Jefferson 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 Circuit Court of Jefferson County handles the county's felony criminal, general civil, juvenile, and family cases.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Court Name | Circuit Court of Jefferson County |
| Website | courtswv.gov (West Virginia Judiciary) |
| Handles | Felony and other criminal cases, general civil, juvenile, and family matters |
| Does NOT Handle | Magistrate court matters, which the magistrate court clerk keeps; federal cases, which go to the U.S. District Court for West Virginia |
| Online Case Search | Court Records Access page |
| Criminal Records Requests | Contact the Circuit Clerk through courtswv.gov |
| Pay Traffic Tickets Online | Magistrate Court Payments portal |
How to Search Jefferson County Court Records
Have the person's full name, the case number if you know it, and the county where the case was filed ready before you search.
Online
Go to the Court Records Access page on courtswv.gov.
Search Circuit Courts records for all 55 counties.
Best for: Checking records from home
In Person
Go to the Jefferson County circuit clerk's office at the county courthouse.
Bring the full name and any case number you have.
Ask the clerk which division holds your case.
Best for: Records that need the clerk's help
Contact the Clerk
Find the courthouse phone number on courtswv.gov.
Ask which division holds your case before you visit.
Best for: Confirming a case division
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
Jefferson County Court Statistics (2025)
Jefferson County courts handled an estimated 7,975 new cases in 2025 and disposed of an estimated 7,753. The estimate scales West Virginia statewide totals by the county's share of state population.
~7,975
Total filings in 2025
~7,753
Total dispositions in 2025
~1,994
Filings per judicial position (4 estimated positions)
~-1.3%
Change in total filings vs 2024
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Filings | ~7,975 | ~8,077 | ~-1.3% |
| Total Dispositions | ~7,753 | ~7,857 | ~-1.3% |
| Criminal Filings | ~4,596 | ~4,896 | ~-6.1% |
| Civil Filings | ~2,239 | ~2,077 | ~+7.8% |
| Family Law Filings | ~681 | ~626 | ~+8.8% |
| Probate Filings | ~51 | ~56 | ~-8.9% |
| Mental Health Filings | ~172 | ~167 | ~+3.0% |
| Juvenile Filings | ~287 | ~312 | ~-8.0% |
| Authorized Judicial Positions | ~4 | ~4 | ~0.0% |
The largest category movement was in criminal filings. Figures marked with ~ are estimates: West Virginia statewide figures scaled by Jefferson County's 3.46% share of the state population.
How Have Court Filings Changed in Jefferson County?
Circuit court filings in Jefferson County are published for two years only, with criminal, civil, and juvenile case groups shown separately.
| Year | Circuit criminal | Circuit civil | Circuit juvenile | Circuit total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 181 | 580 | 148 | 909 |
| 2024 | 194 | 514 | 202 | 910 |
Circuit filings were down 0.1% overall from 2024 to 2025, moving from 910 to 909 cases. Circuit civil filings changed the most, +12.8%, while circuit juvenile filings moved -26.7%. The published data does not explain the causes of these changes.
Chart note: a line chart of the three circuit case groups, shown from 2024 to 2025 (oldest to newest), would show each group's direction.
What Types of Cases Are Filed in Jefferson County?
Family domestic filings make up the largest share of Jefferson County filings in 2025 at 42.6% of the 1,585 cases published for that year. Figures marked with ~ are estimates based on the other years shown for this county.
| Case Type | Filings 2025 | Share of Total | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit criminal | 181 | 11.4% | -6.7% |
| Felonies | 107 | 6.8% | -6.1% |
| Magistrate Appeals | 5 | 0.3% | -28.6% |
| Misdemeanor | 5 | 0.3% | +25.0% |
| Other Criminal Cases | 64 | 4.0% | -7.2% |
| Circuit civil | 580 | 36.6% | +12.8% |
| Adoption | 29 | 1.8% | -29.3% |
| General Civil | 312 | 19.7% | +17.3% |
| Guardianship | 31 | 2.0% | +47.6% |
| Magistrate Appeals | 11 | 0.7% | -38.9% |
| Mental Health | 59 | 3.7% | -4.8% |
| Other Civil Cases | 133 | 8.4% | +29.1% |
| Personal Safety Appeals | 5 | 0.3% | +66.7% |
| Circuit juvenile | 148 | 9.3% | -26.7% |
| Child Abuse / Neglect | 85 | 5.4% | -37.5% |
| Delinquency | 46 | 2.9% | -13.2% |
| Status Offenses | 17 | 1.1% | +30.8% |
| Family domestic | 676 | 42.6% | ~-6.1% |
| Divorce | 221 | 13.9% | ~+1.3% |
| Domestic Violence | 151 | 9.5% | ~+1.3% |
| Other Domestic Relations | 114 | 7.2% | ~+1.3% |
| Marriages | 1 | 0.1% | ~+1.3% |
| Modifications | 97 | 6.1% | ~+1.3% |
| Contempt | 92 | 5.8% | ~+1.3% |
Among the circuit groups, circuit civil filings grew fastest at +12.8%, while circuit juvenile filings fell fastest at -26.7%.
