Barbour County, WV Courts and Public Records
- Arrest Records
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- DUIs & DWIs
- Felonies
- Warrants
- Jail Records
- Lien Records
- Sex Offenses
- Misdemeanors
- Criminal Records
- Federal Dockets
The Barbour County Circuit Court hears felony, civil, juvenile and family court matters in the Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit, while the county's magistrate court handles matters of limited jurisdiction.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Barbour County Circuit Court (Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit), shared with Taylor County |
| Main Address | 26 N. Main Street, Suite 2, Philippi, WV 26416 |
| Main Phone | 304-457-3454 |
| Website | courtswv.gov county court page |
| Courthouse Locations | 1 (Philippi) |
| Handles | Circuit criminal cases (felonies and misdemeanors), civil cases, and juvenile cases; domestic cases in the family court in the Twenty-First Family Court Circuit |
| Does NOT Handle | Magistrate court matters of limited jurisdiction, such as civil disputes up to $20,000; federal cases, which are heard in the U.S. District Court for West Virginia |
| Online Case Search | Court Records Access page |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | Magistrate Court Payments (apps.wv.gov/Courts/MFP) |
How to Search Barbour County Court Records
Have the person's full name, the case number if you know it, and approximate dates ready before you search. The Circuit Clerk keeps Barbour's circuit and family court records.
Online
Go to the Court Records Access page on courtswv.gov.
Search Circuit Courts or Magistrate Courts records for all 55 counties.
Check results with the clerk for documents not available online.
Best for: Quick lookups of case information
In Person
Go to 26 N. Main Street, Suite 2, Philippi, WV 26416.
Bring the party names and case number if you have them.
Ask the Circuit Clerk for records not available online.
Best for: Records and copies not available online
By Phone
Call 304-457-3454 to confirm what the Circuit Clerk needs.
Ask the clerk which records can be requested by phone.
Best for: Confirming a case before visiting
Search by Name on WestVirginiaCourts.org
Go to WestVirginiaCourts.org and enter a full name.
Search across record types without a case number.
Confirm results with the court, since they are not official court records.
Best for: Finding leads without a case number
Barbour County Court Statistics (2025)
Barbour County courts handled an estimated 2,001 new cases in 2025 and disposed of an estimated 1,945. The estimate scales West Virginia statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~2,001
Total filings in 2025
~1,945
Total dispositions in 2025
~2,001
Filings per judicial position (1 estimated positions)
~-1.2%
Change in total filings vs 2024
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~2,001 | ~2,026 | ~-1.2% |
| Total Dispositions | ~1,945 | ~1,971 | ~-1.3% |
| Criminal Filings | ~1,153 | ~1,228 | ~-6.1% |
| Civil Filings | ~562 | ~521 | ~+7.9% |
| Family Law Filings | ~171 | ~157 | ~+8.9% |
| Probate Filings | ~13 | ~14 | ~-7.1% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~43 | ~42 | ~+2.4% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~72 | ~78 | ~-7.7% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~1 | ~1 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in criminal filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: West Virginia statewide figures scaled by Barbour County's 0.87% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Barbour County?
Estimated total filings in Barbour County moved up over the last five years; dispositions are estimated at a similar level.
| Fiscal Year | Total Filings | Total Dispositions | YoY Filing Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ~2,001 | ~1,945 | ~-1.2% |
| 2024 | ~2,026 | ~1,971 | ~-3.6% |
| 2023 | ~2,101 | ~2,049 | ~+5.1% |
| 2022 | ~1,999 | ~1,954 | ~+0.3% |
| 2021 | ~1,993 | ~1,945 | ~+0.3% |
Estimated filings changed +0.4% between 2021 and 2025, from 1,993 to 2,001. The largest annual change was +5.1% in 2023. The latest change of -1.2% reflects statewide West Virginia trends. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: West Virginia statewide figures scaled by Barbour County's 0.87% share of the state population.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Barbour County?
