Are Autopsy Reports Public in West Virginia? (2026)
West Virginia autopsy and toxicology reports are confidential, not public. Learn who can request one, the OCME fee, and how open cases are handled.
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West Virginia Laws
69 articles · page 1 of 2
Bankruptcy in West Virginia (2026): Exemptions & Means Test
West Virginia filers choose state or federal exemptions: a $35,000 homestead under W. Va. Code 38-10-4, vehicle and wildcard exemptions, plus 2026 means test.
7 min read
Common Law Marriage in West Virginia: Is It Recognized? (2026)
West Virginia does not recognize common law marriage formed within the state. W. Va. Code section 48-2-101 requires a license; an unlicensed marriage is void. West Virginia does recognize valid common law marriages formed in other states.
7 min read
How to Find a Cause of Death in West Virginia (2026)
Learn how to find someone's cause of death in West Virginia, whether it is public, who can request the certificate, and the medical examiner's role.
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How to Get a West Virginia Death Certificate (2026)
Get a West Virginia death certificate from the state Vital Registration Office in Charleston. The fee is $12 for the first copy and $12 for each additional copy.
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Medical Malpractice Laws in West Virginia (2026): Caps & Deadlines
West Virginia medical malpractice in 2026: the 2-year deadline, the $250K/$500K inflation-adjusted non-economic cap, and the screening certificate of merit.
7 min read
Motorcycle Accident Laws in West Virginia (2026): Deadlines
West Virginia motorcycle accident law: the 2-year deadline to sue, the 51% modified comparative fault bar, the universal helmet law, and no lane splitting.
7 min read
Truck Accident Laws in West Virginia (2026): Deadlines & Liability
West Virginia truck accident guide: a 2-year filing deadline (W. Va. Code 55-2-12), modified comparative negligence, at-fault insurance, and FMCSA rules.
7 min read
West Virginia AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
Guide to West Virginia AI laws, regulation, and legislation covering deepfakes, employment AI, healthcare AI, and more.
11 min read
West Virginia AI Meeting Recording Laws (2026)
Learn how West Virginia consent laws apply to AI meeting recorders. One-party consent rules, penalties, and compliance.
6 min read
West Virginia At-Will Employment Laws: Exceptions and Your Rights
West Virginia is an at-will state with a public-policy exception (Harless claim) and implied-contract exception. Learn your rights and the RTW law.
6 min read
West Virginia Audio Recording Laws: One-Party Consent Guide
Learn West Virginia audio recording laws under W. Va. Code 62-1D-3. One-party consent rules, legal devices, evidence use, and penalties for illegal recording.
10 min read
West Virginia Background Check Laws (2026 Guide)
West Virginia background check laws: Ban the Box, lookback periods, Clean Slate, employer and housing checks.
14 min read
West Virginia Biometric Privacy Laws: Collection, Consent & Penalties (2026)
West Virginia has no biometric privacy law, and its breach notification statute excludes biometric data. Learn about proposed HB 5567 and current protections.
8 min read
West Virginia Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim
West Virginia is an at-fault state with modified comparative fault (51% bar). Learn WV's insurance minimums, 2-year SOL, UM requirements, and how to file a claim.
6 min read
West Virginia Car Seat Laws: Requirements and Guidelines
Learn about West Virginia's car seat laws: age and weight requirements, rear-facing rules, booster seat guidelines, and penalties for violations.
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West Virginia Child Custody Laws (2026): Equal Custodial Time, Best Interests, and Your Rights
West Virginia presumes equal 50/50 custodial time since 2022 (SB 463). Learn how courts allocate custodial responsibility, the best-interests factors, and relocation rules.
8 min read
West Virginia Child Support Laws (2026): Guidelines & Calculator
West Virginia uses the Income Shares Formula under W. Va. Code 48-13. Learn how support is calculated, modified, and enforced in 2026.
10 min read
West Virginia Dashcam Laws: Legality, Mounting, and Evidence Rules
Learn West Virginia dashcam laws including legality, mounting rules, audio recording consent, using footage as evidence, and police interaction guidelines.
10 min read
West Virginia Data Breach Notification Laws: Reporting Rules & Timelines (2026)
West Virginia requires data breach notification without unreasonable delay. Learn its narrow PI definition, no AG reporting requirement, encryption safe harbor, and $150K penalty cap.