How Does Jefferson County Compare With West Virginia Overall?
Jefferson County is estimated to account for about 3.46% of the 230,414 cases filed in West Virginia courts in 2025.
| Metric | Jefferson County | West Virginia | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total filings | ~7,975 | 230,414 | ~3.46% of statewide filings |
| YoY change in filings | ~-1.3% | -1.3% | Same as state (estimate) |
| Filings per judicial position | ~1,994 | 1,829 | Estimated at the state level |
| Dispositions per judicial position equivalent | ~1,938 | 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 Jefferson County's 3.46% share of the state population.
Jefferson County Crime Statistics (2025)
These figures are West Virginia statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 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 Jefferson County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.
Jefferson County Courthouse Locations
Jefferson County court proceedings are held at the Jefferson County Circuit Clerk's Office. Check your notice or case paperwork to confirm the courthouse assigned to your case before you go.
| Courthouse | Address | Phone | Verified Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Circuit Clerk's Office | 119 N. George Street, Charles Town, WV 25414 | 304-728-3231 | See location page |
Addresses and phone numbers come from public directory listings and may change, so confirm them with the clerk before you visit.
Which Court Handles Your Case in Jefferson County?
The circuit court in Jefferson County handles felony, general civil, juvenile, and family cases, while magistrate courts handle smaller civil disputes.
| Your Situation | Go To | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Civil lawsuit up to $20,000 | Magistrate court | Magistrate courts hear civil disputes up to $20,000, and the magistrate court clerk keeps those records. |
| Civil lawsuit above $20,000 | Circuit court | Civil cases above the magistrate court limit go to the circuit court, where the circuit clerk keeps the records. |
| Felony | Circuit court | Felony cases appear in the county's circuit criminal filings, and the circuit clerk keeps those records. |
| Juvenile case | Circuit court | Juvenile cases appear in the county's circuit juvenile filings, and the circuit clerk keeps those records. |
| Divorce | Family court | The circuit clerk keeps family court records. Jefferson County shares the 24th Family Court Circuit with Berkeley County. |
| Child custody or support | Family court | The circuit clerk keeps family court records. Jefferson County shares the 24th Family Court Circuit with Berkeley County. |
| Business dispute | Business Court Division | The statewide Business Court Division has its own case search. |
| Appeal | Appellate courts | Appeals from trial courts go to the state's appellate courts, not to the county court. |
Are Jefferson County Court Records Public?
Court records for Jefferson County are kept by the circuit clerk for circuit and family court cases and by magistrate court clerks for magistrate cases. Confirm which records are restricted with the clerk before you request one.
Online access
The Court Records Access page on courtswv.gov lists the state's public search tools, including Circuit Courts and Magistrate Courts search for all 55 counties. The Business Court case search covers Business Court cases.
In-person access
Visit the circuit clerk's office at the Jefferson County courthouse, or find the phone number on courtswv.gov, to confirm which division holds your case.
How to Search Jefferson County Court Records Online
Use the state's official court record search tools to find Jefferson County cases by case type, and contact the clerk for documents that are not online.
- Identify the case type, such as criminal, civil, family, magistrate, or business court.
- Open the Court Records Access page for circuit and magistrate searches, or the Business Court case search for business cases.
- Search by full name or case number and note the case number from the results.
- Review the case details, parties, and status in the results.
- Contact the circuit clerk or magistrate court clerk to request documents that are not online.
| Case Type | Where to Search | What You'll Find | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal and civil (circuit) | Court Records Access page | Case details the state system publishes | Confirm documents with the circuit clerk |
| Juvenile | Court Records Access page | Case details, where the state system shows them | Ask the circuit clerk whether the case appears |
| Family law | Court Records Access page | Family court case details | Ask the circuit clerk whether the case appears online |
| Magistrate | Magistrate Courts search | Magistrate court case details | Use the magistrate court clerk for records not online |
| Business court | Business Court case search | Business Court case details | Covers Business Court Division cases only |
How to Pay Fines & Citations in Jefferson County
Pay fines and court costs through the statewide Magistrate Court Payments portal, or contact the clerk for your case.
- Online: Pay at the Magistrate Court Payments portal. Confirm on the portal that your fine or cost is listed before you pay.
