Preston County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Preston County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Preston County may access publicly available case information through several official channels. PrestonRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to court records and related data for Preston County, West Virginia. Depending on the case type and applicable access rules, users may find information such as:
- Criminal case filings and dispositions
- Civil complaints, judgments, and orders
- Family court matters, including divorce and custody proceedings
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and misdemeanor case records
- Magistrate court case information
Court records in Preston County may be searched through five primary methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Preston County Courthouse maintains official case files for circuit and family court matters. Members of the public may present a case number, party name, or approximate filing date to request a search. The clerk's office can confirm whether a record exists and provide copies subject to applicable fees.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access terminals are available at the Preston County Courthouse for in-person review of case dockets and filings. These terminals allow members of the public to search case indexes without charge during regular business hours.
3. Online Court Search The West Virginia Judiciary maintains online tools for searching certain case types. The Magistrate Case Record Search portal provides access to magistrate court case data statewide, including Preston County matters.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The West Virginia Judiciary's court information page for Preston County provides contact information, court structure details, and links to applicable search resources. Statewide judicial tools may not include all case types or older records.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public may submit written requests to the Circuit Court Clerk specifying the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and the preferred format. Fees for copies apply, and processing times vary.
Preston County Circuit Court Clerk
101 West Main Street
Kingwood, WV 26537
Phone: (304) 329-0070
West Virginia Judiciary – Preston County
Are Court Records Public In Preston County
Court records in Preston County are subject to the public access provisions established under West Virginia law. Under W. Va. Code § 29B-1-2, public records maintained by government bodies, including court records, are presumptively open to inspection by members of the public. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has further established access policies through its administrative rules governing the judiciary.
Records that are public under current law include:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names and case numbers
- Filed complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probate decrees
- Civil judgment records
Records that may be confidential, sealed, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and status offense records
- Adoption proceedings
- Certain mental health commitment records
- Expunged criminal records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth, which are subject to redaction under court rules
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect most court records in person at the clerk's office, not all records are available through online portals. The West Virginia Judiciary's online tools provide access to selected case data, and the absence of a record online does not confirm that no record exists.
What Are Court Records in Preston County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with judicial proceedings. In Preston County, court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk for circuit and family court matters, and by the Magistrate Court Clerk for magistrate-level cases.
The distinction between record types is significant for access purposes:
- Docket entries are the chronological log of actions taken in a case, including filings, hearings, and orders. A full case file includes all documents submitted to or issued by the court.
- Civil court records document disputes between private parties, including contract claims, property matters, and domestic relations cases. Criminal court records document the prosecution of offenses under state law.
- Filed pleadings are the initial and responsive documents submitted by parties. Final judgments are the court's conclusive rulings resolving the matter.
- Public filings are accessible to any member of the public. Sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public access by court order or statute.
- Trial court records originate in the circuit or magistrate court. Appellate records are maintained by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and reflect proceedings on appeal.
Court records are created at the time of filing and updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, and final disposition. Upon conclusion, records are retained by the clerk's office according to applicable retention schedules.
What's Included in a Preston County Court Record?
A court record in Preston County may include a range of documents and data depending on the case type and applicable public access rules. The following information may appear within a court record:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and other named parties
- Case classification: Case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic) and current status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all actions taken in the case
- Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
- Filed documents: Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, notices, briefs, and supporting exhibits where not restricted
- Court orders and judgments: Interlocutory orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, and probate orders
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers subject to redaction, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. The presence or absence of specific documents within a file depends on the case type, the court's orders, and the applicable provisions of W. Va. Code § 49-4-701 governing juvenile records.
Types of Courts in Preston County
Preston County is served by several levels of the West Virginia state court system. According to Preston County court information published by the West Virginia Judiciary, Preston County is part of the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, which also includes Tucker County. In Family Court, Monongalia and Preston Counties constitute the Twentieth Family Court Circuit.
The courts currently serving Preston County include:
- Circuit Court: The court of general jurisdiction handling felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding magistrate court jurisdiction, family law matters, and appeals from magistrate court. The official record is maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk.
- Family Court: Handles divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and domestic violence protective orders. Family court records are maintained within the circuit court clerk's office.
- Magistrate Court: A court of limited jurisdiction handling misdemeanor criminal cases, civil claims up to $10,000, small claims, and certain landlord-tenant matters. The Preston County Magistrate Court is presided over by Magistrate Patricia L. Grimm.
