Ritchie County Recorder Information

Land records in Ritchie County are recorded by the County Clerk. The office is held by Angela Hardbarger.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: W. Va. Code §39-1-2a · Ritchie County Clerk Fee Schedule

These government fees are separate from any Deeds.com service fees. Confirm current charges with the recorder's office.

Added at recording

Other charges

Fee schedule effective July 1, 2025.

StatewideA page is a paper or electronic writing of not more than legal size, 8 1/2" x 14". A trustee's report of sale under §38-1-8a is $40. A plat or map with no deed of conveyance is $10; a financing, continuation, termination or other chapter 46 statement is $10; a service discharge record is recorded at no charge. Copies are $1.50 for a copy of any writing or document, plus $1 for each additional page if it contains more than two pages. Where the clerk can receive documents electronically, the clerk sets a reasonable fee not to exceed the cost for filing paper documents. The recording fees shown include the $2 records management fee the clerk charges on every document of fewer than 20 pages (W. Va. Code 5A-8-15(h)); a longer document adds $1 for each further 10 pages. The statutory fee alone is $30 for a deed or deed of trust and $10 for other documents (59-1-10).

The clerk's schedule lists a Trustee's Report of Sale (disclosure form required) at $42.00 plus $1.00 per additional page; a plat or map without a deed of conveyance at $12.00 with no preservation fee; a church trustee's appointment at $3.00; an appointment of executor/administrator/trustee at $17.00; and certified copies at $2.50 for the first 2 pages plus $1.00 each additional page. The schedule's document preservation fee column reads: up thru 19 pages; for pages 20+ add $1/10pgs (WV Code 5A-8-15).

Transfer tax

Excise tax on privilege of transferring real property. $1.10 for each $500 value or fraction thereof as represented by the document. The tax is collected when the document is recorded. (statewide, W. Va. Code §11-22-2(a))

StatewideBeginning July 1, 2025, the excise tax under §11-22-2(a) is a county excise tax retained by the county where collected. Counties also levy an additional county excise tax under §11-22-2(b) at 55 cents for each $500 value or fraction thereof, which a county commission may increase to not more than $1.65 for each $500 value; rates therefore vary by county. Only one state tax and one county tax are paid on any one document, collected in the county where it is first admitted to record. Each taxable instrument must carry a declaration of consideration or value (§11-22-6).

The Ritchie County Clerk's fee schedule lists Property Transfer Tax Stamps @ $4.40 per $1,000 over $100 value, for each $500's value, with a Declaration of Consideration of Value and Sales Listing Form required.

Checked October 2026 against official publications. Sources: W. Va. Code §59-1-10 · W. Va. Code §11-22-2 · Ritchie County Clerk Fee Schedule

Confirm current requirements with the recorder's office before submitting documents.

Leave a 2 1/2 inch margin at the top right hand corner of the first page for validation.

StatewideThe name of the person who, and governmental agency, if any, which, prepared an instrument conveying, encumbering or assigning real or personal property must appear at the conclusion of the instrument, printed, typewritten, stamped, or signed legibly. An instrument securing a debt must state who is the beneficial owner of the debt and where he resides. A quitclaim deed without consideration, or a deed of property valued at $100 or less on which no excise tax is paid, must be signed and acknowledged by the grantee, except transfer on death deeds and listed family transfers. Survey documents must bear the licensed surveyor's signature and seal or stamp.

Forms filed along with a transfer

• Sales Listing Form (STC 12:39) Statewide West Virginia State Tax Commissioner
  Tendered with any document subject to the excise tax, with or without stamps affixed
• Declaration of Consideration or Value Statewide County Clerk (statutory form)
  Appended on the face or at the end of each instrument subject to the excise tax

Checked September 2026 against official publications. Sources: W. Va. Code §39-1-2a · W. Va. Code §59-1-10 · W. Va. Code §39-1-2 · W. Va. Code §11-22-6 · Ritchie County Clerk's Office