Mineral County Property Records
How To Search Property Records in Mineral County in 2026
MineralRecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to property records in Mineral County, West Virginia. Members of the public may find ownership history, assessed values, recorded deeds, tax information, liens, and parcel data through this resource. Record categories available through official channels include:
- Deed and transfer records
- Property tax assessments and payment history
- Mortgage and lien filings
- Plat maps and legal descriptions
- Building characteristics and permit records
Records can be searched through official county and state resources. The primary access methods are outlined below.
Multiple Access Methods:
- Online searches — The most convenient option; available at no cost through county and state portals
- In-person visits — Required for certified copies and older records not yet digitized
- By mail — Written requests submitted to the appropriate county office
- Through professionals — Title companies, real estate attorneys, and licensed abstractors
Online Search Methods
1. Property Appraiser Website
The West Virginia Property Search portal on MapWV.gov serves as the primary resource for property assessment information in Mineral County. The portal is free to use and requires no registration.
Search Options:
- By property address
- By owner name
- By parcel ID
- By map or GIS location
- By legal description
Information Available:
- Current owner name and mailing address
- Legal description and parcel number
- Land use and zoning classification
- Assessed value (land and improvements)
- Taxable value and exemptions applied
- Sales history
- GIS map location
How to Search:
- Navigate to the WV Real Estate Assessment search
- Select "Mineral" from the county dropdown
- Choose a search type (address, owner name, or parcel ID)
- Enter the search criteria and submit
- Review the results list and select the relevant parcel
- View the full property card, including valuation history and ownership data
2. County Clerk Official Records Search
The Mineral County Clerk maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, and liens. Members of the public may inspect these records at the Clerk's office or request copies.
Documents Available:
- Warranty and quitclaim deeds
- Mortgages and deeds of trust
- Satisfactions and releases of mortgage
- Judgment and mechanic's liens
- Easements and restrictions
- Plats and surveys
- Lis pendens filings
How to Search:
- Visit the Mineral County Clerk Records page for current online access options
- Search by grantor or grantee name, document type, or recording date range
- Note the book and page number or instrument number for any document of interest
- Request copies in person or by mail
Mineral County Clerk's Office
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-3924
Mineral County Clerk Records
3. Tax Collector (Sheriff-Tax Office)
The Mineral County Sheriff's Tax Office administers property tax collection, delinquent tax enforcement, and DMV renewals. Per the Mineral County Sheriff-Tax Office, the office is responsible for collecting personal property taxes and enforcing delinquent collections; it does not assess the value of real property.
Search By:
- Property address
- Owner name
- Tax account number
Information Available:
- Current tax bill and payment status
- Outstanding balances and delinquency records
- Exemptions applied
- Installment plan status
Mineral County Sheriff-Tax Office
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-9731
Sheriff-Tax Office
Per the West Virginia Tax Division's property tax due dates schedule, property taxes are levied by county sheriffs and are due in two installments: the first half by September 1 and the second half by March 1 of the following year.
4. GIS and Mapping System
The WV Property Viewer on MapWV.gov provides interactive parcel mapping for Mineral County. The viewer displays property boundaries, aerial photography, and parcel-level data maintained by the county assessor.
How to Use:
- Navigate the interactive map to the property location
- Click on a parcel to view ownership and assessment data
- Toggle map layers for zoning, flood zones, and aerial imagery
- Access linked assessment records directly from the map interface
In-Person Searches:
Mineral County Assessor's Office
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-1020
WV Property Viewer
Services available in person include public access computers, staff assistance, property cards, plat maps, and exemption application processing.
By Mail Requests:
Members of the public may submit written requests to the Mineral County Clerk's Office at 150 Armstrong Street, Keyser, WV 26726. Requests should specify the property address, parcel number, or book and page reference. Payment for copy fees must accompany the request. Certified copies are available upon request.
Through Professionals:
- Title companies conduct comprehensive title searches, prepare abstracts of title, and issue title insurance commitments. Fees vary by transaction.
- Real estate attorneys provide legal title opinions and assist with complex ownership or dispute matters.
- Licensed abstractors perform historical chain-of-title research and are commonly used in West Virginia real estate transactions.
