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Roane County

Roane County, WV Courts and Public Records

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The Roane County trial courts include the circuit court, family court, and magistrate court. The county circuit clerk keeps circuit and family court records, and magistrate court clerks keep magistrate records.

Field	Details
Court Name	Roane County Circuit Court, Family Court, and Magistrate Court
Website	courtswv.gov
Handles	Circuit court: felonies, general civil cases, and juvenile matters. Family court: divorce and other domestic relations, including domestic violence. Magistrate court: civil disputes up to $20,000
Does NOT Handle	Federal cases, which go to the U.S. District Court for West Virginia. Appeals go to the appellate courts, not to the Roane County trial courts
Online Case Search	Court Records Access
Pay Court Payments Online	Magistrate Court Payments
Record Keeping	County circuit clerk for circuit and family court records; magistrate court clerk for magistrate records

How to Search Roane County Court Records

Have the full name, the case number if you know it, and the approximate dates ready before you search Roane County court records.

Online

Go to Court Records Access on courtswv.gov to start a search.

Search circuit and magistrate court records by name or case number.

Confirm details with the clerk before relying on search results.

Best for: Quick lookups of case status and parties

In Person

Go to the Roane County circuit clerk's office to request records.

Bring the case number and party names if you have them.

Ask the clerk which office holds your circuit or magistrate records.

Best for: Records not available online

By Phone

Call the Roane County circuit clerk to ask how to request records.

Ask which records the clerk can provide and what information is needed.

Find current clerk contact details at courtswv.gov before calling.

Best for: Requests you cannot make in person

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

Roane County Court Statistics (2025)

The circuit courts in Roane County recorded 314 criminal, civil, and juvenile filings in 2025, compared with 453 in 2024. Totals below are sums of the published case types, and family domestic filings are shown for 2025 only.

314

Circuit criminal, civil, and juvenile filings in 2025

-30.7%

Change in circuit filings vs 2024 (453)

228

Family domestic filings in 2025 (sum of published case types)

51

Juvenile filings in 2025 (published total)

Metric	2025	2024	Change
Circuit Criminal Filings	122	224	-45.5%
Circuit Civil Filings	141	160	-11.9%
Circuit Juvenile Filings	51	69	-26.1%
Total Circuit Filings	314	453	-30.7%

Criminal filings drove most of the change, moving -102 cases between 2024 and 2025.

How Have Court Filings Changed in Roane County?

Estimated total filings in Roane 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	~1,763	~1,714	~-1.2%
2024	~1,785	~1,737	~-3.6%
2023	~1,851	~1,805	~+5.1%
2022	~1,761	~1,721	~+0.3%
2021	~1,756	~1,714	~+0.3%

Estimated filings changed +0.4% between 2021 and 2025, from 1,756 to 1,763. 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 Roane County's 0.76% share of the state population.

What Types of Cases Are Filed in Roane County?

Civil filings are the largest group in Roane County, at 141 of 314 circuit filings in 2025 (44.9%). Shares use the 2025 circuit total.

Case Type	Filings 2025	Share of Total	YoY Change
Criminal	122	38.9%	-45.5%
Felonies	53	16.9%	-50.9%
Magistrate Appeals	1	0.3%	-66.7%
Misdemeanor	9	2.9%	-35.7%
Other Criminal Cases	59	18.8%	-40.4%
Civil	141	44.9%	-11.9%
Adoption	27	8.6%	-18.2%
General Civil	55	17.5%	+12.2%
Guardianship	11	3.5%	+83.3%
Magistrate Appeals	0	0.0%	-100.0%
Mental Health	28	8.9%	-44.0%
Other Civil Cases	19	6.1%	+11.8%
Personal Safety Appeals	1	0.3%	New
Juvenile	51	16.2%	-26.1%
Child Abuse / Neglect	47	15.0%	-4.1%
Delinquency	3	1.0%	-78.6%
Status Offenses	1	0.3%	-83.3%

Guardianship (Civil) grew fastest at +83.3%, and Status Offenses (Juvenile) fell fastest at -83.3%, comparing case types that had filings in both years.

