Marshall County Public Records /Marshall County Property Records

Marshall County Property Records

How To Search Property Records in Marshall County in 2026

MarshallWVRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to property records in Marshall County, West Virginia. Members of the public may find data pertaining to ownership history, assessed values, recorded deeds, tax information, liens, and property characteristics. The following record categories are available through official county and state resources:

Deed and title records
Property tax assessment records
Recorded mortgages and liens
Plat maps and surveys
Personal property tax records

Records may be searched through official resources maintained by the Marshall County Clerk's Office, the Marshall County Assessor, the Marshall County Tax Office, and the West Virginia State Tax Division. Members of the public may access these records online, in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through licensed professionals such as title companies and real estate attorneys.

Online Search Methods:

The WV Real Estate Assessment property search maintained by MapWV.gov provides free public access to property appraisal and sales data statewide, including Marshall County parcels. No registration is required. Users may search by property address, owner name, parcel ID, or prior ownership. The system returns current owner name, mailing address, legal description, assessed value, sales history, and property characteristics including square footage, year built, and lot size.

The WV Property Viewer provides an interactive GIS mapping interface. In West Virginia, the county assessor is responsible for maintaining surface property tax maps. Users may navigate to a specific parcel, click to view property information, and access linked assessment records. The viewer supports aerial photography, property boundary overlays, and multiple map layers.

For recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, and liens, members of the public should contact the Marshall County Clerk's Office, which maintains the official records index. The Clerk's office records and indexes all instruments affecting real property title pursuant to W. Va. Code § 40-1-9, which governs the recording of deeds and other conveyances in West Virginia.

For tax payment status, outstanding balances, and delinquency information, the Marshall County Tax Office maintains current and historical tax records. Real property tax information is also accessible through the Marshall County Commission real property taxes page.

In-Person Searches:

Marshall County Clerk's Office
600 Seventh Street, Room 106
Moundsville, WV 26041
Phone: (304) 845-1220
County Clerk's Office

Marshall County Assessor
Marshall County Courthouse, P.O. Box 554
Moundsville, WV 26041
Phone: (304) 845-1220
County Assessors – West Virginia Tax Division

Marshall County Tax Office
P.O. Box 648
Moundsville, WV 26041
Phone: (304) 843-1400 / (304) 845-1283
Tax Office – Marshall County Commission

By Mail Requests:

Members of the public may submit written requests for copies of recorded documents to the Marshall County Clerk's Office at 600 Seventh Street, Room 106, P.O. Box 459, Moundsville, WV 26041. Requests should specify the property address, parcel number, or book and page reference. Payment for copying fees must accompany the request. Certified copies are available upon request.

Through Professionals:

Title companies conduct comprehensive title searches and provide abstracts of title identifying all recorded interests in a property. Real estate attorneys offer legal title opinions and assist with complex ownership issues. Real estate agents may access MLS data for listed properties and comparable sales as part of their representation services.

What Is Marshall County Property Records

Property records are official documents related to real property — land and buildings — maintained by county government as legal records of ownership, transfers, and encumbrances. These records establish chain of title, document property transactions, record mortgages and liens, and support property tax assessment. They are public records accessible to any member of the public without special permission or stated purpose.

Types of Property Records:

Ownership Records: Deeds (warranty, quitclaim, special warranty), title documents, transfer records, life estate deeds, and trust documents affecting property
Encumbrance Records: Mortgages and deeds of trust, tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, easements, restrictions and covenants, HOA documents, and lis pendens notices
Tax and Assessment Records: Property tax assessments, tax bills and payment history, exemptions, millage rates, special assessments, and delinquency records
Legal Descriptions: Plat maps, surveys, subdivision plats, lot and block information, and metes and bounds descriptions
Building and Permit Records: Building permits, certificates of occupancy, code violations, and zoning information

Who Maintains Property Records:

The Marshall County Clerk's Office records and indexes all official instruments affecting real property title, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. The Marshall County Assessor, currently Ms. Amanda Lockhart as listed by the West Virginia Tax Division, maintains property valuations, assessment records, property characteristics, and exemption applications. The Marshall County Tax Office maintains tax bills, payment records, and delinquency information.