The largest single circuit category in 2025 was Felonies (criminal), with 90 filings, or 24.6% of the 366 circuit criminal, civil and juvenile filings. Share is calculated against the combined circuit total for 2025. Figures marked with ~ are estimates based on the other years shown for this county.
| Case Type | Filings 2025 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal (circuit) | 134 | 36.6% | +19.6% |
| Felonies | 90 | 24.6% | +8.4% |
| Magistrate Appeals | 1 | 0.3% | ~+7.5% |
| Misdemeanor | 4 | 1.1% | +0.0% |
| Other Criminal Cases | 39 | 10.7% | +56.0% |
| Civil (circuit) | 140 | 38.3% | +16.7% |
| Admin Agency Appeals | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Adoption | 22 | 6.0% | +29.4% |
| Domestic Violence | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| General Civil | 65 | 17.8% | +8.3% |
| Guardianship | 8 | 2.2% | -42.9% |
| Magistrate Appeals | 1 | 0.3% | ~+7.5% |
| Mental Health | 12 | 3.3% | -14.3% |
| Other Civil Cases | 32 | 8.7% | +113.3% |
| Other Domestic Relations | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Personal Safety Appeals | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Juvenile (circuit) | 92 | 25.1% | -18.6% |
| Child Abuse / Neglect | 74 | 20.2% | -17.8% |
| Delinquency | 18 | 4.9% | -21.7% |
| Status Offenses | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Combined circuit filings | 366 | 100.0% | +6.1% |
Other Civil Cases (civil) grew fastest at +113.3%, while Guardianship (civil) fell fastest at -42.9% from 2024 to 2025.
How Does Barbour County Compare With West Virginia Overall?
Barbour County is estimated to account for about 0.87% of the 230,414 cases filed in West Virginia courts in 2025.
| Metric | Barbour County | West Virginia | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~2,001 | 230,414 | ~0.87% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~-1.2% | -1.3% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~2,001 | 1,829 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~1,945 | 1,778 | Estimated at the state level |
| Criminal share of filings | ~57.6% | 57.6% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Civil share of filings | ~28.1% | 28.1% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Family law share of filings | ~8.5% | 8.5% | Same as state (estimate) |
These county values are estimates built from statewide West Virginia figures, so they track the state mix by design. Actual county dockets may differ. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: West Virginia statewide figures scaled by Barbour County's 0.87% share of the state population.
Barbour County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are West Virginia statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Barbour County. Agency reporting may be incomplete, and county crime counts are not available here. Statewide violent and property crimes combined fell 10.9% from 2024 to 2025. In 2025, reporting agencies covered about 96.4% of West Virginia's population, so year-over-year changes can partly reflect which agencies reported.
4,123
Violent crimes, West Virginia statewide, 2025
16,897
Property crimes, West Virginia statewide, 2025 (includes arson)
233.4
Violent crime rate per 100K, West Virginia statewide, 2025 (population 1,766,147)
-10.9%
Change in total violent plus property crimes, West Virginia statewide, 2025 vs 2024 (21,020 vs 23,595)
| Offense | 2025 | Rate per 100K | 2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 68 | 3.9 | 104 | -34.6% |
| Rape | 945 | 53.5 | 932 | +1.4% |
| Robbery | 149 | 8.4 | 179 | -16.8% |
| Aggravated assault | 2,961 | 167.7 | 3,088 | -4.1% |
| Violent crimes total | 4,123 | 233.4 | 4,303 | -4.2% |
| Burglary | 2,400 | 135.9 | 3,124 | -23.2% |
| Larceny-theft | 13,259 | 750.7 | 14,620 | -9.3% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 1,109 | 62.8 | 1,361 | -18.5% |
| Property crimes total | 16,897 | 956.7 | 19,292 | -12.4% |
Rates use the West Virginia 2025 population of 1,766,147. County-level rates are not published, so this section does not compare Barbour County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Barbour County Courthouse Locations
Barbour County has 1 courthouse location, in Philippi. Check your notice or case papers for the assigned courthouse before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbour County Courthouse | 26 N. Main Street, Suite 2, Philippi, WV 26416 | 304-457-3454 | See location page |
Which Court Handles Your Case in Barbour County?