- Phone: Find the courthouse phone number on courtswv.gov and ask the clerk about your case. Ask for the amount due before you pay.
- In person: Go to the Jefferson County courthouse clerk's office and ask about your case. Bring your ticket or case number.
For parking tickets, check the ticket for the office that issued it and pay there.
Jefferson County Court Records FAQ
How do I search court records in Jefferson County?
Use the Court Records Access page on courtswv.gov to search circuit and magistrate records, or contact the circuit clerk for records that are not online.
Are court records in Jefferson County public?
Court records are kept by the circuit clerk and magistrate court clerks. Confirm with the clerk which records are restricted before you request one.
How do I find a criminal case?
Search the Court Records Access page by full name, or contact the circuit clerk to confirm the division that holds the case.
How do I find a court date?
Check your notice or ticket first, then contact the circuit clerk to confirm the division and date.
How do I pay a traffic ticket?
Pay at the Magistrate Court Payments portal after confirming your ticket is listed, or contact the clerk for help with your case.
How many cases are filed in Jefferson County each year?
Circuit courts recorded 909 criminal, civil, and juvenile filings in 2025, down 0.1% from 910 in 2024, and 676 family domestic filings in 2025.
What is the most common type of case?
Family domestic cases were the largest group in 2025 at 676 filings, or 42.6% of the 1,585 cases published for that year.
Is crime in West Virginia 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
Jefferson County Circuit CourtMore Info
| Address: | 119 North George Street, Charles Town, WV, 25414 |
| Phone Number: | 304-728-3231 |
| Fax: | 304-728-3398 |
| Website: | http://www.courtswv.gov/lower-courts/counties/jefferson.html |
Useful Links
- West Virginia Judiciary - Supreme Court of Appeals Website - Provides official court information, opinions, rules, and general resources for West Virginia's judicial system.
- West Virginia Secretary of State - Public Records - Offers access to various public records, including business filings and election data, applicable statewide in West Virginia.
- Jefferson County Government - Find It Fast - Portal for quick access to county services, departments, and public resources in Jefferson County, WV.
- Jefferson County Probate Information - Detailed information on probate processes and resources within Jefferson County, provided by the county government.
- Jefferson County WV Chancery Clerk - Resource for accessing chancery court services, including records and filing information for Jefferson County.
- Legal Aid of West Virginia - Non-profit organization providing legal assistance to low-income individuals across West Virginia, including Jefferson County.
- Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Directory - Comprehensive directory of lawyers and law firms for legal advice and representation in Jefferson County and beyond.
- Northern District of West Virginia - United States District Court - Covers federal court services and information for the Northern District of WV, which includes Jefferson County.
- The West Virginia State Bar - Official site for WV lawyers, providing resources, membership information, and legal practice guidelines statewide.
- West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources - Provides health services, welfare programs, and resources for residents of Jefferson County and the entire state.
- Free West Virginia Court Records Search - Offers searches of WV court records, providing step-by-step access to public court documents and information.
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office - Official site detailing law enforcement resources, public safety services, and information in Jefferson County.
- West Virginia University College of Law - Provides educational resources, legal research links, and community outreach programs in West Virginia, including Jefferson County.
- Library of Congress - West Virginia Legal Resources - Guide to legal documents, codes, and other resources particularly valuable for research on WV laws and court systems.
- West Virginia Legislature - Legislative branch offering access to state laws, legislative activities, and bills relevant to Jefferson County and WV.
- West Virginia State Archives - Resources include historical documents, genealogical records, and state archives particularly useful for public research.
- Jefferson County Circuit Clerk's Office - Manages court records and judicial services in Jefferson County, providing vital records and administrative support.
- People's Law Library of West Virginia - A resource site offering free legal information and self-help legal guides for residents statewide and in Jefferson County.
- Access West Virginia Legal Help - Initiative promoting access to legal help and court-related information for underserved communities throughout West Virginia.
- West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement - Official resource for child support services and enforcement in Jefferson County and across the state of WV.
Table of Contents
- Jefferson County, Courts and Public Records
- How to Search Jefferson County Court Records
- Jefferson County Court Statistics (2025)
- How Have Court Filings Changed in Jefferson County?
- What Types of Cases Are Filed in Jefferson County?
- How Does Jefferson County Compare With West Virginia Overall?
- Jefferson County Crime Statistics (2025)
- Jefferson County Courthouse Locations
- Which Court Handles Your Case in Jefferson County?
- Are Jefferson County Court Records Public?
- How to Search Jefferson County Court Records Online
- How to Pay Fines & Citations in Jefferson County
- Jefferson County Court Records FAQ
- Courts in the County
- Useful Links