Name-Based Case Searches
Match the court level to the tool. WVPASS handles public Circuit records plus some public Family Court material. Magistrate cases, including many traffic tickets, misdemeanors, small claims, and preliminary matters, live in MCRSearch. An incident happened in a city. That does not mean its municipal court has the case.
- Open the Judiciary Court Record Access page and choose the system for the court level.
- For MCRSearch, complete the verification step and enter a first name, last name, or both. Use the spelling on the notice.
- Review the result list for Logan County, court location, filing date, case type, and case number.
- Open the matching record and compare the party role, events, docket entries, and disposition.
- Try alternate spelling or the other court system if no result appears. Then call the proper Logan County clerk.
A common name can hit MCRSearch's limit of 30 results. Narrow the query, and never treat that list as a full county history.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Name | Text | One possible input | Try the name shown on the court paper |
| Last Name | Text | One possible input | Use exact and alternate spellings |
| Case Number | Text | One possible input | Best route when known |
| CAPTCHA | Challenge | Yes | Required at entry |
| Results limit | System rule | Not user-set | Up to 30 records |
Two Logan County Search Systems
The official access page places the state's Circuit and Magistrate tools side by side.
The split comes down to jurisdiction. WVPASS arrived in 2025. It offers free registration and searches of public Circuit files going back to 1999. Downloads of public documents run 25 cents per page plus a card fee. MCRSearch is free and needs no registration. It gives information rather than the filed documents themselves.
Case Number Searches
A number comes from a summons, citation, order, or receipt. When you copy it, keep every dash, prefix, and digit intact. West Virginia's official CourtPLUS material shows a test Circuit format like CC-98-2019-F-4. That is not a Logan-specific sample. Do not swap in a county code and guess. The Magistrate Payment System shows patterns such as ##-M##X-##### and M##M-##########.
A number's structure tells you which tool to use. Circuit numbers belong in WVPASS. Magistrate numbers belong in MCRSearch. The payment system also accepts a citation ID, case ID, or payment-plan ID. It is a payment channel, not a full docket. Punctuation must be exact there.
A copied number may fail. Check whether a stray character is a letter or a digit. Then fall back to a name search and confirm with the clerk.
MCRSearch for Logan County Cases
The MCRSearch entry screen uses a disclaimer and CAPTCHA before the public search.
Inside a result, expect a filing date, the charge, a disposition field, and indicators. The indicators show which documents exist. Case detail is split into several parts. These cover the event schedule, parties, docket entries, bond information, and any non-monetary sentences. The state itself warns that data may be incomplete. The Logan Magistrate Clerk can validate the file and supply copies.
Docket codes you might see include MGMCT for Motion to Continue. You may also see MGNCH for Notice of Hearing. Rather than decoding an undocumented prefix, just read the description.
Case Search Results Explained
Think of a result as several distinct records stacked together. The party table tells you who appears and in what role. The event schedule tells you when and where something is set. The docket entry list shows what was filed or recorded. No single piece proves the full outcome. Read them side by side.
| Case Header | Court, location, case number, created date, type, judge, status, and security level where shown. |
|---|---|
| Case Parties | Role, name, end date, and counsel or official fields allowed in the public view. |
| Docket Entry | Record number, filing date, code, description, and filer. |
| Event Schedule | Event type, date and time, room, location, judge, and reason closed. |
| Disposition | The recorded result when entered; verify it with the clerk when an official copy is needed. |
| Documents | Public WVPASS files may be downloadable; MCRSearch documents are not online. |
A party list is not a disposition. A docket entry is not a transcript, and an online PDF is not automatically a certified copy.
WVPASS Logan County Access
WVPASS requires free public registration. It covers public Circuit civil and criminal records back to 1999. Searching is free. Public document downloads cost 25 cents per page plus nominal card processing. Sealed filings and juvenile cases do not appear. Some Family Court orders can be public even while pleadings and exhibits stay confidential.
Documented CourtPLUS case fields include court, judge, case type, style, county, created date, subtype, case number, status, security level, and related cases. The live portal may label its controls differently. Use only the fields it actually displays.
Older Logan County records need a call. Ask the Circuit Clerk whether the file is paper, archived, or on microfilm. Online coverage is not a retention rule.
Two Ways to Search: County and State
West Virginia calls both systems statewide, and each can reach cases beyond Logan County. Custody stays local. The Logan Circuit Clerk keeps Circuit and Family files; the Logan Magistrate Clerk keeps Magistrate files.
| Point | WVPASS | MCRSearch |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Circuit public records | Magistrate case information |
| Account | Free registration | No registration |
| Name search | Use live public controls | First name or last name |
| Documents | Public files may be downloaded for a fee | Not available online |
| Local fallback | Logan Circuit Clerk | Logan Magistrate Clerk |
A statewide search finds the lead. The county office then provides a plain or certified Logan County record.
Logan County Search Failure Checks
An empty result does not mean a case was dismissed or never existed. The file may sit in another court. It may carry a different spelling, predate online coverage, or be restricted. Juvenile files are generally not public, and sealed cases are excluded from WVPASS. Domestic-relations pleadings can stay confidential even when an order is public.
- Switch between WVPASS and MCRSearch based on jurisdiction.
- Copy the case number from official paper and preserve punctuation.
- Try an alternate name spelling or omit a middle name.
- Ask the Circuit Clerk about pre-1999 and archived records.
- Ask the custodian about lawful access to a restricted record.
Note: Record the query, search date, result count, and case number so a later Logan County search can be reproduced.
Which Cases Stay Restricted
W. Va. Code §49-5-103 restricts juvenile records. Section 48-1-303 protects domestic-relations pleadings, exhibits, and other file documents while leaving qualifying orders public. Sealed records and protected victim data also sit outside ordinary public search.
Public access has boundaries. A missing public result may reflect a legal restriction, not a search error.
Ask the Logan County custodian what proof or court order is required. Do not ask staff to disclose protected data through a public terminal.
W. Va. Code §51-4-2 lets anyone inspect an open Logan County court file and buy clerk-made copies, so long as no seal or other limit applies.
Clerk Verification in Logan County
Phone verification works well in Logan County. For Circuit or Family records, call the Circuit Clerk at 304-792-8550. Magistrate cases go through the Magistrate Clerk at 304-792-8651 or 304-792-8650. Both offices list their state-court contacts at the Logan County Courthouse address, though Family Court divisions sit at a separate Main Street location.
Before you dial, gather the basics. Have the case number, the party name, the court level, and the document or setting you need. The clerk can verify a record, quote copy costs, and walk you through office procedure. Legal advice is off the table, though. If your call turns up a hearing date, check it against the current Logan County Court Schedule workflow before you head to the courthouse.
Narrow questions get the best answers. Verifying one case number is far easier for the clerk than pulling every filing tied to a name. Want a document? Give its docket date and title. Want a setting? Name the event and the date shown. For an older file, ask whether the office indexes it under a former number or a paper book. That one detail often helps the Logan County staff locate the source record.