The court you go to depends on the type of case. The rows below cover the matters described in the state court structure for Barbour County.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Circuit Court | Felony cases are reported in circuit criminal filings kept by the Circuit Clerk. |
| Civil lawsuit up to $20,000 in dispute | Magistrate Court | Magistrate courts have limited jurisdiction, with civil cases up to $20,000 in dispute. |
| Civil lawsuit over $20,000 in dispute | Circuit Court | Circuit courts hear civil cases above the magistrate court limit of $20,000. |
| Divorce | Family Court | The Circuit Clerk keeps family court records. |
| Child custody or support | Family Court | The Circuit Clerk keeps family court records. |
| Domestic violence | Family Court | Domestic violence cases are reported in family court domestic filings. |
| Juvenile case | Circuit Court | Juvenile delinquency and child abuse or neglect cases are reported in circuit juvenile filings. |
| Mental health petition | Circuit Court | Mental health cases are reported in circuit civil filings. |
| Appeal | Appellate courts | The Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Appeals review trial court decisions. |
Are Barbour County Court Records Public?
Generally yes, most court records in Barbour County are open to the public, but some records are restricted or confidential.
Public records
Circuit court and family court records are kept by the county circuit clerk, and magistrate court records are kept by the magistrate court clerks.
Restricted or confidential records
Some records are restricted or confidential, and access depends on the law and court orders. Ask the Circuit Clerk which records apply to your case.
Online access
Use the Court Records Access page on courtswv.gov to search circuit and magistrate courts. Ask the clerk for documents that are not available online.
In-person access
Visit the Circuit Clerk's office at 26 N. Main Street, Suite 2, Philippi, WV 26416 to view or request records. Call 304-457-3454 to confirm which office holds your case.
Fees
This section does not list court fees for records. Ask the clerk about any copy charges before you request records.
How to Search Barbour County Court Records Online
Use the official West Virginia court search tools to look up Barbour County cases by case type, and ask the clerk for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, civil, small claims, family law, or juvenile.
- Open the Court Records Access page on courtswv.gov and choose the Circuit Courts or Magistrate Courts search.
- Search by party name or case number, and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case information, such as case status and parties.
- Call the Circuit Clerk at 304-457-3454 to request documents that are not available online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Circuit Courts search | Case information for circuit criminal cases | Documents may require the Circuit Clerk |
| Civil | Circuit Courts search | Case information for circuit civil cases | Documents may require the Circuit Clerk |
| Small claims | Magistrate Courts search | Case information for magistrate civil cases | Documents may require the magistrate court clerk |
| Family law | Circuit Clerk's office | Family court domestic case records kept by the Circuit Clerk | Ask the clerk which records are available |
| Juvenile | Circuit Clerk's office | Juvenile case information through the clerk | Ask the clerk which records are available |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Barbour County
The statewide Magistrate Court Payments portal is the online option listed for paying court fines in Barbour County.
- Online: Pay through Magistrate Court Payments at apps.wv.gov/Courts/MFP. The page does not state whether fines or court costs are covered, so check the page before you pay.
Parking tickets are not covered by the court payment option listed here. Contact the agency that issued the ticket.
Barbour County Court Records FAQ
How do I search Barbour County court records?
Use the Court Records Access page on courtswv.gov to search circuit and magistrate court records, or contact the Circuit Clerk at 304-457-3454.
Are Barbour County court records public?
Generally yes, but some records are restricted or confidential, and the Circuit Clerk can confirm which records are available.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search circuit court records on the Court Records Access page, or call the Circuit Clerk at 304-457-3454 with the defendant's name.