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals: The state's court of last resort, which hears appeals from circuit courts. Appellate records are maintained in Charleston.
What Types of Cases Do Preston County Courts Hear
The Circuit Court hears felony criminal prosecutions, civil actions exceeding $10,000, domestic relations matters, probate proceedings, and appeals from magistrate court. The Magistrate Court handles misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, civil claims within its jurisdictional limit, and emergency protective orders. Family Court addresses divorce, annulment, child custody, visitation, and support matters. Juvenile matters, including delinquency and abuse and neglect proceedings, are heard in circuit court and are subject to confidentiality protections under state law.
Preston County Circuit Court
101 West Main Street
Kingwood, WV 26537
Phone: (304) 329-2105
West Virginia Judiciary – Preston Circuit Court
Preston County Magistrate Court
101 West Main Street
Kingwood, WV 26537
Phone: (304) 329-2105
West Virginia Judiciary – Preston Magistrate Court
How to Search Preston County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Preston County court records are available at no cost. In-person inspection of court records at the Preston County Courthouse is free of charge during regular business hours. Members of the public may use courthouse public access terminals to search case indexes and review docket entries without payment.
The Magistrate Case Record Search portal maintained by the West Virginia Judiciary provides free online access to magistrate court case data. The magistrate record search guidance page notes that users may call or visit the magistrate court clerk in the county where a case was filed to obtain copies of specific records.
The following table summarizes current access costs:
| Access Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| In-person docket inspection | Free |
| Courthouse public terminal search | Free |
| Online magistrate case search | Free |
| Standard paper copies | Per-page fee (set by clerk) |
| Certified copies | Additional certification fee |
| Extensive research by clerk staff | May incur research fee |
Fees for copies of court records are established pursuant to W. Va. Code § 59-1-11, which governs fees charged by circuit court clerks. Members of the public requesting certified copies or extensive document reproduction should inquire with the clerk's office regarding the current fee schedule prior to submitting a request.
How Long Does Preston County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Preston County is governed by the records retention schedules established by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals for the state judiciary. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Under current judicial records management policy, the following retention principles apply:
- Felony criminal records are retained permanently, as they document matters of significant public and legal interest.
- Civil judgment records are retained for extended periods, as judgments may remain enforceable for years following entry.
- Misdemeanor and traffic records are subject to shorter retention schedules, though specific periods depend on the nature of the offense and applicable rules.
- Probate records are retained permanently in many jurisdictions due to their significance for property and estate matters.
- Family court records are retained according to schedules that account for the ongoing nature of custody and support orders.
- Docket books and minute records are retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings.
Paper files may be transferred to microfilm, digital imaging, or archival storage after a defined period. Destruction of original paper records following imaging is permitted under applicable records management rules, provided the imaged copy is preserved. Older records, particularly those predating electronic filing systems, may exist only in paper form, microfilm, or county archives.
A distinction exists between destruction, archival retention, sealing, redaction, and expungement. Destruction removes a record from existence after its retention period expires. Archival retention preserves a record in a non-active repository. Sealing restricts access while preserving the record. Redaction removes specific information from a publicly accessible document. Expungement, available under limited circumstances pursuant to West Virginia law, results in the removal and destruction of qualifying criminal records from public access.
How To Find a Court Docket in Preston County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all actions taken in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it lists entries and events rather than containing the full text of filed documents. A docket serves as the index and timeline of a case from initial filing through final disposition.
In Preston County, court dockets may be accessed through the following methods:
- Magistrate court dockets are searchable through the Magistrate Case Record Search portal maintained by the West Virginia Judiciary. Users may search by party name, case number, or other identifying information to locate docket entries for magistrate-level cases.
- Circuit court dockets may be reviewed in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at the Preston County Courthouse. Clerk staff can retrieve docket information by case number or party name.
- Courthouse public access terminals display docket entries for cases within the court's electronic case management system.
- Written requests to the clerk's office may be used to obtain printed docket sheets for specific cases.
A court docket entry may include the date of each action, the nature of the filing or event (such as a motion filed, hearing held, or order entered), the name of the filing party, and the outcome of hearings. A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that have been restricted from public access.
Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. The West Virginia Judiciary's Preston County court information page provides current contact information for obtaining docket and scheduling information from the appropriate court division.