Legal Framework:

Under W. Va. Code § 11-3-1, all real and personal property in West Virginia is subject to assessment and taxation. The recording of instruments affecting real property is governed by W. Va. Code § 40-1-1 et seq., which establishes the constructive notice principles that make recorded documents binding on subsequent purchasers and creditors. The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1, further affirms the public's right to access government records, including property records maintained by county offices.

Are Property Records Public Information in Marshall County?

Property records in Marshall County are public information. Under West Virginia law, any member of the public may inspect and obtain copies of recorded instruments and assessment records without stating a reason, demonstrating ownership, or establishing residency. This principle is rooted in centuries of American common law tradition and is codified in West Virginia's recording statutes and public records laws.

Legal Basis for Public Access:

The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act establishes a presumption of public access to all government records. Recording statutes require that instruments affecting real property be indexed and made available for public inspection to provide constructive notice to all parties. Property tax assessment records are similarly public to ensure transparency in government taxation.

What Property Information Is Freely Accessible:

Current and historical property ownership
Legal descriptions and parcel identification
Sale prices and transfer amounts
Recorded mortgage amounts
Liens and encumbrances
Tax assessments and payment history
Property characteristics (size, age, building type)
Deeds and all recorded instruments
Plat maps and surveys

Privacy Considerations:

Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are redacted from recorded documents under current law. Certain individuals — including law enforcement officers, judges, and domestic violence victims — may request address confidentiality protections under applicable state provisions. Homestead exemption applications may contain financial information that is not fully public; the Marshall County Assessor's office administers policies regarding access to such applications.

Who Can Access Property Records:

No residency requirement, ownership interest, or business purpose is required to access property records. Common users include prospective buyers, real estate agents and brokers, title companies, appraisers, lenders, attorneys, property owners reviewing their own records, investors, genealogists, historians, and members of the media.

Commercial Use:

Commercial entities may aggregate and use public property records for real estate marketing, property valuation services, title insurance, investment analysis, and market research. Such use is legally permissible, subject to applicable anti-harassment laws, fair housing laws, and privacy statutes that restrict certain downstream uses of personal information.

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

Members of the public may inspect property records at no charge during regular business hours at the Marshall County Clerk's Office and the Marshall County Assessor's office. Online access through the WV Real Estate Assessment search and the WV Property Viewer is free of charge with no registration required.

Standard Copy and Recording Fees:

Service	Current Fee
Certified copy of recorded document	$1.00 per page + $1.00 certification fee (standard WV rate)
Uncertified copy of recorded document	$0.50–$1.00 per page (varies by office)
Recording a deed or instrument	$15.00 for first page + $3.00 each additional page
Plat recording	Fee set per W. Va. Code § 59-1-10
Online document viewing	Free (assessment data); fees may apply for document images

Fees for recording instruments and providing certified copies in West Virginia are governed by W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, which sets the schedule of fees for clerks of county courts. The Marshall County Clerk's Office accepts payment by cash, check, or money order for copy and certification requests submitted in person or by mail.

What Is Available at No Cost:

Online property assessment data via MapWV.gov
Online GIS parcel mapping via the WV Property Viewer
In-person inspection of recorded instruments at the courthouse
Tax payment status information through the Marshall County Tax Office

Fee Waivers:

No general fee waiver provision applies to property record copy requests under current West Virginia law. Governmental agencies and certain nonprofit entities may be entitled to reduced fees in specific circumstances; the Marshall County Clerk's Office administers such requests on a case-by-case basis.

What's Included in a Marshall County Property Record?

A complete Marshall County property record encompasses ownership information, property identification data, physical characteristics, valuation and tax information, sales history, encumbrances, and legal and regulatory designations.

Ownership Information:

Current ownership records identify the legal owner or owners by name, ownership type (individual, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, trust, LLC, corporation, or life estate), acquisition date, deed book and page or instrument number, and mailing address for tax billing. Chain of title information documents all previous owners, transfer dates, and historical deed references.

Property Identification:

Each parcel is identified by a site address, mailing address if different, legal description (lot and block, subdivision name, plat book and page, or metes and bounds), parcel ID number, and tax account number. The WV Property Viewer displays parcel boundaries on an interactive map linked to assessment data.