What Is Mineral County Property Records
Property records in Mineral County are official documents related to real property — land and buildings — maintained by county government offices. These records constitute the legal foundation for establishing ownership, recording encumbrances, and facilitating real estate transactions. Under West Virginia law, the recording of instruments affecting real property is governed by W. Va. Code § 40-1-1, which establishes the framework for the state's recording system and the principle of constructive notice.
Types of Property Records:
- Ownership records — Deeds (warranty, quitclaim, special warranty), trust documents, life estate deeds, and chain-of-title documentation
- Encumbrance records — Mortgages, deeds of trust, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, tax liens, easements, covenants, and lis pendens filings
- Tax and assessment records — Property tax assessments, tax bills, payment history, exemptions, and delinquency records
- Legal descriptions — Plat maps, subdivision plats, surveys, and metes-and-bounds descriptions
- Building and permit records — Building permits, certificates of occupancy, zoning designations, and code enforcement records
Who Maintains Property Records:
- Mineral County Clerk — Records, indexes, and maintains all recorded instruments including deeds, mortgages, and liens
- Mineral County Assessor — Maintains property valuations, assessment records, ownership information, and exemption applications
- Mineral County Sheriff-Tax Office — Administers tax billing, collection, and delinquency enforcement
- Mineral County Planning and Zoning — Maintains zoning records, land use designations, and permit information
The West Virginia Legislature has established that all instruments conveying or encumbering real property must be recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated, pursuant to W. Va. Code § 40-1-9, which governs the priority of recorded instruments and the protection afforded to subsequent purchasers and creditors.
Are Property Records Public Information in Mineral County?
Property records in Mineral County are public information. Under West Virginia's Freedom of Information Act, W. Va. Code § 29B-1-1 et seq., all public records are presumed open to inspection and copying by any member of the public, absent a specific statutory exemption. Property records maintained by the County Clerk, Assessor, and Sheriff-Tax Office are subject to this presumption of openness.
Why Property Records Are Public:
- Transparency in property ownership and taxation supports accountable government
- The recording system provides constructive notice to all subsequent purchasers and creditors
- Public access enables real estate transactions, title insurance, and lending
- Historical and genealogical research depends on permanent public land records
- Journalistic and civic investigation of property ownership serves the public interest
What Property Information Is Freely Accessible:
- Current and historical ownership (names, acquisition dates, deed references)
- Legal descriptions and parcel identification numbers
- Sale prices and transfer dates
- Recorded mortgage amounts and lender names
- Liens, encumbrances, and easements
- Tax assessments and payment history
- Property characteristics (size, year built, building type)
- Plat maps and surveys
Privacy Considerations:
Certain personal information is protected even within public property records. Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are redacted from recorded documents under state and federal law. Individuals in protected categories — including law enforcement officers, judges, and domestic violence victims — may be eligible for address confidentiality protections under West Virginia's Address Confidentiality Program. Homestead exemption applications may contain financial information that is not fully subject to public disclosure; the Mineral County Assessor's office can advise on applicable policies.
Who Can Access Property Records:
Any member of the public may access property records in Mineral County. There is no residency requirement, ownership requirement, or stated business purpose required. Common users include prospective buyers, real estate agents, title companies, appraisers, lenders, attorneys, investors, genealogists, and journalists.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Property Records in Mineral County?
The cost to obtain property records in Mineral County depends on the type of record requested and the office providing it. Inspection of records at the County Clerk's office is available at no charge during regular business hours. Fees apply when copies or certified copies are requested.
Standard Fee Schedule:
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copy of recorded document (per page) | $0.50–$1.00 per page |
| Certified copy of recorded document | $5.00 per document (plus per-page copy fee) |
| Online property assessment data | Free (no charge via MapWV.gov) |
| GIS parcel viewer access | Free (no charge via WV Property Viewer) |
| Tax information lookup | Free (online via Sheriff-Tax Office) |
| Extensive search by staff | May incur additional fees |
Fees for recorded documents are set pursuant to W. Va. Code § 59-1-10, which governs clerk fees in West Virginia. Accepted payment methods at the Mineral County Clerk's Office include cash, check, and money order. Members of the public are advised to confirm current fees directly with the office prior to submitting requests, as fee schedules are subject to legislative revision.
