Rule 1 Application of rules

These rules cover how civil cases work in West Virginia's magistrate courts. Magistrate courts handle smaller civil disputes, and these rules explain the steps both sides need to follow when they have a case there.

For the most part, these rules work alongside the existing state laws found in Chapter 50 of the West Virginia Code. But in some specific situations, these rules actually replace those laws instead of just adding to them. So if there's ever a conflict, the rules will spell out which one wins in that particular instance.

The main goal behind all of this is simple: to help people resolve their cases fairly, quickly, and without spending a lot of money. Magistrate court is often meant to be a faster, cheaper option than higher courts, and these rules are designed to keep it that way.