Cabell County Court Records

Court records in Cabell County, West Virginia, are maintained by the clerk of the circuit court and the magistrate court clerk and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. CabellCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Cabell County. You can also search records through the West Virginia Judiciary's court record access portal, the magistrate record search, and by contacting the clerk's office directly.

Cabell Court System Overview

Cabell County is part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in West Virginia. The circuit court is the court of general jurisdiction, handling felonies, major civil cases, family law, and appeals from magistrate court. The magistrate court operates as a court of limited jurisdiction beneath the circuit court, handling misdemeanors, small claims, preliminary hearings, and emergency protective orders. Cabell County's courthouse is located in Huntington, the county seat.

The West Virginia Judiciary website provides court information by county, including contact details and judicial assignments for Cabell County.

Courts Serving Cabell

What Types of Cases Cabell Courts Hear

Courts serving Cabell County handle a wide range of case types across criminal, civil, and specialized divisions:

• Felonies and misdemeanors
• Infractions and traffic violations
• Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
• Small claims
• Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence protective orders
• Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
• Juvenile — delinquency, status offenses, child abuse and neglect
• Adoption and termination of parental rights
• Mental hygiene proceedings

Each court level has specific jurisdictional limits, detailed in the sections below.

District Court Cases in Cabell

In West Virginia, the circuit court functions as the court of general jurisdiction (there is no separate "district court" at the state level). The Circuit Court of Cabell County hears all felony cases after indictment by a grand jury or following waiver of indictment. It also handles civil cases exceeding the magistrate court's jurisdictional dollar limit, appeals from magistrate and family court, and post-conviction habeas corpus proceedings. Cases typically arrive at circuit court through grand jury indictment, transfer from magistrate court after a preliminary hearing, or by direct civil filing. Circuit judges are assigned cases on a rotating basis. The circuit clerk maintains the official record for all circuit-level proceedings.

Magistrate Court Cases in Cabell

The Magistrate Court of Cabell County handles misdemeanors, infractions, and felony preliminary hearings. On the civil side, magistrate court hears cases involving up to $10,000 under West Virginia Code § 50-2-1. Small claims cases — informal civil disputes — may be filed for amounts up to $10,000 as well. Magistrates also handle emergency domestic violence protective orders, landlord-tenant disputes, and DUI arraignments. Traffic violations, including speeding and equipment offenses, are processed through magistrate court. Due to Cabell County's population and caseload volume, multiple magistrates serve the county and may be assigned to specific docket types.

Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Cabell

Family Law

Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, visitation, and domestic violence civil protective orders are handled by the Family Court of Cabell County. West Virginia established family courts as a separate division to manage these matters. Divorce forms are available through the West Virginia Judiciary website. Emergency temporary protective orders may be issued by a magistrate when family court is not in session.

Probate

The Cabell County Clerk's office (in the county clerk's capacity, separate from the circuit clerk) handles probate matters including the opening of estates, appointment of executors and administrators, and will filings. Guardianship and conservatorship petitions are filed in circuit court. Trust disputes and contested estate matters also proceed in circuit court.

Juvenile

Juvenile cases — including delinquency, status offenses, and child abuse and neglect proceedings — are heard in circuit court. Juvenile records are confidential under West Virginia law and are not available through public search portals. Contact the circuit clerk's office for questions about juvenile case access.

How Cases Move Through the Cabell Court System

1. Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint or indictment. Civil cases start with a complaint filed with the clerk. Family matters begin with a petition in family court.
2. Assignment to Judge: Cases are assigned to a circuit judge, family court judge, or magistrate based on case type and the court's internal rotation.
3. Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned (in magistrate court for misdemeanors, circuit court for felonies). Civil cases receive a scheduling order or conference date.
4. Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may participate in mediation or plea negotiations.
5. Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to trial (jury or bench), are resolved by plea agreement, settled, or dismissed.
6. Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from magistrate court go to circuit court; appeals from circuit court go to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Cabell

The Circuit Court of Cabell County is administered by the chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, with support from a circuit clerk and staff. The West Virginia Judiciary publishes court rules, including trial court rules and local rules that govern practice in Cabell County's circuit.

Public Access

Under West Virginia law, most court records are generally public. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed records, adoption files, mental hygiene proceedings, and certain domestic violence filings. The West Virginia Trial Court Rules govern public access to case files and electronic records. You can search circuit court records online through the statewide portal and magistrate court records through a separate search tool.

Attending Hearings

Most hearings in Cabell County are open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted by video or telephone — contact the clerk's office to ask whether remote attendance is available for a specific hearing.

Court Records and Related Court Resources in Cabell

• Circuit Court Record Search: Search circuit court case records from all 55 West Virginia counties through the statewide court record access portal.
• Magistrate Court Record Search: Look up magistrate case information through the magistrate record search. For copies of specific records, call or visit the magistrate court clerk in Cabell County.
• Court Forms and Self-Help: The West Virginia Judiciary provides court forms for divorce, custody, and other common filings. Additional forms are available through the judiciary's main site.
• Inmate Search: The WV Regional Jail active inmate search allows you to look up individuals held at the Western Regional Jail and Correctional Facility in Barboursville, which serves Cabell County.
• Vital Records: Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available through the West Virginia Health Statistics Center, the state's official vital records repository.
• Property Records: Search Cabell County property assessments through the WV Real Estate Assessment portal or view parcel maps on the WV Property Viewer.
• Delinquent Land Sales: The State Auditor's county collections page lists properties with delinquent taxes, including those in Cabell County.
• Personal Property Tax Payments: Pay Cabell County personal property taxes online through the WV DMV self-service portal for vehicle registration renewal.
• CabellCourt.us: Use this resource to find publicly available court record information and links for Cabell County.