Physical Characteristics:

Land information includes lot size in square feet or acres, lot dimensions, frontage, land use designation, and zoning classification. Building information includes total living area, year built, number of stories, building type, construction type, exterior wall material, roof type, foundation type, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and additional features such as garage spaces, pools, porches, fireplaces, heating type, water source, and sewer system.

Valuation and Tax Information:

Assessment records reflect land value, building value, total assessed value, and market value as determined by the Marshall County Assessor. Historical assessed values for prior years are maintained in the assessment system. Tax records accessible through the Marshall County Tax Office include current tax amounts due, payment history, outstanding balances, exemptions applied, millage rates, and breakdowns by taxing authority. Personal property tax records are maintained separately from real property records.

Sales History:

Sales history includes transfer dates, sale prices, deed types (warranty, quitclaim, gift, inheritance, foreclosure, tax deed, or trust transfer), grantor and grantee names, and deed document numbers for recent transactions.

Encumbrances and Liens:

Recorded mortgages, deeds of trust, tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, HOA liens, code enforcement liens, easements, restrictions and covenants, and lis pendens notices are all part of the official record maintained by the Marshall County Clerk's Office.

What Is Not Typically in Public Property Records:

Current mortgage balances (only original amounts at recording)
Social Security numbers (redacted under current law)
Interior photographs
Private agreements not recorded with the Clerk
Actual purchase contract terms beyond the recorded sale price
Confidential exemption application details

How Long Does Marshall County Keep Property Records?

Property records in Marshall County are maintained permanently. Recorded instruments affecting real property title — including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, easements, and all other conveyance documents — are never destroyed. This permanent retention is a legal requirement rooted in the necessity of maintaining an unbroken chain of title and is consistent with West Virginia's records retention requirements for county clerks.

Legal Basis for Permanent Retention:

The West Virginia Code requires county clerks to maintain all recorded instruments as permanent public records. The chain of title for any parcel may extend back to the county's formation or to original land grants, and the integrity of that chain depends on the preservation of every recorded document. Assessment records, tax rolls, and property cards are similarly retained permanently by the Marshall County Assessor.

Format and Availability by Time Period:

Recent records (last 20+ years): Available online through the WV Real Estate Assessment system and the WV Property Viewer; immediate free access
Records from 20–50 years ago: May be available online or on microfilm; staff at the Marshall County Clerk's Office can retrieve same-day
Historical records (50+ years): Maintained in original deed books or on microfilm at the courthouse; staff retrieval required; appointment may be helpful for extensive research
Very old records (100+ years): Stored in archive; advance notice recommended; same public access rights apply

Property Appraiser and Tax Records:

Assessment rolls and property cards are retained permanently by the Marshall County Assessor. Recent years of assessment history are accessible online. Tax payment records are retained for a minimum of seven to ten years by the Marshall County Tax Office, with tax deed records maintained permanently as part of the official record.

Digitization and Preservation:

The Marshall County Clerk's Office maintains scanned images of recorded documents in an electronic document management system with backup systems for preservation. Climate-controlled storage protects original deed books and microfilm archives. Digitization of historical records is an ongoing process.

Contact for Historical Records:

Marshall County Clerk's Office
600 Seventh Street, Room 106, P.O. Box 459
Moundsville, WV 26041
Phone: (304) 845-1220
County Clerk's Office

How To Find Liens on Property in Marshall County?

Liens on property in Marshall County are recorded instruments and are therefore part of the official public record maintained by the Marshall County Clerk's Office. Members of the public may search for liens through the following methods:

Step-by-Step Search Process:

Visit the Marshall County Clerk's Office in person at 600 Seventh Street, Room 106, Moundsville, WV 26041, or contact the office by phone at (304) 845-1220 to inquire about available search tools.
Request access to the grantor/grantee index, which lists all recorded instruments by the names of the parties involved. Liens are indexed under the name of the property owner (as debtor or respondent).
Search by the property owner's name to identify any recorded judgment liens, mechanic's liens, tax liens, or HOA liens associated with the parcel.
Search by parcel ID or legal description to identify liens recorded against the specific property rather than the individual.
Review document images for each identified lien to confirm the amount, lienholder, recording date, and current status (active or released).

