warrant.guru

WV · Warrant guide

Is there an online warrant search in West Virginia?

Some counties

Partly — some West Virginia counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.

Official source

Open an official county search Opens an official county site in a new tab. Coverage varies by county — a name that isn’t listed does not rule out a warrant in another county or court.

Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage Some countiesJurisdiction West Virginia

The official online lookup

There is no statewide public active-warrant search in West Virginia, but some county sheriffs publish official online active-warrant lists.

The most populous county — Kanawha County (Charleston) — posts downloadable active-warrant lists by area on the Sheriff's Office 'Warrants Search' page (kanawhasheriff.us/law-enforcement/warrants/); the office notes these cover only warrants obtained by the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office, not warrants held by other agencies, so a person should also check the sheriff in the county where their case is pending.

Monongalia County's Sheriff similarly publishes an 'Active Warrants in NCIC' list.

Statewide, the WV Judiciary offers only case-record searches — WVPASS for circuit courts (wvpass.courtswva.com) and the Magistrate Court Records Search (mcrsearch.courtswv.gov) — which show filed case information rather than a definitive active-warrant status, and the Judiciary cautions that it makes no representation about accuracy or completeness.

The West Virginia State Police also post a curated 'Most Wanted' fugitive list, which is not a comprehensive warrant lookup.

Open the official county search

How to find out if you have a warrant in West Virginia

Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.

  1. Check your county sheriff's online active-warrant list

    Some West Virginia county sheriffs publish active-warrant lists online. For example, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office (Charleston) posts downloadable warrant lists by area on its 'Warrants Search' page. These lists cover only warrants obtained by that office, so also check the sheriff in the county where your case is pending. Confirm any result with the issuing court or the sheriff, because online lists may not be complete or fully current.

    Open official site

  2. Contact the issuing magistrate or circuit court clerk

    Warrants in West Virginia commonly issue from magistrate court. Call the magistrate clerk (or circuit clerk) in the county where the case is pending to confirm a warrant and your next court date.

    Open official site

  3. Search the statewide court record searches

    Use the Magistrate Court Records Search or WVPASS (circuit courts) to locate your case, then confirm details with the clerk. These are case-record searches, not a warrant-status tool, and the Judiciary notes results may be incomplete.

    Open official site

  4. Contact the county sheriff or West Virginia State Police

    The county sheriff or the WV State Police can confirm an outstanding warrant. The State Police also post a Most Wanted list and handle criminal-history record checks.

    Open official site

Types of warrants in West Virginia

Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.

Bench warrant
issued by a judge, commonly for failure to appear or failure to comply with a court order
Arrest warrant
issued on a finding of probable cause that a person committed an offense
Search warrant
authorizes a search of a place or person; not primarily an order to arrest the subject

What happens if a warrant is ignored

A warrant generally stays active until a court recalls (quashes) it or it is served by arrest; it does not expire on its own.

You can be taken into custody at any time, including during a routine traffic stop or when appearing in court on another matter.

Unresolved failure-to-appear matters can lead to additional charges and added court costs.

What you can do

Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.

Confirm whether a warrant exists and read its details by contacting the magistrate or circuit court clerk in the county where the case is pending, or the county sheriff.

Identify the issuing court and any scheduled court date, and ask the clerk about the process for addressing the warrant, including whether it can be recalled by setting a hearing or posting a bond.

Consider resolving it on your own schedule rather than waiting to be arrested, and keep copies of anything you file.

Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.

Common questions about warrants in West Virginia

Is there an online warrant search in West Virginia?

Some West Virginia counties publish an online warrant search, but there’s no single statewide one.

How do I find out if I have a warrant in West Virginia?

Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Check your county sheriff's online active-warrant list; Contact the issuing magistrate or circuit court clerk; Search the statewide court record searches.

What happens if a warrant is ignored in West Virginia?

A warrant generally stays active until a court recalls (quashes) it or it is served by arrest; it does not expire on its own. You can be taken into custody at any time, including during a routine traffic stop or when appearing in court on another matter. Unresolved failure-to-appear matters can lead to additional charges and added court costs.

What should I do about a warrant in West Virginia?

Confirm whether a warrant exists and read its details by contacting the magistrate or circuit court clerk in the county where the case is pending, or the county sheriff. Identify the issuing court and any scheduled court date, and ask the clerk about the process for addressing the warrant, including whether it can be recalled by setting a hearing or posting a bond. Consider resolving it on your own schedule rather than waiting to be arrested, and keep copies of anything you file.

Sources & official links

Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.

Last verified 2026-07-23 · 8 official sources