What Is Available at No Cost:
- Online property assessment searches via the WV Real Estate Assessment portal
- Parcel mapping and boundary data via the WV Property Viewer
- In-person inspection of recorded documents at the County Clerk's office
- Tax account information via the Sheriff-Tax Office
What's Included in a Mineral County Property Record
A complete Mineral County property record draws from multiple county offices and may include the following categories of information.
Ownership Information:
- Legal owner name(s) and ownership type (individual, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by entirety, trust, LLC, corporation, or life estate)
- Acquisition date and deed book/page or instrument number
- Mailing address for tax billing purposes
- Chain of title with previous owners, transfer dates, and historical deed references
Property Identification:
- Site address and mailing address
- Parcel ID and tax account number
- Legal description (lot and block, subdivision name, plat book and page, or metes-and-bounds description)
Physical Characteristics:
- Lot size (square feet or acres), frontage, and depth
- Total living area, year built, number of stories, and building type
- Construction type, exterior wall material, roof type, and foundation
- Number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and total rooms
- Additional features: garage, pool, porch, fireplace, HVAC, water source, and sewer system
Valuation Information:
- Land value, building value, and total assessed value
- Market value estimate and assessment year
- Historical assessed values for prior years
Tax Information:
- Total tax amount due, taxable value after exemptions, and millage rate
- Breakdown by taxing authority (county, school district, municipality, special districts)
- Payment status, due dates, and delinquency history
- Exemptions applied (homestead, senior, disability, veteran, agricultural)
Sales History:
- Sale dates, sale prices, and deed document numbers
- Grantor and grantee names
- Sale type (warranty deed, quitclaim, foreclosure, tax deed, inheritance, etc.)
Encumbrances and Liens:
- Recorded mortgages (amounts, lender names, recording dates)
- Tax liens, judgment liens, mechanic's liens, and HOA liens
- Easements, restrictions, covenants, and lis pendens filings
Maps and Images:
- Aerial photograph and GIS map with property boundaries
- Plat map and property sketch
- Street view imagery (where available)
What Is Not Typically Included:
- Current outstanding mortgage balances (only original recorded amounts)
- Social Security numbers (redacted)
- Private agreements not recorded with the County Clerk
- Actual purchase contract terms beyond the recorded sale price
- Interior photographs
How Long Does Mineral County Keep Property Records?
Property records in Mineral County are maintained permanently. The legal requirement to preserve recorded instruments arises from the nature of the recording system itself: every deed, mortgage, lien, plat, and encumbrance must remain accessible to establish an unbroken chain of title. West Virginia's records retention requirements for county clerks mandate permanent retention of all recorded instruments affecting real property.
Records Kept Permanently:
- All recorded deeds (warranty, quitclaim, trustee's, and all conveyance types)
- All recorded mortgages, deeds of trust, satisfactions, and releases
- All recorded liens (tax, judgment, mechanic's, and other statutory liens)
- All plats, subdivision plats, re-plats, and survey plats
- Easements, restrictions, covenants, and declarations
- Court documents and powers of attorney affecting title
Format and Storage:
Historical records in Mineral County exist in multiple formats depending on the era of recording:
- Pre-20th century: Handwritten ledger books
- Early-to-mid 20th century: Typed entries in bound record books
- Mid-to-late 20th century: Microfilm
- Recent decades: Digital scans and electronic document management systems
Access to Historical Records:
Records from approximately the last 20 to 40 years are accessible online through the Mineral County Clerk Records portal and the WV Real Estate Assessment search. Older records are available in person at the County Clerk's office in original book or microfilm format. Staff can retrieve records from storage; advance notice may be required for very old materials.
Assessment Records:
The Mineral County Assessor maintains current and historical assessment rolls permanently. Recent years of assessment history are accessible online through the WV Property Viewer. Historical assessment data predating online availability is accessible in person at the Assessor's office.
Tax Records:
The Sheriff-Tax Office retains tax payment records for a minimum of seven to ten years. Tax deed records are maintained permanently by the County Clerk. Delinquency records are retained for several years following resolution.
Contact for Historical Records:
Mineral County Clerk's Office
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-3924
County Clerk Records
Mineral County Assessor's Office
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-1020
WV Real Estate Assessment Search
How To Find Liens on Property in Mineral County?
Liens on property in Mineral County are recorded instruments and are therefore part of the public record maintained by the Mineral County Clerk. Members of the public may search for liens through the following methods.