8 min read
West Virginia Data Privacy Laws: Breach Notification & Consumer Rights (2026)
Learn about West Virginia data privacy laws including breach notification requirements, identity theft penalties, credit freeze rights, and pending consumer data protection legislation.
14 min read
West Virginia Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One
West Virginia is a closed-record state. Death certificates stay confidential until 50 years old. See who can request one, the fee, and how to order.
7 min read
West Virginia Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
West Virginia has no state law against adult intimate deepfakes, but federal TAKE IT DOWN Act fills the gap. State law SB 198 (W.Va. Code §61-8C-12) criminalizes AI-generated CSAM with up to 10 years prison.
8 min read
West Virginia Defamation Laws: Libel & Slander (2026)
West Virginia defamation laws: the one-year statute of limitations (W. Va. Code 55-2-12), per se categories, and why the state has no anti-SLAPP law.
7 min read
West Virginia Divorce Laws (2026): Grounds, Residency, and Process
West Virginia divorce: two no-fault grounds (irreconcilable differences by mutual consent, or 1-year separation). No mandatory waiting period. Equitable distribution state.
6 min read
West Virginia Dog Bite Laws: Liability and Victim Rights
Learn West Virginia dog bite laws, including strict liability for dogs at large, the one-bite rule, statute of limitations, and victim compensation rights.
11 min read
West Virginia Drone Laws (2026): Privacy & Penalties
West Virginia has banned drone spying since 2018, expanded in 2023, under W. Va. Code Section 61-16-2. See the penalties and felony provisions.
8 min read
West Virginia DUI Laws: Penalties, BAC & License (2026)
West Virginia DUI laws: the 0.08% BAC limit, first-offense penalties under Code 17C-5-2, license revocation, the test and lock program, and expungement.
8 min read
West Virginia E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)
West Virginia has no e-scooter statute, confirmed by a zero-result search of the state code. Charleston has adopted its own local Motorized Scooter ordinance to fill the gap.
5 min read
West Virginia Emancipation Laws: How to Get Emancipated in West Virginia (2026)
Learn how West Virginia emancipation law works under W. Va. Code 49-4-115. A minor over 16 may petition circuit court; marriage also emancipates. Covers court process, notice, findings, rights, and FAFSA impact.
9 min read
West Virginia Employee Monitoring Laws: Workplace Surveillance and Social Media (2026)
West Virginia employee monitoring law explained: the social media password ban, the ban on surveillance in restrooms and locker rooms, and one-party consent recording.
11 min read
West Virginia Expungement Laws: W. Va. Code § 61-11-26 Explained
West Virginia expungement law allows misdemeanor and nonviolent felony convictions to be cleared under W. Va. Code § 61-11-26, expanded by SB 152 in 2019. Learn eligibility, waiting periods, and how to file.
6 min read
West Virginia GPS Tracking Laws: Is It Legal to Put a Tracker on a Car? (2026)
West Virginia has no GPS tracker statute, but its stalking law covers monitoring by any device. Penalties, the 61-3-50 myth, AirTags, and what to do.
10 min read
West Virginia Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do
Understand West Virginia's hit and run laws: legal obligations after an accident, penalties for leaving the scene, and steps to protect your rights.
7 min read
West Virginia Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026): Deposits, Entry, and Tenant Rights
West Virginia security deposit rules, 60-day return deadline, no fixed entry notice requirement, no repair-and-deduct, and no rent control. Updated 2026.
6 min read
West Virginia Landlord-Tenant Recording Laws: Rights and Rules
Learn West Virginia landlord-tenant recording laws. Tenant recording rights, landlord camera rules, security camera placement, and using recordings as evidence.
9 min read
West Virginia Laws on Recording in Public: What You Can and Cannot Do
Learn West Virginia public recording laws. Video and audio rules, government meeting recording rights, private property limits, and drone recording regulations.
10 min read
West Virginia Laws on Recording Police: Your Rights and Limits
Learn your rights to record police in West Virginia. First Amendment protections, one-party consent under W. Va. Code 62-1D-3, body cameras, and what to do if stopped.
11 min read
West Virginia Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights and HIPAA Guide
Learn West Virginia medical recording laws. Patient recording rights, HIPAA considerations, facility policies, telehealth recording, and malpractice evidence rules.
10 min read
West Virginia Phone Call Recording Laws: Rules and Consent Guide
Learn West Virginia phone call recording laws under W. Va. Code 62-1D-3. One-party consent rules, cross-state issues, business recording, and penalties explained.
