Where a ticket, criminal charge, divorce, or lawsuit from Moundsville, Benwood, McMechen, Glen Dale, or Cameron is heard. A plain-language guide from Cline & Singh, a Northern Panhandle law firm.
Marshall County is in a different judicial circuit and a different family court circuit from Hancock, Brooke, and Ohio counties. Its circuit court is shared with Tyler and Wetzel counties, and its family court judge is based in New Martinsville. That difference affects scheduling and where some hearings are held.
Magistrate court handles misdemeanor charges, traffic tickets written by the State Police and county deputies, the first appearances, bond, and preliminary hearings in felony cases, civil claims of up to $10,000, and personal safety orders. Magistrates can also issue emergency protective orders when the family court is closed.
Circuit court handles felony cases, larger civil cases (including most personal injury lawsuits), abuse and neglect cases, adoptions, name changes, adult guardianships and conservatorships, and appeals from magistrate and municipal court.
Family court handles divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, paternity, and the final hearings in domestic violence protective order cases. Divorce and custody cases are opened by filing with the county’s circuit clerk.
Marshall County Magistrate Court is on Sixth Street in Moundsville. Tickets written by the State Police and the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office anywhere in the county, including WV-2 and US-250, generally go here, along with first appearances after arrest and most misdemeanor cases.
The Marshall County Courthouse at 600 Seventh Street houses the circuit court and circuit clerk. Marshall County is part of the Second Judicial Circuit, with Tyler and Wetzel counties. Felonies, injury lawsuits, adoptions, name changes, and abuse and neglect cases are heard here, and divorce and custody cases are opened with the circuit clerk.
Marshall County is part of the Second Family Court Circuit, which serves Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel counties. The West Virginia Judiciary lists that circuit’s family court judge at the Wetzel County Courthouse, 200 Main Street, New Martinsville. Divorce and custody cases for Marshall County residents are filed with the Marshall County Circuit Clerk in Moundsville; the notice of hearing says where each hearing will be held.
Tickets written by a city’s own police for ordinance violations generally go to that city’s municipal court. Tickets written by the State Police or a Marshall County deputy go to magistrate court in Moundsville. A small part of Wheeling also lies in Marshall County.
We represent people in Marshall County’s courts in criminal, traffic, family, and injury cases, and we offer phone and video consultations for clients who would rather not drive to Weirton.
At 600 Seventh Street in Moundsville. The magistrate court is separate, at 511 Sixth Street.
It is filed with the Marshall County Circuit Clerk in Moundsville and heard by the family court of the Second Family Court Circuit, whose judge is listed at the Wetzel County Courthouse in New Martinsville. The hearing notice says where each hearing will take place.
If city police wrote it, it goes to that city’s municipal court: Benwood’s at City Hall, 430 Main Street, or Glen Dale’s at 402 Wheeling Avenue. If the State Police or a county deputy wrote it, it generally goes to Marshall County Magistrate Court in Moundsville.
The West Virginia Judiciary offers an online magistrate court record search. For circuit and family court files, contact the Marshall County Circuit Clerk at (304) 845-2130.
Both of our attorneys were raised in the Northern Panhandle and appear regularly in its courts. We offer phone and video consultations for clients who would rather not make the drive to Weirton.
This page is general information about local courts, not legal advice, and Cline & Singh is a private law firm, not affiliated with any court. Court locations, phone numbers, and schedules can change; your citation or court paperwork controls, and the clerk can confirm the details.
Talk with us before your first court date. Consultations are free. Call (304) 919-2912 or (304) 919-2119, or send us a message.