West Virginia County Records

West Virginia County Records

West Virginia county records are defined as any paper, book, photograph, video, taping, recording, document, or electronic file maintained by the local governments. Contrary to popular belief, West Virginia county records will contain information about you. These records will date back to the day you were born. 

Although not many people are aware of West Virginia county records, they are real and will contain real details about someone’s life. It’s imperative for the states to have a viable record-keeping system to ensure no piece of history goes unmarked. It’s one of the main reasons West Virginia county records are highly regarded by the local government. With 55 counties spread out across the state of West Virginia, the amount of records can get a little out of hand at times. There’s a lot going on every second of the day and the states, cities, and counties are required to maintain records of everything. 

Are West Virginia County Records Public?

For decades, the federal and state governments have been keen on promoting transparency between the public and departments or agencies serving them. For that reason, records kept by federal and state governments across the US are made available to the public that wish to view them. 

First, we have to understand that record-keeping has been around since ancient times -- though the methods have changed throughout the years. It wasn’t until the federal government passed the Freedom of Information Act in 1967 that federal records went public. Still, this didn’t require the states to do so since they are allowed to operate their own way. 

States would start to create their own laws making these records public. West Virginia made their move with the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, which was passed in 1977 and recently updated in 2015. As of now, every state in the United States has a similar law in effect. Anyone will be able to view records from anywhere, including West Virginia county records. 

Will Anyone Be Notified of a Search?

One of the main reasons people are nervous to search through West Virginia county records is because they don’t want the other person knowing they were viewing their records. Luckily, this won’t be an issue when viewing them on our website. 

Not only will you not need their consent to follow through with a search, but they won’t be notified when someone views their West Virginia county records. You can perform a search from your computer in your office or even at home on your phone. These searches are completely private and won’t need special access to view. 

You can try a search on yourself to see if you receive any notifications or anything. At the same time, you can look through your report and get an idea of what you might uncover in other people’s reports. 

What’s Included in West Virginia County Records

When you open someone’s report through our website, you’d be surprised at what you’ll find out about their past. There could be a lot of information they’re holding from you, no matter how well you think you know that person. 

To give you an idea of the things included in West Virginia county records, take a look at the list below:

• Contact Information - Everything from their phone number to their email address, online dating profiles, social media information, and postal address will be included in West Virginia county records.
• Arrest History - If that person has ever been arrested, whether it be for drug possession or battery, you’ll be able to view it in their report. Keep in mind that not all arrests will lead to a conviction, which leads us to the next point.
• Conviction History - When people are arrested, they will enter a trial that will end with either a judge or jury decision. You’ll be able to see if their arrest resulted in a felony, misdemeanor, infraction, fine, incarceration, probation, etc. 
• Driving Record - That’s right, your speeding tickets, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated, and any other traffic violation might be on display for anyone to see. That means no more lying about your driving record to your friends because they can see!
• Property Records - In addition to West Virginia county records showing a full list of your current and past addresses, but it will showcase any properties you own, the property value, square footage, and history of the property. 

That’s just a small glimpse of what West Virginia county records can contain about the person you’re searching for. You’ll have to try a search yourself in order to get the full tour. 

Who Should You Search For?

There are plenty of people you can search for when it comes to West Virginia county records. Since they’re public, you won’t need any reasoning to view these records and you will only be required to give their first and last name to search. 

Many people use West Virginia county records on friends and family. Whether you want to learn more about them or reconnect with them, these records will be your best friend in helping you do so. It can also help military comrades reconnect, help you reach out to people you met while on vacation or traveling, and even assist you when filling in pieces to your family history. 

Likewise, many professionals make use of West Virginia county records. Genealogists have centered their body of work around these records and use them to uncover someone’s family history and family descent. 

How to Find West Virginia County Records

If you are ready to get started with a West Virginia county records search on your own, you can do so right here on our website. Just type in the first and last name into the search boxes provided below. You’ll be able to view possible matches by clicking the ‘Search’ button. 

It’s common to find several people with the same name, so using their city, state, date of birth, or education history can help you confirm you’re looking at the right report. If you want to get accustomed to the process or if you’re just interested in your own records, start by typing your name. It’s that easy!