Marshall County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Marshall County in 2026

MarshallWVRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Marshall County, West Virginia. Members of the public may use this resource to locate data that may include court filings, property documents, vital records, and other materials created or held by county and state offices. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law.

Records in Marshall County may be searched through official court resources, the County Clerk's office, public access terminals at the courthouse, and a range of online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access:

The West Virginia Judiciary provides a court record access portal covering circuit and magistrate court records from all fifty-five counties statewide, including Marshall County
Magistrate court case records, including misdemeanor and civil filings, may be searched through the Marshall County magistrate case search tool
Property assessment data is available through the statewide West Virginia real estate assessment search, searchable by owner name, parcel ID, or street address
The WV Property Viewer provides parcel-level mapping data, including deeded acreage and tax class information
Daily incarceration records for regional jail facilities are published through the West Virginia Regional Jail daily incarcerations database; no registration is required to access this information
Land records certified to the Deputy Commissioner of Forfeited and Delinquent Lands are searchable through the West Virginia State Auditor's land and county collections

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Marshall County Clerk's Office, located at 600 Seventh Street, Moundsville, WV 26041. Requestors should present a written or verbal description of the records sought. Staff will assist in locating responsive documents, subject to applicable exemptions.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be directed to the Marshall County Clerk's Office at 600 Seventh Street, Moundsville, WV 26041. Requests should include the requestor's name, a description of the records sought, and a preferred method of response. Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-3, custodians are required to respond within five business days of receiving a written request.

Phone/Email: The Marshall County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at 304-845-1220. Contact information for specific departments is available through the Marshall County Clerk's office page.

What Are Public Records in Marshall County?

Public records in West Virginia are defined under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-2 as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business, prepared, owned, or retained by a public body. The following categories of records are maintained by Marshall County agencies and are subject to public disclosure, absent a specific statutory exemption:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Marshall County Circuit Court and Magistrate Court; circuit court records are accessible through the Marshall County Circuit Court
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments recorded with the County Clerk and searchable through the statewide property assessment portal
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates; birth and death records are maintained by the West Virginia Office of Vital Registration, while marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the County Clerk
Business records — fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and related filings held by the County Clerk
Tax records — property tax assessments and delinquent land records, including those certified to the State Auditor's office and listed in the county collections database
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results maintained by the County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of the Marshall County Commission and subordinate boards
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions for ongoing investigations
Land use and zoning records — permits, variances, and planning documents held by county planning offices

Is Marshall County an Open Records County?

Marshall County operates in full compliance with West Virginia's statewide open records framework. Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-1, the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (WVFOIA) establishes that "the people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know." This declaration of legislative intent reflects the state's strong presumption in favor of public access to government records.

All public bodies in Marshall County, including the County Commission, County Clerk, Circuit Court, and Magistrate Court, are subject to the WVFOIA. The Act requires that records be made available for inspection and copying during regular business hours, and that written requests receive a response within five business days. No county-specific ordinance narrows or expands the rights established under state law. The West Virginia Attorney General's office provides guidance on WVFOIA compliance applicable to all county agencies statewide.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Marshall County?

The fee structure for public records in Marshall County is governed by state law and the policies of the individual custodial office. The following standard fees apply:

Record Type	Standard Fee
Photocopies (black and white)	$0.50 per page (standard county rate)
Certified copies of recorded documents	$1.00 per page + $1.00 certification fee
Marriage license copies	Set by County Clerk schedule
Electronic records	Actual cost of duplication
Search fees	Not permitted for inspection; may apply to extensive research

Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-3(5), a public body may charge reasonable fees to cover the actual cost of reproducing records but may not charge fees that operate as a barrier to access. Inspection of records in person carries no fee. Accepted payment methods at the Marshall County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Fees may vary by record type and the office maintaining the record. Fee waiver provisions are not expressly mandated under the WVFOIA, though individual agencies retain discretion to waive fees in appropriate circumstances.

Does Marshall County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at the offices of the Marshall County Clerk, the Circuit Court Clerk, and the Magistrate Court during regular business hours. No fee is charged for reviewing records in person. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while inspection carries no cost, reproduction of documents is subject to the per-page fees described above.

Several categories of records are available at no cost through official online portals:

Circuit and magistrate court case records are searchable at no charge through the West Virginia Judiciary's court record access portal
Property parcel data and mapping information are freely accessible through the WV Property Viewer
Daily jail incarceration data is published without charge through the West Virginia Regional Jail offender search
Delinquent land and tax records are searchable at no cost through the West Virginia State Auditor's land and county collections portal

Who Can Request Public Records in Marshall County?

Any person may request public records in Marshall County. The WVFOIA does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Requestors are not required to be West Virginia residents, to provide identification, or to explain the reason for their request when seeking records subject to public disclosure.

Certain record types carry additional access requirements. Records containing personal identifying information, sealed court files, or records protected by specific statutory exemptions may require the requestor to demonstrate a legal basis for access, such as being the subject of the record or holding a court order. Individuals seeking their own records — such as personal court filings, property records, or vital records — follow the same general request process as any other member of the public, though additional verification of identity may be required for certified copies of vital records. Non-residents hold the same rights as residents under the WVFOIA and may submit requests by mail, in person, or by telephone.

What Records Are Confidential in Marshall County?

Not all government records in Marshall County are subject to public disclosure. West Virginia Code § 29B-1-4 enumerates specific categories of records exempt from the WVFOIA, including:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order, including certain expunged criminal records
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile proceedings, which are confidential under West Virginia Code § 49-5-101
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with active criminal investigations, where disclosure would harm the investigation or endanger individuals
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar information embedded in otherwise public documents
Medical records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court order
Child welfare and protective services records — maintained as confidential by the West Virginia Department of Human Services
Personnel records — employee records of public bodies, with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions and salary information
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under confidentiality agreements
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — records whose disclosure could compromise public safety

When a custodian withholds a record or portion of a record, the agency is required to identify the specific exemption relied upon and, where practicable, provide the non-exempt portions of the document. A balancing test applies in certain circumstances where the public interest in disclosure may outweigh the interest in confidentiality.

Marshall County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The recording function in Marshall County is performed by the County Clerk, who serves as the official custodian of land records, vital records, and other instruments required by law to be recorded.

Marshall County Clerk's Office
600 Seventh Street
Moundsville, WV 26041
304-845-1220
Marshall County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Additional Offices:

Marshall County Circuit Court
600 Seventh Street
Moundsville, WV 26041
304-221-2697
Marshall County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court is presided over by Judge Jeffrey Cramer and handles felony criminal matters, civil cases, family court proceedings, and probate. As the West Virginia Judiciary notes, the Circuit Court serves as the court of general jurisdiction for Marshall County, with records accessible through the statewide judiciary portal.

Marshall County Assessor's Office
600 Seventh Street
Moundsville, WV 26041
304-845-1220 (County main line)
West Virginia Property Assessment Search

The Assessor maintains property valuation records searchable by owner name, parcel ID, district, and tax class through the statewide MapWV platform. Parcel boundary data and deeded acreage information are also available through the WV Property Viewer, which is updated as counties submit parcel changes to the West Virginia Property Tax Division.