How Does Roane County Compare With West Virginia Overall?

Roane County is estimated to account for about 0.76% of the 230,414 cases filed in West Virginia courts in 2025.

Metric	Roane County	West Virginia	Comparison
Total filings	~1,763	230,414	~0.76% of statewide filings
YoY change in filings	~-1.2%	-1.3%	Same as state (estimate)
Filings per judicial position	~1,763	1,829	Estimated at the state level
Dispositions per judicial position equivalent	~1,714	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 Roane County's 0.76% share of the state population.

Roane County Crime Statistics (2025)

These figures are West Virginia statewide totals as reported to the FBI, not counts for Roane 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 Roane County with the state. The property crimes total includes arson, so it is larger than the sum of the property offenses listed above.

Roane County Courthouse Locations

Roane County court proceedings are held at the Roane County Courthouse. Check your notice or case paperwork to confirm the courthouse assigned to your case before you go.

Courthouse	Address	Phone	Verified Services
Roane County Courthouse	200 Main Street, Spencer, WV 25276	304-927-2750	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 Roane County?

Cases from Roane County go to the circuit court, the family court, or the magistrate court, depending on the case type and amount. Federal cases go to the U.S. District Court for West Virginia.

Your Situation	Go To	Key Details
Felony	Circuit Court, Criminal	Felony cases are heard in circuit court.
Civil lawsuit up to $20,000	Magistrate Court, Civil	Magistrate courts hear civil disputes up to $20,000.
Civil lawsuit over $20,000	Circuit Court, Civil	Claims above the magistrate limit go to circuit court.
Divorce	Family Court	Divorce cases are heard in family court.
Child custody or support	Family Court	Domestic relations matters are heard in family court.
Domestic violence	Family Court	Domestic violence cases are part of the family court caseload.
Juvenile case	Circuit Court, Juvenile	Juvenile delinquency and child abuse or neglect cases are heard in circuit court.
Appeal	Intermediate Court of Appeals or Supreme Court of Appeals	Appeals go to the state appellate courts.
Federal case	U.S. District Court for West Virginia	County courts do not hear federal cases.

Are Roane County Court Records Public?

Many Roane County court records can be searched online through the statewide Court Records Access page, but records that law or a court order makes confidential are restricted.

Public records

Circuit court and magistrate court case information for Roane County can be searched through the statewide Court Records Access page.

Restricted or confidential records

Records that law or a court order makes confidential are not released through the search tools. Ask the clerk which records you can request.

Online access

The Court Records Access page offers Circuit Courts and Magistrate Courts search for all 55 counties. Business Court cases are searched at the Business Court Case Search page.

In-person access

Visit the Roane County circuit clerk for circuit and family court records, or the magistrate court clerk for magistrate records. Confirm the office location through courtswv.gov.

How to Search Roane County Court Records Online

Use the statewide Court Records Access page to search Roane County cases by case type, and ask the clerk for documents that are not online.

Identify the case type, such as circuit, family, magistrate, or business court.
Open the Court Records Access page at 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 details, and confirm them with the county clerk before relying on them.
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
Circuit criminal	Circuit Courts search at Court Records Access	Case information for circuit criminal cases	Confirm documents with the circuit clerk
Circuit civil	Circuit Courts search at Court Records Access	Case information for circuit civil cases	Confirm documents with the circuit clerk
Magistrate	Magistrate Courts search at mcrsearch.courtswv.gov	Magistrate court case information	Magistrate records are kept by the magistrate court clerk
Family law	Ask the Roane County circuit clerk, who keeps family court records	Family court case information	Online search coverage for family cases is not stated here
Business Court	Business Court Case Search	Business Court case information	Separate from the circuit and magistrate search
Juvenile	Ask the Roane County circuit clerk	Juvenile case information through the clerk	Online search coverage for juvenile cases is not stated here

How to Pay Fines & Citations in Roane County

The statewide Magistrate Court Payments page is one official way to pay magistrate court balances, and the clerk can confirm other options for Roane County.