How do I find a court date?
Check your notice or ticket first, then call the Circuit Clerk at 304-457-3454 to confirm.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Use the statewide Magistrate Court Payments portal at apps.wv.gov/Courts/MFP. The page does not state which charges it covers, so confirm with the court before paying.
How many cases are filed in Barbour County each year?
Circuit criminal, civil and juvenile filings in Barbour County totaled 366 in 2025, up 6.1% from 345 in 2024. A total for all court types is not published here.
What is the most common type of case?
The largest single circuit category in 2025 was Felonies (criminal), with 90 filings, or 24.6% of the 366 circuit filings.
Is crime in Barbour County rising or falling?
County crime counts are not available here. Statewide, reported violent crimes fell 4.2% to 4,123 in 2025 from 4,303 in 2024, and property crimes fell 12.4% to 16,897 from 19,292, as reported to the FBI. These are West Virginia statewide figures, and reporting coverage changed between years.
Courts in the County
Barbour County Circuit CourtMore Info
| Address: | 26 N. Main Street, Philippi, WV, 26416 |
| Phone Number: | 304-457-3454 |
| Fax: | 304-457-2790 |
| Website: | http://www.courtswv.gov/lower-courts/counties/barbour.html |
Useful Links
- Barbour County, West Virginia Government - Official site providing county information, including departments, services, and contact details for local government offices.
- Barbour County Clerk's Office - Access vital records, land documents, and information about licenses through the Barbour County Clerk's Office.
- West Virginia Judiciary - Find state judicial opinions, court rules, and access self-help legal resources from the West Virginia Judiciary.
- West Virginia State Legislature - Source for state laws, legislative activities, and public records, offering transparency into government proceedings.
- Barbour County Circuit Court - Visit for information on dockets, scheduling, local rules, and judicial processes within Barbour County's Circuit Court.
- West Virginia State Police - Access public safety resources, crime statistics, and law enforcement information pertinent to residents of West Virginia.
- West Virginia Secretary of State - Provides business services, elections information, and public records for businesses operating in West Virginia.
- The West Virginia State Bar - Resource for legal professionals and the public, providing law practice management resources and ethical guidelines.
- Barbour County Probate Court - Find court contact information, hours of operation, and details on probate processes in Barbour County.
- What Are Public Records? - Description and explanation of public records, including how they are maintained and accessed by citizens.
- West Virginia Library Commission - Provides access to statewide library resources, research materials, and public records through the library system.
- West Virginia Human Rights Commission - Promotes the protection of human rights and responsibilities, offering records and resources for citizens of West Virginia.
- West Virginia State Auditor - Provides financial reports, audits, and other public financial records, ensuring transparency in state resources management.
- West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner - Regulatory body ensures compliance and fair practices in the insurance industry, offering public access to related records.
- West Virginia Attorney General - Offers legal opinions, consumer protection resources, and publications related to the Attorney General's efforts within the state.
- West Virginia Divorce Law - Overview of state-specific divorce laws, including legal procedures and court filings in West Virginia.
- Organ Donation Statistics - National database highlighting organ donation statistics, including information related to West Virginia's contributions and policies.
- Legal Aid of West Virginia - Statewide legal services organization offering free or reduced-cost legal assistance to low-income individuals and families.
- West Virginia Department of Education - Agency provides access to educational records, policy information, and resources for students, educators, and the public.
- Map of Local Government Websites in West Virginia from School of Government - Interactive tool to identify and access local government websites across West Virginia counties, including Barbour.
Table of Contents
- Barbour County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Barbour County Court Records
- Barbour County Court Statistics (2025)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Barbour County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Barbour County?
- How Does Barbour County Compare With West Virginia Overall?
- Barbour County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Barbour County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Barbour County?
- Are Barbour County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Barbour County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Barbour County
- Barbour County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links