SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Pendleton County record-source URLs verified against the official local and West Virginia state publishers on the review date. 4 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Pendleton County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Pendleton County, West Virginia — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
5,944
Population
Census estimate
2,361
Households
Census estimate
$52,458
Median income
Annual household
$169,200
Median home value
Census ACS
Franklin
County seat
In West Virginia
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
3 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
1 source
Vital records
1 source
Voter records
1 source
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Pendleton County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Pendleton County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Pendleton - Magistrate Court | West Virginia Judiciary West Virginia Northern Bankruptcy Court | PACER: Federal Cou… |
| Criminal records | No verified source — see Pendleton County state portal below |
| Wants & warrants | No verified source — see Pendleton County state portal below |
| Property records | Property Search - WV Real Estate Assessment |
| Vital records | Vital Records (Interactive) - West Virginia Culture Center :… |
| Voter records | West Virginia Secretary of State - Elections - Am I Register… |
| Professional licenses | No verified source — see Pendleton County state portal below |
| Recorded documents | No verified source — see Pendleton County state portal below |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Pendleton County. Data verified June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Pendleton County Records
2026
Pendleton County court records portal verified
State court system links for Pendleton County verified against the West Virginia judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Pendleton County property records online
Pendleton County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside West Virginia, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Pendleton County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Pendleton County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Pendleton County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the West Virginia statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the West Virginia state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Pendleton County Records
❌ Myth: "Pendleton County maintains all criminal records."
✓ Truth: False. Criminal records for Pendleton County are held by the West Virginia state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
❌ Myth: "Records sealed in Pendleton County are gone everywhere."
✓ Truth: False. Sealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
❌ Myth: "Free 'instant background' sites have Pendleton County data."
✓ Truth: False. Only the official West Virginia state repository has verified, current Pendleton County data. Free sites often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "The Pendleton County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
✓ Truth: False. The Pendleton County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
❌ Myth: "All county records older than 50 years are public."
✓ Truth: Partially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources (All Verified)
- www.courtswv.gov — Court records — official source
- www.mapwv.gov — Property records — official source
- apps.sos.wv.gov — Voter records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Pendleton County & West Virginia Records
For records not specific to Pendleton County, use West Virginia's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 West Virginia statewide record systems:
- West Virginia Court Records →
- West Virginia Criminal Records →
- West Virginia Property Records →
- West Virginia Vital Records →
- West Virginia Voter Records →
- West Virginia Wants & Warrants →
- West Virginia Licenses →
- West Virginia Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
West Virginia statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
About Pendleton County, West Virginia
Pendleton County is located in West Virginia. The county seat is Franklin.
- Population: 5,944
- Households: 2,361
- Median household income: $52,458
- Median home value: $169,200
- Below poverty line: 16.4%
- Land area: 696.0 sq mi
- Population density: 8.5 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 1
- NCES schools indexed: 4
Pendleton - Magistrate Court | West Virginia Judiciary
Official Free
Court County · Pendleton · Court · Magistrate Court · Court Information · Magistrate Morgan M. Basagic (address and fax number same as Magistrate Clerk) 304-358-2344 · Magistrate Kevin E. Puffenberger (address and fax number same as Magistrate Clerk) 304-358-2343 ·
West Virginia Court Records Access
Official Free
Official websites use .gov A .gov Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Multi-court Voice Case Information System: 866-222-8029 ext.
Magistrate Case Record Search - West Virginia Judiciary
Official Free
Disclaimer: The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and assumes no liability for any general or specific use of the information. Therefore, there is no guarantee that retrieved records represent a ...
Vital Records (Interactive) - West Virginia Culture Center : West Virginia Culture Center
Official Free
The Vital Research Records Project is placing Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates on-line. Users can search the records and view scanned images of the original records. Certified copies of these records are available only from the issuing county or the West Virginia Vital Registration Office.
Pendleton County, West Virginia Genealogy: Vital Records, Court Index, Circuit Clerks, Plat Books, Birth / Marriage…
Official Free
Pendleton County vital records can be found at the West Virginia Office of Vital Records which has copies of birth and death records from January 1917 to present; marriage records from 1921 to present and divorce records from 1968 to present.
West Virginia Secretary of State - Elections - Am I Registered To Vote
Official Free
Enter your first name, last name, and date of birth to: · For a Town/City Election, please contact your City Clerk to find your precinct
Pendleton County Results - West Virginia Secretary of State
Official Free
In an ongoing effort to keep you informed of election night results, these pages contain data supplied by the counties in West Virginia. As this data is received from the various counties, the Secretary of State's office will summarize and post the information to this site.
Property Search - WV Real Estate Assessment
Official Free
This WV Property Assessment portal is designed for searching and displaying property ownership and location information for all 55 counties in West Virginia through the Property Search and Property Viewer Applications. The FAQ and Resources have been provided to help answer questions.
Criminal Records
Official Free
This site includes information on the services we provide to the citizens of West Virginia and its visitors as well as missing persons and most wanted listings and sex offender registry information.
🌐 wvsp.gov
Magistrate Record Search | West Virginia Judiciary
Official Free
West Virginia Judiciary · This free system increases access to online magistrate court information. Anyone with a computer or mobile device can enter a first or last name or a case number and the system will generate a list of up to 30 records. Court documents themselves are not available online.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Pendleton County?
Pendleton County court cases are searchable through the Pendleton - Magistrate Court | West Virginia Judiciary portal: https://www.courtswv.gov/node/32735. West Virginia also operates a state-level case lookup through the WV Courts system. For federal matters, see PACER.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in West Virginia?
In West Virginia, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by West Virginia law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
Are West Virginia marriage records public?
Marriage records in West Virginia are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
What's the difference between a court record and a criminal record in West Virginia?
A court record shows everything filed in a specific case — pleadings, motions, judgments. A criminal record (rap sheet) is a person-centric history from the West Virginia State Police that aggregates arrests and dispositions across all courts in West Virginia. Court records are searched by case; criminal records by person.