copied except otherwise not permitted by law.
According to recent court rulings and legislation enacted in West Virginia, information from property records and maps is not considered private information. Before publicizing the property records, sensitive information is redacted from them, including the owner's phone numbers and security alarm codes.
West Virginia property records are made available to the public via the assessor's website of the county where the real estate is situated. For instance, through the Hancock county assessor property record search portal, interested parties can obtain property records of real estate located in the county. Another place to find property records in West Virginia is aggregate websites run by third parties entities.
Property records are available for public viewing through government agencies or third-party aggregate websites. Accessing property records through third-party sites is typically straightforward, and the records are not geographically limited. However, because the sites are not government-affiliated and run independently, the information contained in the records may vary. Searching parties should include the following information to obtain complete property records:
- The property’s exact location.
- The property owner’s details.
What Information is Included in West Virginia Property Records?
Property/land deed
Deeds serve as legal proof of the sale or transfer of real estate ownership and other property types. Although deeds are often used to transfer the title of real estate and lands, they can also be used to transfer ownership of movable or chattel property.
Property Mortgage Records
A property's mortgage records show if a mortgage has been taken on the property or has been fully paid. A mortgage is a pledge to repay a loan made by the borrower using real estate as collateral, thereby deeding the property's title to the creditor if the loan is not returned.
Property Tax Records
The annual charges that a city or municipality government imposes against property are listed in the property's tax record; these charges are based on the assessed value of the property's land or buildings on the property. Property owners are responsible for paying their property taxes or else risk losing their homes.
Property Plat Maps
A "plat" or "plat map" shows a how county's land parcels are divided into lots. It shows the size of the land, its boundaries, surrounding roadways locations, flood plains, and any easements or rights of way. Property plat maps are typically created for land parcels that need to be divided into lots to construct residential buildings or for areas designated as public spaces, such as parks. Plat maps are commonly included in the real estate papers buyers receive when they acquire a home and are typically drawn to scale.
Where to Search West Virginia Public Property Records
West Virginia property records that show the assessed values of properties in the state are public records that anybody can inspect under West Virginia FOIA. Thus, depending on the type of property record sought, interested parties can find West Virginia property records by visiting the clerk's or assessor's office of the county where the property is located.
Online options to find West Virginia property records include any of the West Virginia county assessors' searchable databases. Examples include the Wirtz county accessor property and Fayette county accessor databases. The WV Property Assessment portal can also be used to conduct a statewide search for property records for each of West Virginia's 55 counties.
How to Do a Property Records Search in West Virginia
The clerk's office of the county where the property is located is the first place West Virginians should go if they wish to search property records. County clerks are directed by West Virginia law to allow members of the public to go through property records available at their offices. A staff member at the clerk's office will usually assist persons in locating the correct property record. To perform the search, the requestor must provide details about the property, such as its address.
For instance, interested persons call or visit the Preston County clerk's office to request certified copies of property records of properties located in the county. On Monday through Friday, the office is accessible to the public from 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at:
Preston County Clerk's Office
106 W. Main St,
Suite 101
Kingwood, WV 26537
Phone: (304) 329-1220
Fax: (304) 329-1643
E-mail: cervin@prestoncountywv.gov
West Virginia property records are also available online. To perform a search online, the requestor will need to provide keywords about the property in question. Interested persons can search for West Virginia property records online by the property owner's name, prior owner's name, mailing address, street name, legal description of the property, property class, or parcel ID. Searches can be performed using one or a combination of these keywords.
How to Find the Owner of a West Virginia Property Using Public Records
Interested parties must go to the assessor's office of the county where the property is situated to find the owners of properties in West Virginia. A property's tax data can be viewed at the physical address of some county assessor's offices to determine the identity of the individual paying the property's taxes. This is usually the property owner.
In some county assessor's offices, staff members in the Map Room can assist inquirers in finding the property's location on the map and its parcel number. Staff can produce a tax ticket with the map and parcel number. The tax ticket will list the property's owner, or it can include a deed book and page number that can be used to locate the property's deed. A county's assessor's record room can also offer extra details about a property if the deed book and page number are known. For instance, the deed can be located to ascertain who last sold the property to whom, simply using the deed book number and page.
Online searches for the Owner of West Virginia properties are possible if other details about the property are known. For example, Fayette county in West Virginia allows persons to search for the owner of a property online using sales history, property description, or parcel ID.
When considering buying a West Virginia property, potential purchasers must conduct their due diligence by researching the property record. If a property in West Virginia is abandoned or foreclosed, it may be difficult to locate its former owner.
What are West Virginia Property Records Used For?
West Virginia property records are important legal records that are referenced in many situations. As soon as a property is sold or transferred, its property record is updated to reflect the change. This is because if any real estate issue arises, the property records can be examined or searched to resolve the issues. Therefore, there are a variety of uses for West Virginia property records, including but not limited to:
- Settling boundary line disputes (for instance, since documents typically describe the property, they can be used as a marker for the boundary lines)
- Defining the rights that an easement grants
- Resolving lien, wills, inheritances, and property ownership disputes.
- Addressing any questions about the property's mortgages and foreclosures.
- Property records provide the actual value of a property.
- Property tax history records can be examined to prevent legal problems.
Property records in West Virginia must be kept up-to-date since they are used to notify buyers of further concerns, such as liens, issues of property taxes payments, or other encumbrances on the title to the property.
How to Find West Virginia Property Tax Records
Property tax records in West Virginia are issued and maintained by the West Virginia Tax Division. The division is established under the West Virginia Code § 11-3-24a and is responsible for granting tax exemptions, setting property tax rates, and handling property tax rulings. Inquires for property tax records can be directed to the West Virginia Tax Division Headquarters at:
The Revenue Center
1001 Lee Street East
(304) 558-3333
Charleston
Tel: (304) 558-3333 or (800) 982-8297
What to Do When You Can't Find Property Records in West Virginia
When a property document cannot be found online, it generally requires a person to pay a visit to the county clerk's office to look for physical documents related to the property. If a property record is unavailable or does not exist, it can cause significant delays or cancellations of a real estate transaction. Hiring a real estate attorney to search the federal court systems is another option for locating property records. Occasionally, missing property information can be uncovered in court records from a previous real estate dispute litigation or bankruptcy case. A competent attorney will be aware of which resources to consult to find this information.
