Preston County
Preston County is located in the northeastern part of West Virginia. It was established in 1818 and named after Virginia Governor James Patton Preston. The county spans approximately 651 square miles and is characterized by its Appalachian terrain. Preston County is known for its agricultural heritage and outdoor recreational opportunities, particularly at Cathedral State Park. Kingwood, a small but historically rich city, serves as the county seat.
Preston County operates within West Virginia's Unified Judicial System, which includes Circuit, Magistrate, and Family Courts. Municipal Courts may also exist for cases involving city ordinances. The Preston County Circuit Court exercises general jurisdiction over major civil and criminal cases, such as felonies, misdemeanors, civil disputes exceeding $300, equity cases, and probate matters. The Circuit Court also hears juvenile cases and appeals from the Magistrate and Family Courts. The Family Court handles issues related to divorce, legal separation, child custody, paternity, and domestic violence protection orders. It shares concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court for guardianship cases involving minors. The Magistrate Court oversees less complex cases, including misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felony cases, small claims up to $10,000, and landlord-tenant disputes.
Preston County court records document the legal proceedings held in its courts. These records contain information such as case filings, docket entries, subpoenas, writs, and judicial rulings. They include:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Probate records
- Family records
The Preston County Circuit Court Clerk maintains official records for both the Circuit and Family Courts. Magistrate Court records are managed by the Magistrate Clerk's Office. Court records are open to the public under West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act unless they are classified as confidential and exempt from public inspection. Such records include personal identifiers, juvenile, and medical records. Physical access to these records is available through terminals at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at:
101 W Main St
Kingwood, WV 26537
Phone: (304) 329-0070
Certain court records can also be searched online using West Virginia's Case Management Systems. Interested parties can search by case number, name, or date of filing.
