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How to Find Public Records in Hampshire County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Hampshire County, West Virginia may access a range of publicly available information through official county and state resources. HampshireRecords.org provides a directory of publicly available data that may assist individuals in locating records maintained by government agencies. Hampshire County offices and the West Virginia state court system maintain records that may include court filings, property documents, vital records, and other official government documents, subject to applicable exemptions under state law.

Record categories that members of the public may be able to locate include:

Circuit and magistrate court records
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Marriage and divorce records
County commission meeting minutes
Property tax and assessment records
Business licenses and permits
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning documents

Records may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by the West Virginia Judiciary and county government.

Online Access:

The West Virginia Judiciary court record access portal allows members of the public to search circuit court records from all fifty-five counties statewide without registration. The Magistrate Case Record Search provides access to civil and criminal magistrate court histories. Hampshire County circuit court information, including judicial assignments and clerk contact details, is available through the Hampshire County court information page. Property and land records may be searched through the West Virginia State Auditor's office online portal.

In-Person Requests:

Members of the public may visit the Hampshire County Clerk's Office to inspect and request copies of land records, marriage records, and county commission documents. The office is located at 66 N High Street, Romney, WV 26757. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Written/Mail Requests:

Written requests should be directed to the Hampshire County Clerk's Office at 66 N High Street, Romney, WV 26757. Requests should include the requester's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-3, agencies are required to respond to written requests within five business days.

Phone/Email:

The Hampshire County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (304) 822-5112. Email inquiries may be directed through the county's official contact channels.

What Are Public Records in Hampshire County?

Public records in Hampshire County 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 record types are maintained by county and state agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Circuit court civil and criminal records	Hampshire County Circuit Court Clerk
Magistrate court records	Hampshire County Magistrate Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Hampshire County Clerk
Marriage and divorce records	Hampshire County Clerk / Circuit Court
Birth and death certificates	WV DHHR Vital Registration Office
Property tax and assessment records	Hampshire County Assessor
Business licenses and permits	Hampshire County Clerk / WV Secretary of State
County commission minutes and budgets	Hampshire County Clerk
Voting and election records	Hampshire County Clerk
Land use and zoning records	Hampshire County Planning Commission
Arrest logs and incident reports	Hampshire County Sheriff's Office

The Hampshire County Clerk serves as the primary custodian of land records, vital records, and county commission documents. Circuit court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk, while magistrate court records are accessible through the West Virginia magistrate record search system.

Is Hampshire County an Open Records County?

Hampshire County operates in full compliance with West Virginia's statewide open records framework. Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-1, the Legislature has declared 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 foundational principle governs all public records access in Hampshire County.

The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at West Virginia Code Chapter 29B, requires all public bodies — including county offices, courts, and boards — to make records available for inspection and copying upon request. The West Virginia Attorney General's office provides guidance on FOIA compliance and notes that "every person has a right to inspect or copy any public record of a public body in this state," subject to enumerated exemptions.

Hampshire County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the state FOIA framework applies uniformly. The West Virginia Attorney General's FOIA resources provide additional guidance on the rights of requesters and the obligations of public bodies.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Hampshire County is governed by state statute and individual office schedules. Standard fees applicable to most requests are as follows:

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (per page)	$0.50 per page (standard)
Certification of documents	$1.00–$5.00 per document
Deed recording copies	Varies by document length
Electronic copies	Varies by office
Search fees	Not permitted for inspection

Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-3, public bodies may charge reasonable fees for the cost of reproducing records but may not charge for the time spent locating records or for inspection of records at the office. Fees for certified copies of vital records, deeds, and court documents may differ from standard copy fees and are set by the relevant office or by statute.

Accepted payment methods at the Hampshire County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Some online court record systems may accept credit card payments. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under state law, though individual agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances, such as requests from indigent individuals or government agencies.

Does Hampshire County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to all members of the public under West Virginia's FOIA framework. Any person may visit the Hampshire County Clerk's Office or the Circuit Court Clerk's Office during regular business hours to inspect records at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.

Several online resources provide free access to Hampshire County records without registration:

The West Virginia circuit court records portal provides free online access to circuit court case information statewide.
The magistrate case record search provides free access to magistrate court civil and criminal histories.
The West Virginia State Auditor's office provides free online access to property tax and land records.
The daily incarceration search maintained by the West Virginia Division of Corrections allows the public to search current incarceration records by county at no cost.

Free inspection at a public access terminal is available at the Hampshire County Courthouse during regular business hours. Copies of inspected records are subject to the standard per-page fee.

Who Can Request Public Records in Hampshire County?

Any person may request public records in Hampshire County. West Virginia's FOIA does not restrict access to residents of the state; non-residents retain the same rights of access as West Virginia residents. Requesters are not required to provide identification, state a purpose for their request, or demonstrate a personal interest in the records sought, except where specific record types are governed by separate statutory requirements.

Certain record categories carry additional access requirements:

Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates): Access may be restricted to the subject of the record, immediate family members, or authorized legal representatives under West Virginia vital records statutes.
Criminal history records: Comprehensive criminal history background checks are subject to the requirements of the West Virginia State Police Criminal Identification Bureau.
Juvenile records: Access is restricted by statute to authorized parties.
Personnel records: Access to certain personnel information may be limited under applicable exemptions.

Members of the public requesting their own records are subject to the same general procedures as any other requester, though identity verification may be required for records containing sensitive personal information.

What Records Are Confidential in Hampshire County?

West Virginia Code § 29B-1-4 enumerates the categories of records exempt from public disclosure. The following records are currently treated as confidential and are not subject to mandatory disclosure in Hampshire County:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under West Virginia Code Chapter 49.
Ongoing law enforcement investigation records: Records compiled in connection with active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would harm the investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical and health records: Records protected under HIPAA and state health privacy statutes are exempt.
Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related records are sealed under West Virginia law.
Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by the Department of Health and Human Resources relating to child abuse and neglect investigations are confidential.
Personnel records: Internal personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for records of final disciplinary actions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Submitted business records containing trade secrets are exempt from disclosure.
Security and infrastructure plans: Records detailing security systems or critical infrastructure vulnerabilities are withheld.

As the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has noted, exemptions under the FOIA are to be construed narrowly, and the burden rests on the public body to demonstrate that a specific exemption applies to the records withheld.

Hampshire County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Hampshire County Clerk's Office
66 N High Street, Romney, WV 26757
(304) 822-5112
Hampshire County Clerk

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

Hampshire County Circuit Court Clerk
66 N High Street, Romney, WV 26757
(304) 822-5916
West Virginia Judiciary – Hampshire County

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Hampshire County Magistrate Court
66 N High Street, Romney, WV 26757
(304) 822-3536
Magistrate Record Search – West Virginia Judiciary

Hampshire County Assessor's Office
66 N High Street, Romney, WV 26757
(304) 822-5220
West Virginia State Auditor – Property Records