Putnam County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Putnam County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information related to public records through PutnamWVRecords.us, which aggregates data pertaining to individuals and government activities in Putnam County, West Virginia. The site may contain information drawn from official government sources, though completeness and currency of data cannot be guaranteed. Records that members of the public may encounter through official channels include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, magistrate, and family court)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
- Tax and financial records
- Arrest logs and law enforcement incident reports
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Land use, zoning, and permit records
Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.
Online Access:
- The West Virginia Judiciary court record access portal provides searchable circuit court records from all fifty-five counties statewide, including Putnam County.
- The Magistrate Case Record Search allows members of the public to search magistrate court case records online without registration.
- Property assessment data is available through the WV Real Estate Assessment search tool, searchable by owner name, parcel ID, or street address.
- The WV Property Viewer provides parcel-level mapping data supplied by county assessors statewide.
- Daily incarceration data for regional jail facilities is accessible through the West Virginia Regional Jail daily incarcerations database.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Putnam County Clerk's Office to inspect and request copies of land records, vital records, and commission documents. The office is located at 3389 Winfield Road, Winfield, WV 25213. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should present a written or verbal description of the record sought and be prepared to pay applicable copy fees at the time of pickup.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Putnam County Clerk's Office at 3389 Winfield Road, Winfield, WV 25213. Requests should include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-3, public bodies are required to respond to written requests within five business days.
Phone/Email: The Putnam County Clerk's Office may be reached by telephone at (304) 586-0202. Email inquiries may be directed through the county's official website contact portal.
What Are Public Records in Putnam County?
Public records in West Virginia are defined by statute as any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business, prepared, owned, or retained by a public body. Under West Virginia Code § 29B-1-2, the term "public record" encompasses documents, maps, photographs, and electronically stored information created or maintained by government agencies. The following record types are maintained by designated offices in Putnam County:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil and criminal court records | Putnam County Circuit Court Clerk |
| Magistrate court records | Putnam County Magistrate Court |
| Property deeds and mortgages | Putnam County Clerk |
| Property assessments | Putnam County Assessor |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | WV DHHR / County Clerk |
| Business licenses and permits | Putnam County Clerk |
| Tax records | Putnam County Sheriff (Tax Division) |
| Commission minutes and agendas | Putnam County Clerk |
| Arrest logs and incident reports | Putnam County Sheriff's Office |
| Land use and zoning records | Putnam County Planning Commission |
The West Virginia State Auditor's Office maintains financial and expenditure records for state and county government entities, which are accessible to the public through its official portal.
Is Putnam County an Open Records County?
Putnam County operates in full compliance with West Virginia's statewide open records framework. Under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1 et seq., all public bodies in the state, including county agencies, are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The statute declares 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."
The West Virginia Attorney General's Office has affirmed that FOIA applies to all county-level government entities, including elected offices such as the county clerk, sheriff, and assessor. No special county ordinance is required to trigger access rights — the state statute governs uniformly. Putnam County does not maintain a separate public records policy that supersedes or narrows the rights established under state law.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Putnam County?
The current fee structure for public records in Putnam County follows the schedule established under state law and the individual office's administrative rules. Members of the public should be aware of the following standard fees:
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (per page) | $0.50 per page (standard) |
| Certified copies of vital records | $5.00 per document |
| Certified copies of land records | $1.00 per page + $1.00 certification |
| Electronic records (where available) | No charge in many cases |
| Search fees | Not permitted under FOIA for inspection |
Under W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3(5), agencies may charge reasonable fees for the cost of reproducing records but may not charge for the time spent searching or reviewing records in response to a FOIA request. Accepted payment methods at the Putnam County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors or for requests determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the custodial office.
Does Putnam County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public under West Virginia's open records law. Agencies are not permitted to charge a fee for the act of inspecting records on-site. The following resources provide free access to Putnam County records:
- The WV Real Estate Assessment search tool provides free online access to property assessment data by owner name, parcel ID, or address.
- The WV Property Viewer offers free parcel mapping and property information supplied by county assessors.
- The West Virginia Judiciary court record access portal provides free online access to circuit court case records statewide.
- The Magistrate Case Record Search is available at no cost and requires no registration.
- Daily jail incarceration data is available free of charge through the WV Regional Jail offender search.
Free inspection differs from free copies. While members of the public may inspect records at no charge, reproduction of documents is subject to the fee schedule described above. Certain records, such as a person's own driving history, may be obtained through the WV Division of Motor Vehicles driving record portal for a nominal fee.
Who Can Request Public Records in Putnam County?
Any person may request public records in Putnam County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act does not restrict access to residents of the state, nor does it require requestors to identify themselves or explain the reason for their request. The following conditions apply:
- Residency: Not required. Non-residents retain full access rights under state law.
- Identification: Not required for most records. Certain restricted records, such as personal vital records, may require proof of identity or legal relationship.
- Purpose: Not required to be stated for standard public records requests.
- Age: No minimum age is specified in the statute, though practical access may vary by office.
Individuals requesting their own records — such as personal court filings, property records, or driving history — follow the same process as any other requestor. Requests for records pertaining to other individuals are subject to the same access rights, except where specific exemptions apply. Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are treated equally under the statute.
What Records Are Confidential in Putnam County?
Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under West Virginia law. The exemptions are enumerated in W. Va. Code § 29B-1-4, which identifies the following as confidential:
- Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
- Juvenile court records and child welfare case files
- Records pertaining to ongoing law enforcement investigations
- Personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and financial account data
- Medical and mental health records protected under HIPAA
- Adoption records
- Personnel records of public employees (with limited exceptions for disciplinary actions)
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information submitted to government agencies
- Security plans, infrastructure vulnerability assessments, and emergency response protocols
- Attorney-client privileged communications involving government legal counsel
The statute requires that when a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency must redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. Agencies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies to any withheld record. Members of the public who believe a record has been improperly withheld may file a complaint with the West Virginia Attorney General's Office or seek judicial review in circuit court.
Putnam County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Putnam County Clerk's Office
3389 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
(304) 586-0202
Putnam County Clerk's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Putnam County Circuit Court Clerk
12093 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
(304) 586-0207
West Virginia Judiciary court record access
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Putnam County Assessor's Office
3389 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
(304) 586-0204
WV Real Estate Assessment search
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Putnam County Sheriff's Office (Tax Division)
3389 Winfield Road
Winfield, WV 25213
(304) 586-0206
Putnam County Sheriff's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Lookup Public Records in Putnam County
- West Virginia circuit court record access
- Magistrate Case Record Search
- WV Real Estate Assessment property search
- WV Property Viewer parcel map
- West Virginia Regional Jail daily incarceration records
- WV Division of Motor Vehicles driving record request
- West Virginia State Auditor's Office financial records