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How to Find Public Records in Preston County in 2026

PrestonRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Preston County, West Virginia. Members of the public may access a range of documents through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online government portals. The types of records that may be available include court filings, property documents, tax records, vital records, and law enforcement logs, subject to applicable exemptions under state law.

Online Access:

The Preston County official government website provides access to county department information, commission meeting minutes, and links to tax and property records.
Property tax records may be searched through the Preston County Sheriff's Tax Office online portal.
Parcel and property data are accessible through the WV Property Viewer, a statewide mapping tool maintained by the West Virginia GIS Technical Center.
Magistrate court case records are searchable through the West Virginia Magistrate Case Record Search portal. No registration is required for basic searches.
Federal court records for cases filed in the Northern District of West Virginia are accessible through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia via the PACER system, which requires a registered account.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Preston County Clerk's Office, located at 106 W Main Street, Suite 202, Kingwood, WV 26537. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should identify the specific record sought and present a valid form of identification when requesting certified copies.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Preston County Clerk's Office at 106 W Main Street, Suite 202, Kingwood, WV 26537. Requests should include the requestor's full name, contact information, a description of the record sought, and the time period covered. Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-3, custodians are required to respond to requests within five business days.

Phone/Email:

Preston County Clerk: (304) 329-0070
Preston County Commission: (304) 329-0070

What Are Public Records in Preston County?

Public records in Preston County are defined under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-2 as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business, prepared, owned, or retained by a public body. The following categories of records are maintained by county offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk and Magistrate Court; Preston County circuit court information is available through the West Virginia Judiciary.
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments maintained by the County Clerk and searchable via the WV Property Viewer.
Vital records — birth and death certificates are maintained by the West Virginia Office of Vital Registration; marriage and divorce records are held by the County Clerk.
Business records — fictitious name registrations and business licenses are filed with the County Clerk.
Tax records — property tax payment records are maintained by the Preston County Sheriff's Tax Office; delinquent land records are available through the West Virginia State Auditor's land collections database.
Voting and election records — maintained by the Preston County Clerk, who serves as the chief election officer for the county.
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commission meeting records are available through the Preston County official website.
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Preston County Commission.
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Preston County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Preston County Planning Commission.

Is Preston County an Open Records County?

Preston County operates in full compliance with the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at West Virginia Code § 29B-1-1 et seq. Under this statute, all public bodies in the state, including county agencies, are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The West Virginia Legislature declared that "the people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know."

The statute establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that records are considered public unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Preston County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the state FOIA governs all public records requests submitted to county offices. The West Virginia Attorney General's Office provides guidance on compliance with the state's open records requirements.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Preston County?

The current fee structure for public records in Preston County is governed by state law and individual office schedules. Standard fees applicable to most requests include:

Record Type	Fee
Standard copy (per page)	$0.50
Certified copy of deed or instrument	$1.00–$2.00 per page
Certified copy of vital record (marriage)	$5.00
Court record copy (per page)	$0.50
Electronic records (where available)	Varies by office

Inspection of records at a public office is available at no charge.
Certification fees apply when an official seal or attestation is required.
Search fees may be assessed when a request requires extensive staff time, consistent with West Virginia Code § 29B-1-3.
Accepted payment methods at the County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Individual offices may vary.
Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office.

Does Preston County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at county offices during regular business hours, as required by state law. Members of the public are not charged a fee to view records on-site. The following resources provide free access to certain records without requiring a formal request:

The West Virginia Magistrate Case Record Search portal provides free online access to magistrate court case information. As noted by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, "the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided," and official copies must be obtained from the court clerk.
The WV Property Viewer provides free access to parcel data and property information statewide.
The West Virginia State Auditor's land collections database provides free access to delinquent land records, including Preston County entries.
Daily incarceration records for West Virginia correctional facilities are available at no cost through the West Virginia Offender Search portal.
The Preston County official website provides free access to commission agendas, meeting minutes, and department contact information.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records on-site carries no charge, obtaining physical or certified copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Preston County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Preston County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the right to inspect and copy public records extends to all members of the public. Requestors are not required to:

Be a resident of West Virginia or Preston County
Provide identification for inspection purposes (identification may be required for certified copies)
State the reason for the request

Certain record types carry additional access restrictions. Juvenile court records, sealed court documents, and records containing personal identifying information may require the requestor to demonstrate a legal interest or obtain a court order. Individuals requesting their own records — such as personal criminal history or vital records — may be required to provide proof of identity. Third-party requests for records containing another individual's personal information are subject to applicable privacy exemptions.

What Records Are Confidential in Preston County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under West Virginia law. West Virginia Code § 29B-1-4 enumerates the following exemptions applicable to county records:

Sealed court records — including expunged criminal records and records sealed by judicial order
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse and neglect proceedings
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled for active criminal investigations
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers
Medical records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only by court order
Child welfare and protective services records — maintained by the West Virginia Department of Human Services
Personnel records — employee records of public bodies, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies in confidence
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — exempt to protect public safety

When a custodian denies a records request, the denial must be in writing and must cite the specific statutory exemption relied upon. Requestors may appeal a denial to the circuit court of the county where the public body is located.

Preston County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Preston County Clerk's Office
106 W Main Street, Suite 202
Kingwood, WV 26537
(304) 329-0070
Preston County, WV Official Website

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

The County Clerk maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, marriage records, voter registration records, business filings, and commission meeting minutes. The office serves as the primary custodian of land records and vital records at the county level.

Preston County Circuit Court
Preston County Courthouse
101 West Main Street
Kingwood, WV 26537
(304) 329-2105
Preston Circuit Court – West Virginia Judiciary

The Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Hilary Bright, handles civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. According to the West Virginia Judiciary, "Preston County is the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, which also includes Tucker County." Court records may be accessed through the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the same address.

Preston County Sheriff's Tax Office
106 West Main Street, Suite 102
Kingwood, WV 26537
(304) 329-0105
Preston County Sheriff's Tax Office

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

The Sheriff's Tax Office maintains property tax payment records and processes tax collections. Online tax record searches are available through the office's web portal.

Preston County Magistrate Court
101 West Main Street
Kingwood, WV 26537
Magistrate court record searches may be conducted online or by contacting the magistrate court clerk directly for copies of specific case records.