West Virginia has NO mandatory notice period before filing eviction for nonpayment (§55-3A-1) - landlord can file immediately after rent is late. However, the tenant can stop proceedings by paying all unpaid rent, interest, and costs before the trial date (§37-6-23). Hearing must be scheduled between 5-10 judicial days after filing (§55-3A-1(b)). Tenant has 5 days from receiving summons to file a written answer. Appeals stay the eviction automatically upon filing with bond; poverty exception waives bond but still stays eviction (§55-3A-3(g)). No specific statute governing landlord entry or retaliation for private landlords.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Magistrate Court. Pay the filing fee (~$50).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about West Virginia eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified West Virginia attorney or local legal aid organization.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
West Virginia landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in West Virginia —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need West Virginia's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
Ready to File?
Generate West Virginia-Compliant Legal Documents
AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to West Virginia requirements.
Select your state, eviction reason, and the date you plan to serve notice. We'll calculate your earliest filing date and key milestones.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Wood County is the commercial, industrial, and population center of the Mid-Ohio Valley, home to Parkersburg — West Virginia’s third largest city with a population of approximately 29,000 — and a county total of roughly 84,000 residents. Parkersburg sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, a position that defined its importance as a 19th-century trading and manufacturing hub and continues to shape its identity as the regional center for northwestern West Virginia and southeastern Ohio. With Marietta, Ohio directly across the Ohio River via the Williamstown Bridge and I-77 running through the county, Wood County has genuine metropolitan connectivity that distinguishes it from most WV counties its size.
Wood County’s economy is one of the most diversified in West Virginia. Camden Clark Medical Center and WVU Medicine Belpre, the primary healthcare employers, anchor the medical sector. WVU Parkersburg provides higher education and associated rental demand from students, faculty, and staff. The chemicals and manufacturing sector — historically rooted in the area’s petrochemical industry including the now-infamous DuPont Washington Works plant that produced PFAS contamination — remains a significant employer with Chemours (formerly DuPont) and other industrial operations. State and county government, retail trade, and a growing healthcare services economy round out the employment base. The natural gas midstream infrastructure associated with Marcellus shale development in the broader region has added energy-sector employment in recent years.
Parkersburg’s downtown has undergone meaningful revitalization investment, with historic building rehabilitation, new restaurants and retail, and renewed civic investment making it one of the more active small-city downtowns in WV. Vienna, immediately east of Parkersburg, is a more suburban community with newer commercial development along US-50. Williamstown, at the northern end of the county along the Ohio River, is a smaller community with its own character and the Fenton Art Glass heritage that has made it a collectors’ destination. Belpre, at the southern end, borders the larger Belpre, Ohio community across the river.
Rental Market Conditions
Wood County supports one of the more active and diversified rental markets in West Virginia outside of the Eastern Panhandle and Morgantown. One-bedroom units in Parkersburg and Vienna typically run $700–$950 per month; two-bedroom apartments and homes rent for approximately $850–$1,150. The market draws from a broad base: healthcare workers, WVU Parkersburg students and faculty, industrial employees, government workers, and professionals employed across the county’s diversified economy. New apartment construction has occurred along the US-50 corridor in Vienna, adding supply and keeping rent growth measured. The Marietta-Parkersburg metro’s cross-river character means some Wood County renters work in Ohio and vice versa, giving the market a genuinely bi-state flavor.
Filing an Eviction in Wood County Magistrate Court
Evictions in Wood County are filed at the Magistrate Court, located at 401 Second Street, Suite 12, Parkersburg, WV 26101. Magistrate Clerk Paulina Yearego can be reached at (304) 422-3444; fax (304) 422-7871. Four magistrates serve Wood County: Magistrate Joe A. Kuhl (304-422-4258), Magistrate Brenda K. Marshall (304-422-4250), Magistrate Jody Purkey (304-422-3822), and Magistrate Robin Waters (304-422-0831).
Evictions proceed using Form MLTPTWR (Petition for Summary Relief for Wrongful Occupation of Residential Rental Property), available at courtswv.gov. No pre-filing notice is required for nonpayment. For lease violations, a written cure notice of 10 to 30 days before filing is advisable. After filing, the Wood County Sheriff serves the summons; the tenant has five days to respond. The Writ of Possession is executed by the Sheriff after judgment for the landlord. With four magistrates handling a county of 84,000, Wood County’s court runs an active docket and uncontested matters typically resolve within two to four weeks. West Virginia imposes no cap on security deposits. Deposits must be returned with written itemization within 60 days of lease end or 45 days of new occupancy, whichever is shorter. Month-to-month tenancies require 30 days’ written notice. Self-help eviction is illegal under WV Code 55-3A-3. No rent control; no county rental licensing. For court procedures, contact Paulina Yearego at (304) 422-3444. Legal Aid of West Virginia: 1-866-255-4370. WV State Bar Lawyer Referral: (304) 558-7991.
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for West Virginia
Loading courthouse data
Coming Soon
Courthouse data for West Virginia is being compiled. Check back soon!
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: General informational purposes only. Not legal advice. West Virginia landlord-tenant law is governed by WV Code Chapter 37 and Chapter 55. Evictions filed in Wood County Magistrate Court: 401 Second Street, Suite 12, Parkersburg, WV 26101 — (304) 422-3444. Legal Aid of West Virginia: 1-866-255-4370. WV State Bar Lawyer Referral: (304) 558-7991. Last updated: March 2026.