Online: Pay at Magistrate Court Payments. Confirm on the page which fines and costs it accepts.
Clerk: Contact the magistrate court clerk for Roane County to ask about other payment methods. Options are not listed here, so confirm before you go.

For a parking ticket, contact the agency that issued the ticket to ask how to pay.

Roane County Court Records FAQ

How do I search county court records?

Use the Court Records Access page at courtswv.gov, which offers Circuit Courts and Magistrate Courts search.

Are court records public?

Many are searchable online, but records that law or a court order makes confidential are restricted.

How do I find a criminal case?

Search by name or case number on the Circuit Courts search page, or contact the county circuit clerk.

How do I find a court date?

Check your paperwork first, then search the case on Court Records Access or ask the clerk for the scheduled date.

How do I pay a traffic ticket?

Use the Magistrate Court Payments page at apps.wv.gov/Courts/MFP, or contact the magistrate court clerk to confirm options for your ticket.

How many cases are filed in Roane County each year?

The circuit courts recorded 314 criminal, civil, and juvenile filings in 2025, compared with 453 in 2024 (-30.7%).

What is the most common type of case?

Civil filings were the largest group in 2025, at 141 of 314 circuit filings.

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

Roane County Circuit CourtMore Info

Address:	200 Main Street, Spencer, WV, 25276
Phone Number:	304-927-2750
Fax:	304-927-2164
Website:	http://www.courtswv.gov/lower-courts/counties/roane.html

Useful Links

West Virginia Judiciary - Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia - Access state court information, opinions, dockets, and various legal resources directly from the West Virginia Supreme Court.
West Virginia Development Office - County Courts - Provides contact information and links to various county court resources across West Virginia, including Roane County.
Roane County, West Virginia Government - Official county website offering local government contacts, public records access, and services, including court-related information specific to Roane County.
West Virginia Vital Research Records - Roane County - Search historical vital records from Roane County through the West Virginia Division of Culture and History's database.
West Virginia Courts - e-Filing and Case Management - Tools and services for e-filing and case management across West Virginia courts, a resource for legal professionals.
Legal Aid of West Virginia - Offers free legal services and resources for low-income individuals, including assistance with court-related matters in Roane County.
Roane General Hospital - Community Services - While not directly court-related, this hospital offers community services that could intersect with legal concerns like guardianships or public health.
The West Virginia State Bar - Information and resources for legal professionals, including directories and resources useful for court proceedings in Roane County.
Roane County Assessor's Office - Retrieve property records and tax information that can be pertinent for court cases related to real estate in Roane County.
West Virginia Association of MLS - Roane Listings - Real estate listings that serve as additional resources when handling court cases involving property disputes or valuations.
West Virginia Courts Public Records - Official portal for accessing public records online, including court documents and case information from various West Virginia courts.
Roane County Public Library - Offers access to legal publications and public internet access for research related to court cases or legal matters.
Legal Help Online - West Virginia Resources - Resource hub for finding legal help related to various matters like family law, criminal cases, and court-related services in West Virginia.
Roane County Historical Society - Provides access to historical documents and archives, which can be useful in genealogical research or court cases involving historical claims.
West Virginia Legislature - Roane County Statistics and Information - Official legislative records and county-specific statistics that provide useful data for legal research and court-related cases.
Victim Outreach Center - WV - Offers support and services to crime victims, including those involved in court proceedings, with specific resources for West Virginia residents.
West Virginia University Extension Service - Roane County - Provides community-focused resources and developments, occasionally linking to court or legal resources through educational initiatives.
West Virginia State Police - Law enforcement agency offering information regarding criminal records, background checks, and other court-adjacent services throughout the state.
West Virginia Family Courts - Special court division handling cases related to family law, including divorce, custody, and support issues pertinent to residents of Roane County.
West Virginia National Guard - Resource for service members regarding legal rights and services, offering guidance relevant for cases involving military personnel in court.