13 min read
West Virginia Police Body Camera Laws: FOIA & Public Access
West Virginia has no bodycam-specific statute. See how W. Va. Code Chapter 29B (FOIA) governs footage access, response deadlines, and the Exline case.
7 min read
West Virginia Power of Attorney Laws: Durable, Medical, and Financial POA (2026)
West Virginia adopted the Uniform Power of Attorney Act (W. Va. Code Chapter 39B). A financial POA is durable by default and requires only notarization. Healthcare decisions require a separate medical POA under the Health Care Decisions Act (W. Va. Code Chapter 16-30) with two witnesses and notarization.
9 min read
West Virginia Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
West Virginia probate runs through the County Commission, not a separate court. Learn intestate succession, the $50,000 small estate limit, and more.
8 min read
West Virginia Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)
West Virginia deeds record through each County Clerk. Learn how to search mapwv.gov, find a property owner for free, and get a certified copy.
9 min read
West Virginia Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules
West Virginia is a one-party consent state under W. Va. Code § 62-1D-3(e). Learn the rules, felony penalties, civil remedies, and police-recording rights.
10 min read
West Virginia Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get a Protective Order
Learn how to get a West Virginia Protective Order under WV Code 48-27. Covers who qualifies, EPO and final order durations, free filing, firearms rules, and violation penalties.
6 min read
West Virginia Ring Doorbell Laws: What You Need to Know in 2026
West Virginia Ring doorbell laws explained: one-party consent rules, video surveillance limits, HOA restrictions, tenant rights, and penalties for illegal recording.
11 min read
West Virginia School Recording Laws: Security, Parents, and Students
Learn West Virginia school recording laws. Security cameras, parent recording rights, student device policies, IEP meeting recording, and FERPA privacy rules.
10 min read
West Virginia Security Camera Laws: Rules for Homes and Businesses
Learn West Virginia security camera laws for homes and businesses. Video surveillance rules, audio recording limits, privacy restrictions, and neighbor disputes.
10 min read
West Virginia Self-Defense Laws: Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine (2026)
West Virginia is a stand-your-ground state. W. Va. Code 55-7-22 removes the duty to retreat in the home and anywhere you are lawfully present. Learn the castle doctrine, deadly-force rules, and civil immunity.
9 min read
West Virginia Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
Learn about West Virginia sexting laws, the teen diversion program under W. Va. Code 61-8C-3b, child pornography penalties, and revenge porn charges in 2026.
8 min read
West Virginia Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability
West Virginia slip and fall law: open-and-obvious is a statutory bar (W. Va. Code 55-7-28), ice/snow no-duty rule, 2-year SOL, 30-day state notice, modified-51 negligence.
9 min read
West Virginia Smart Glasses Recording Laws
West Virginia is a one-party consent state under W. Va. Code § 62-1D-3. Learn when smart glasses recording is legal, the penalties, and voyeurism rules.
10 min read
West Virginia Social Security Disability: Rates & Waits
Social Security disability in West Virginia: no state SSI supplement, automatic Medicaid on SSI approval, initial approval odds, and ALJ hearing wait times.
7 min read
West Virginia Spousal Support (Alimony) Laws: How It Works (2026)
West Virginia spousal support laws explained: the four types, the 20 court factors under W. Va. Code 48-6-301, fault rules, termination on remarriage or death, and modification. Updated June 2026.
9 min read
West Virginia Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
West Virginia requires 10 years of adverse possession under W. Va. Code § 55-2-1. The 2024 Stop Squatters Act (HB 4940) makes squatting criminal trespass removable by arrest, not eviction.
7 min read
West Virginia Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type
West Virginia statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases. Filing deadlines for personal injury, contracts, wrongful death, and felonies with code sections.
10 min read
West Virginia Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
West Virginia surveillance camera laws cover home security, workplace monitoring, hidden cameras, audio recording consent, and drone rules. Learn the penalties.
16 min read
West Virginia Trade Secret Laws: UTSA, Remedies & Deadlines
West Virginia Uniform Trade Secrets Act (W. Va. Code §§ 47-22-1 to 47-22-10) covers misappropriation with a 3-year deadline. Learn the two-part test, available remedies, and how the federal DTSA applies in West Virginia.
8 min read
West Virginia Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
West Virginia may be holding unclaimed money in your name. Search the official state database and learn how to file a free claim with the Treasurer's Office.
7 min read