Types of Liens Searchable Through the Clerk's Office:

Judgment liens: Recorded by creditors following a court judgment; indexed under the debtor's name
Mechanic's liens: Filed by contractors or suppliers for unpaid work or materials
Federal and state tax liens: Filed by the IRS or West Virginia State Tax Division for unpaid taxes
HOA liens: Filed by homeowner associations for unpaid assessments
Code enforcement liens: Filed by local government for unresolved code violations

Tax Lien Information:

Delinquent real property tax information is maintained by the Marshall County Tax Office. Members of the public may contact the Tax Office at (304) 843-1400 to inquire about outstanding tax obligations on a specific parcel. Real property tax delinquency and redemption procedures are governed by W. Va. Code § 11A-1-1 et seq.

Federal Tax Liens:

Federal tax liens filed by the Internal Revenue Service are recorded with the Marshall County Clerk's Office and are searchable through the grantor/grantee index. The IRS also maintains a federal tax lien search tool through its online resources.

Court-Related Liens:

Judgment liens arising from civil court proceedings in Marshall County may also be identified through the Magistrate Court case record search maintained by the West Virginia Judiciary. Judgment liens must be recorded with the county clerk to attach to real property; a court judgment alone does not constitute a lien on real estate until properly recorded.

Professional Lien Searches:

Title companies conduct comprehensive lien searches as part of the title examination process and are the standard resource for real estate transactions requiring a clear title determination. Attorneys specializing in real property law may also conduct or supervise lien searches for complex ownership situations.

What Is Property Owner Rule in Marshall County?

The property owner rule in Marshall County refers to the body of West Virginia law and local practice governing who may own real property, how ownership is established and transferred, and what rights and obligations attach to property ownership.

Establishing Ownership:

In West Virginia, legal ownership of real property is established by a recorded deed. Under W. Va. Code § 40-1-9, a deed must be recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the property is located to provide constructive notice to subsequent purchasers and creditors. An unrecorded deed is valid between the parties but does not protect the grantee against a subsequent bona fide purchaser for value who records first.

Forms of Ownership Recognized in West Virginia:

Sole ownership: A single individual holds title in their name alone
Joint tenancy with right of survivorship: Two or more persons hold equal shares; upon the death of one owner, the surviving owner(s) take the deceased owner's interest automatically
Tenancy in common: Two or more persons hold undivided interests that may be unequal; each owner's interest passes through their estate upon death
Tenancy by the entirety: Available only to legally married spouses; provides protection from individual creditors of either spouse
Trust ownership: A trustee holds title for the benefit of named beneficiaries
Entity ownership: LLCs, corporations, and partnerships may hold title to real property in West Virginia

Property Owner Rights and Obligations:

Property owners in Marshall County hold the right to use, lease, sell, mortgage, and devise their property subject to applicable zoning regulations, deed restrictions, and encumbrances of record. Owners are obligated to pay real property taxes assessed by the Marshall County Assessor annually. Failure to pay taxes may result in delinquency proceedings under W. Va. Code § 11A-1-1 et seq., which can ultimately lead to a tax sale and loss of the property.

Homestead and Exemption Rights:

West Virginia does not provide a homestead exemption from property taxes in the same manner as some other states; however, the state does provide a Homestead Exemption for qualifying senior citizens and permanently disabled persons that reduces the assessed value of their primary residence for tax purposes. Applications are filed with the Marshall County Assessor's office. Information on real property tax obligations and exemptions is available through the Marshall County Commission real property taxes page.

Transfer of Ownership:

Property transfers in Marshall County are effectuated by a deed executed by the grantor, acknowledged before a notary public, and recorded with the Marshall County Clerk's Office. West Virginia imposes a real estate transfer tax (excise tax on privilege of transferring real property) at the time of recording, calculated based on the consideration paid. The recording of the deed in the Marshall County Clerk's Office at 600 Seventh Street, Room 106, Moundsville, WV 26041, completes the transfer for purposes of constructive notice.

Adverse Possession:

West Virginia recognizes the doctrine of adverse possession, under which a person who openly, continuously, exclusively, and hostilely possesses another's land for the statutory period may acquire legal title. The adverse possession period in West Virginia is ten years under applicable state law. Claims of adverse possession must be adjudicated by a court and, if successful, result in a deed or court order that is then recorded with the county clerk.