Types of Liens Recorded:
- Federal and state tax liens (IRS and WV Tax Division)
- Judgment liens arising from court proceedings
- Mechanic's liens filed by contractors and materialmen
- HOA assessment liens
- Code enforcement liens
- Child support liens
Step-by-Step Search Process:
- Online search via the County Clerk — Access the Mineral County Clerk Records portal and search by the property owner's name (as grantee or grantor) or by document type. Lien filings are indexed under the debtor's name.
- In-person search at the Clerk's office — Visit the Mineral County Clerk's Office at 150 Armstrong Street, Keyser, WV 26726. Staff can assist with grantor/grantee index searches and retrieve lien documents from the record books.
- Federal tax lien search — Federal tax liens filed by the IRS are recorded with the county clerk in the county where the property is located. These appear in the same grantor/grantee index as other recorded instruments.
- Judgment lien search — Judgment liens in West Virginia attach to all real property owned by the judgment debtor in the county where the judgment is docketed. Search the Mineral County Circuit Court records for docketed judgments, then cross-reference with the Clerk's lien index.
- WV Tax Division — State tax liens are filed with the county clerk. The West Virginia Tax Division administers state tax collection; delinquent property tax information is also available through the Sheriff-Tax Office.
- Title search by a professional — A licensed title company or real estate attorney can conduct a comprehensive lien search as part of a title examination, identifying all recorded encumbrances against a property.
Mineral County Clerk's Office
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-3924
County Clerk Records
Mineral County Sheriff-Tax Office
150 Armstrong Street
Keyser, WV 26726
Phone: (304) 788-9731
Sheriff-Tax Office
What Is Property Owner Rule in Mineral County?
The property owner rule in Mineral County refers to the body of West Virginia law and local practice governing who may own real property, how ownership is established and transferred, and what rights and obligations attach to property ownership. West Virginia follows the common law tradition of real property ownership, under which title to real property is established by a recorded deed and ownership rights are protected by the state constitution and statutory law.
Establishing Ownership:
Under West Virginia law, a conveyance of real property must be in writing, signed by the grantor, and recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated to be effective against subsequent purchasers and creditors. The recording requirement is codified at W. Va. Code § 40-1-9, which establishes that an unrecorded deed is void as to any subsequent purchaser for valuable consideration without notice.
Forms of Ownership Recognized in West Virginia:
- Sole ownership — A single individual holds title in fee simple
- Joint tenancy with right of survivorship — Two or more persons hold equal shares; upon the death of one, the survivor(s) take the decedent's interest automatically
- Tenancy in common — Two or more persons hold undivided interests that may be unequal; each interest passes through the owner's estate upon death
- Tenancy by the entirety — Available only to legally married spouses; provides protection from individual creditors of either spouse
- Trust ownership — A trustee holds legal title for the benefit of named beneficiaries
- Entity ownership — LLCs, corporations, and partnerships may hold title to real property in West Virginia
Property Owner Rights and Obligations:
Property owners in Mineral County hold the right to use, lease, encumber, and convey their property subject to applicable zoning regulations, deed restrictions, and state law. Owners are obligated to pay real property taxes assessed by the Mineral County Assessor and collected by the Sheriff-Tax Office. Per the West Virginia Tax Division, property taxes are levied annually and are due in two installments. Failure to pay results in delinquency proceedings that may ultimately lead to a tax deed sale.
Adverse Possession:
West Virginia recognizes the doctrine of adverse possession, under which a person who openly, continuously, exclusively, and hostilely possesses another's land for a period of ten years may acquire legal title. Claims of adverse possession must be established through a court proceeding and a subsequent recorded deed.
Eminent Domain:
The State of West Virginia and authorized governmental entities may acquire private property through eminent domain for public use, subject to the payment of just compensation as required by the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article III, Section 9 of the West Virginia Constitution.
Mineral Rights:
West Virginia recognizes the severance of surface and mineral estates. A property owner may hold surface rights without owning the underlying mineral rights, or vice versa. Mineral rights are separately assessed, taxed, and recorded. The WV Property Viewer notes that the county assessor is responsible for maintaining surface property tax maps; mineral tax maps and parcels are available for select counties through the same portal.