Established in 1754, Hampshire County is West Virginia’s oldest county. It is also home to the oldest town in the state, Romney, which serves as the county seat. As of 2020, there were 23,093 individuals residing in Hampshire County.

Courts in Hampshire County

Hampshire County is one of the counties constituting West Virginia’s 22nd Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Court is the county’s trial court of general jurisdiction. Civil cases involving amounts exceeding $300 are under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. The court also has authority over civil cases in equity in which it grants legal remedies instead of monetary compensation. The Circuit Court also handles felony and misdemeanor criminal proceedings, juvenile matters, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence cases. Additionally, the decisions made in other lower courts in the county can be appealed at the Circuit Court.

The Magistrate Court in Hampshire County has jurisdiction over civil cases involving monetary claims lower than $10,000. It also hears criminal cases involving misdemeanors and conducts preliminary hearings of felonies. Other duties of Hampshire County’s Magistrate Court in criminal cases include issuing arrest and search warrants, providing affidavits, setting bail conditions, and deciding plea agreements. Magistrates can also issue emergency protective orders in domestic violence cases.

Hampshire County is part of the 23rd Family Court Circuit in West Virginia. The Family Court makes decisions and determinations in cases involving divorce, child custody and support, guardianships of minors, domestic violence, marriage annulment, paternity suits, and visitation rights.

The Municipal Courts in Capon Bridge Town and Romney Town are responsible for handling the violations of local ordinances within their jurisdictions.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Hampshire County

The Courts in Hampshire County have clerks who serve as official record keepers for their respective courts. For instance, the Circuit Clerk maintains the records of the Circuit and Family Courts, while the Magistrate and Municipal Courts have clerks who perform similar administrative functions. Individuals can find public court records in Hampshire County by searching them at the Office of the Clerk of the Court where the case was filed. The Clerks may also provide individuals with copies of court records upon request. Individuals can search Magistrate Court information in Hampshire County online.

Types of Public Court Records in Hampshire County

Unless confidential, anyone can obtain the following types of public court records in Hampshire County:

• Civil Court Records
• Criminal Court Records
• Magistrate Court Records
• Family Court Records
• Municipal Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Hampshire County

Confidential court records in Hampshire County are inaccessible to the general public because they may contain private case information. The custodians of such court records are prohibited from publicly disclosing them by court orders or West Virginia laws. However, the court may unseal court records with confidential information to allow individuals who petition the court to inspect them. Unlike West Virginia's open court records, confidential records are inaccessible online.

Examples of confidential court records in Hampshire County include:

• Juvenile records
• Presentence and probation records
• Domestic violence records
• Child abuse or neglect records
• Medical records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Hampshire, WV

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Hampshire County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in West Virginia often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 145 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Hampshire County. Of that total, 32% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 46 court cases. Another 65% were dependency cases that accounted for 94 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Hampshire County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Hampshire County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Hampshire County, WV

https://www.wv.gov/

County Seat:	Romney
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1754
Total Square Miles:	645
2019 Population:	23,471
Persons/Square Mile:	0.03
County Contact:	PO BOX 806 County Courthouse Romney , WV 26757-0806 http://hampshirewv.com/