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New River Gorge Bridge seen from Fayette Station Road, West Virginia

West Virginia · 38 communities

Private Investigators in West Virginia by City

Choose your community to see which courts hear local cases, how West Virginia licenses investigators and how to request a match with a vetted, licensed investigator within our network who works that county.

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Licensing

How West Virginia Licenses Private Investigators

West Virginia regulates investigators under W. Va. Code Chapter 30, Article 18. The Secretary of State's office issues the licenses. An individual who investigates for pay needs a private investigator license, and a business that provides investigators needs a private investigation firm license. Security guard licenses are a separate category, and combined licenses cover both kinds of work. Some activities are exempt under the law.

For a client, the check is straightforward. The Secretary of State's online Licensing Search lets you pick Private Investigator as the license type and search by person, business name, licensee ID or county. Confirm both the individual and the firm, and make sure the firm on the license matches the one on your contract. If anyone claims an exemption, ask which one applies.

Courts

How West Virginia Courts Are Organized

West Virginia's general-jurisdiction trial courts are the circuit courts, organized into judicial circuits that cover one or more of the state's 55 counties. They hear felonies, larger civil cases and appeals from lower courts. Family courts, organized into family court circuits, hear divorce, custody and support cases. Magistrate courts in every county handle misdemeanors, smaller civil claims and preliminary matters. An Intermediate Court of Appeals now hears many appeals from circuit and family courts.

Communities

West Virginia Communities With a Private Investigator Page

Every West Virginia community over 3,000 residents, by population (U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2024 estimates (Vintage 2024)).

CommunityCountyPopulation (2024 est.)
CharlestonKanawha County46,482
HuntingtonCabell County / Wayne County44,942
MorgantownMonongalia County30,490
ParkersburgWood County28,834
WheelingOhio County / Marshall County26,060
MartinsburgBerkeley County19,047
WeirtonHancock County / Brooke County18,317
FairmontMarion County18,063
BeckleyRaleigh County16,515
ClarksburgHarrison County15,262
South CharlestonKanawha County13,177
ViennaWood County10,406
St. AlbansKanawha County10,301
BridgeportHarrison County9,397
BluefieldMercer County9,157
CharlesJefferson County8,869
Oak HillFayette County7,732
MoundsvilleMarshall County7,703
DunbarKanawha County7,111
HurricanePutnam County6,813
ElkinsRandolph County6,698
NitroKanawha County / Putnam County6,366
RansonJefferson County6,035
PrincetonMercer County5,595
BuckhannonUpshur County5,049
New MartinsvilleWetzel County5,038
KeyserMineral County4,802
GraftonTaylor County4,575
BarboursvilleCabell County4,326
WestoverMonongalia County4,088
Point PleasantMason County3,886
RavenswoodJackson County3,821
LewisburgGreenbrier County3,765
WestonLewis County3,758
Pleasant ValleyMarion County3,470
WelchMcDowell County3,413
SummersvilleNicholas County3,326
RipleyJackson County3,067

Read the full West Virginia investigator guide

Neighboring states: Kentucky · Maryland · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Virginia

How this service works

Investigator Consulting in West Virginia

Delator Group is a private investigation firm licensed in Tennessee and headquartered in Nashville. In West Virginia, Delator Group is not licensed as a private investigator or private investigative agency and does not perform, supervise or direct investigations. We review requests and refer them to independent investigators who hold the license West Virginia requires. Those investigators contract with clients directly, set their own fees and are responsible for the work. Delator Group may receive compensation from participating investigators for referrals.

FAQ

Questions About Finding an Investigator in West Virginia

Which West Virginia communities have their own page?

Every incorporated West Virginia city, town or village with more than 3,000 residents, plus every township or town government of that size, has its own page here, 38 in all. Smaller places are covered by the nearest page and the statewide guide.

Is Delator Group licensed in West Virginia?

No. In West Virginia, Delator Group provides investigator consulting and referral only. Investigations are performed by independently licensed West Virginia investigators who contract with you directly.

Who licenses private investigators in West Virginia?

The West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division, under W. Va. Code Chapter 30, Article 18. Individuals need a private investigator license from the Secretary of State, and businesses that provide investigators need a private investigation firm license.

How do I check an investigator's West Virginia license?

Use the Secretary of State's online Licensing Search, choose the Private Investigator type and search by name, business name or licensee ID.

Is West Virginia a one-party or two-party consent state?

West Virginia is generally a one-party consent state. W. Va. Code Section 62-1D-3(e) allows a participant, or someone with a participant's prior consent, to record a conversation, unless the purpose is criminal or tortious. Recording a conversation no participant agreed to can be a felony. An attorney can confirm the details for your situation.