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.
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⚠️ 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.
Logan County sits in the heart of the southern West Virginia coalfields, a compact mountainous county carved by the Guyandotte and Man Fork rivers that has produced extraordinary quantities of bituminous coal and a culture defined by the rhythms of extraction industry. The county seat of Logan — population approximately 1,500 in the city proper — is a river valley town hemmed in by ridges on all sides, with a narrow commercial strip along Stratton Street that reflects decades of boom-and-bust economic cycles. The broader county population of roughly 33,000 is distributed across dozens of hollows and creek communities with names like Man, Verdunville, Omar, and Chapmanville that each carry their own piece of the coalfield story.
Logan County’s most famous historical footnote — beyond the coal industry — is its proximity to the Hatfield-McCoy feud territory along the Tug Fork border with Kentucky. Today, that legacy has been repurposed into the Hatfield-McCoy Trails system, a network of hundreds of miles of ATV and off-road riding trails that crosses Logan, Wyoming, Mingo, and McDowell counties. The trail system has become a meaningful economic driver in the region, drawing off-road enthusiasts from across the eastern United States and creating demand for short-term lodging, outfitter services, and trail-side amenities. For landlords, this means the tourism economy has a limited but real impact on certain segments of the rental and hospitality market.
Rental Market Conditions
Logan County rents are modest, consistent with the southern coalfield economic reality. One-bedroom units in Logan and nearby communities like Chapmanville typically rent in the $500–$675 range. Two-bedroom homes or apartments run approximately $650–$875 per month. Logan Regional Medical Center, the county’s largest single employer, provides a healthcare worker rental segment with somewhat more stable incomes than the broader population. Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College anchors some student rental demand in the Logan area. County government and the school system provide additional stable employment.
The decline in coal employment since the early 2010s has meaningfully reduced the pool of high-wage industrial tenants that historically defined the coalfield rental market. Union miners earning strong wages were once the anchor tenant class for Logan County landlords. Today, the market has shifted toward lower-wage service and government employment, with corresponding pressure on rent levels and, in some cases, on tenants’ ability to sustain timely rent payments through economic disruptions. Landlords who understand this context can screen and price their properties more accurately.
The trail system has prompted some property conversion to short-term rentals and hostel-style lodging near trail access points, particularly in the Man, Chapmanville, and southern Logan areas. This segment operates differently from the long-term residential rental market and is outside the scope of WV Code Chapter 37 landlord-tenant law for transient guests. Landlords who mix short-term and long-term tenancies in the same property should understand the distinction clearly and structure agreements accordingly.
Filing an Eviction in Logan County Magistrate Court
Evictions in Logan County are filed at the Magistrate Court, located at the Logan County Courthouse, 300 Stratton Street, Logan, WV 25601. Magistrate Clerk Wendy J. Williams can be reached at (304) 792-8651 or (304) 792-8650; fax (304) 752-0790. Four magistrates serve Logan County: Magistrate James D. Adkins (304-792-8656), Magistrate Burley E. Ferrell (304-792-8507), Magistrate Joseph L. Mendez (304-792-8655), and Magistrate Harold Ray Porter Jr. (304-792-8652).
West Virginia evictions proceed under Form MLTPTWR — the Petition for Summary Relief for Wrongful Occupation of Residential Rental Property — available at courtswv.gov. No mandatory pre-filing notice is required for nonpayment cases. For lease violations, a written cure notice of 10 to 30 days before filing is recommended as standard practice. After filing, the Logan County Sheriff serves the summons on the tenant. The tenant has five days from service to file a written response. The magistrate rules on contested matters at a scheduled hearing; uncontested cases may resolve more quickly. The Writ of Possession is executed by the Sheriff following judgment for the landlord.
West Virginia imposes no cap on security deposits. In Logan County, one month’s rent is the standard deposit. Return is required within 60 days of lease end or 45 days of new tenant occupancy (whichever is shorter), with a written itemized statement of deductions. Month-to-month tenancies require 30 days’ written notice to terminate. Entry for repairs or inspections requires 24 hours’ written notice except emergencies. Self-help eviction is illegal under WV Code 55-3A-3. There is no rent control in West Virginia and no rental licensing in Logan County. For court procedures, contact (304) 792-8651. Legal Aid of West Virginia: 1-866-255-4370. WV State Bar Lawyer Referral: (304) 558-7991.
🏛️ Courthouse Information and Locations for West Virginia
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⚠️ 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 Logan County Magistrate Court: 300 Stratton Street, Logan, WV 25601 — (304) 792-8651. Legal Aid of West Virginia: 1-866-255-4370. WV State Bar Lawyer Referral: (304) 558-7991. Last updated: March 2026.
