Records of divorce in Raleigh County, West Virginia, are available through several channels. RaleighCourt.us allows for quick access to publicly available divorce information in this county. Additionally, complete court records are kept at the Circuit Court that issued the ruling, and divorce certificates are issued by the state's Vital Records Office — the Health Statistics Center at DHHR. The Circuit Court Clerk also provides certified copies of court decrees upon request.
Raleigh Divorce Records Search
In West Virginia, divorce cases are handled by the Family Court, but all final decrees are registered by the Raleigh County Circuit Court Clerk. This office maintains the complete court file: the divorce decree, property settlement agreements, custody and support orders, as well as all related motions.
In parallel, the state maintains a separate registry. The Health Statistics Center (HSC) — the official repository of vital records — holds divorce certificates starting from 1968.
What is included in the record collection:
- Divorce decree
- Divorce certificate (state level)
- Property settlement agreements
- Custody orders
- Spousal support orders
Raleigh County Circuit Clerk
County court records can also be searched online through the West Virginia Supreme Court's record search portal, which covers Circuit Courts in all 55 counties.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Raleigh
The structure for filing and storing divorce cases in West Virginia has two levels — judicial and registration. Below is a description of where to go depending on what you need.
Family Court of Raleigh County
This is where the case is substantively handled: the lawsuit, hearings, mediation. Once the Family Court judge signs the final decree, the document is forwarded to the Circuit Court Clerk for official registration. If you need procedural documents or a copy of the decree itself, contact the Circuit Court Clerk.
Forms for filing for divorce without an attorney are available on the West Virginia court system website.
Circuit Clerk — Court Copies
The Circuit Court Clerk maintains the complete case file. Contact here if you need:
- A certified copy of the divorce decree
- A copy of the property or custody agreement
- Information on the case date and number
Contact details are provided in the previous section.
Health Statistics Center — Divorce Certificate
If you need the certificate itself — a brief document indicating the parties' names, date, and county of divorce — it is issued by the HSC. This is useful for confirming marital status when processing documents.
You can order the certificate by mail or in person through the certificate request page. The HSC holds divorce records from 1968. For earlier records, contact the Raleigh County Circuit Court Clerk directly.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Raleigh
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce certificate (HSC, first copy) | $12.00 | 3–6 weeks (by mail) |
| Additional certificate copy (HSC, in the same request) | $12.00 | 3–6 weeks (by mail) |
| Copy of divorce decree (Circuit Clerk) | $0.50–$1.00 per page | Usually 1–5 business days |
| Certification of copy (Circuit Clerk) | $0.50 per document | During visit or 1–5 business days |