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Money disputes up to $20,000 are settled in the Putnam County small-claims court, which runs on simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
Here you will find the claim limit that applies in Putnam County, what filing costs, where the case is heard, how the defendant is served, the deadlines, and the order of steps. Squabble can take the preparation and filing off your hands.
These cases are heard at the single courthouse below. Putnam County confirms the venue from the defendant's address or where the events happened.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Confirm the courthouse before you file. The court's own small-claims page carries its current filing location and hours, and Squabble confirms the courthouse for your case when you file.
About 57,067 people live in Putnam County. Putnam County Magistrate Court, in Winfield, is the courthouse listed for Putnam County.
This court takes small-claims filings on paper, in person or by mail. Squabble prepares everything so your packet arrives filing-ready.
Small claims are heard at the courthouse, in person.
Bring copies of your evidence for the judge and the other side; some courts also accept electronic submission ahead of the hearing.
Residents of Putnam County, West Virginia, who wish to file a small claims case do so through the West Virginia Magistrate Court system, which handles claims of up to $20,000. The Putnam County Magistrate Court is located at 12093 Winfield Road Suite 15 in Winfield, 25213, and can be reached at (304) 586-0234 or (304) 586-0270. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Electronic filing is not available, so filings are handled at the courthouse. The county has a population of 57,067 and includes the communities of Hurricane, Poca, Eleanor, Buffalo, Bancroft, Scott Depot, Teays, Red House, Liberty, Hometown, Fraziers Bottom, and Winfield, along with ZIP codes such as 25526, 25159, 25070, and 25560. Putnam County lies near Mason County, Kanawha County, and Cabell County, each of which has its own magistrate court within the same statewide system.
Putnam County covers these 12 towns and cities:
Bancroft, Buffalo, Eleanor, Fraziers Bottom, Hometown, Hurricane, Liberty, Poca, Red House, Scott Depot, Teays, Winfield.
ZIP codes:
Of West Virginia's 55 counties, Putnam County is 10th by population at roughly 57,067 people. Putnam County Magistrate Court sits about 9 miles from the Kanawha County courthouse in Charleston and 15 miles from the Cabell County courthouse in Huntington.
Counties nearest to this one:
Small claims is the court's track for everyday money disputes: simplified rules, and limits on how much you can sue for.
Maximum claim
Two venues are usually open: where events took place, or where the other side is based.
Courts do not allow one dispute to be filed as several in order to beat the maximum.
What this court awards is a sum of money, not an instruction to act or to hand something back.
West Virginia allows attorneys at the hearing, but none is required. The procedures are designed for self-representation.
Minors take part through a guardian appointed by the court.
Over the limit? Claims over the cap can go two ways: cut to the limit and stay, or move to regular civil court at full value. Cutting it normally waives the excess.
These are the limits for Putnam County, population about 57,067. Putnam County Magistrate Court is the courthouse listed for Putnam County.
Debts up to $20,000 belong in this court. These are the arguments people bring most frequently.
Putnam County has about 57,067 residents. Putnam County Magistrate Court is the Putnam County courthouse listed below.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Write up what is owed on the claim form, select the courthouse, and settle the filing fee.
Papers are delivered to the defendant, who may answer them or settle the matter first.
The hearing is informal and quick, sometimes by video, and the judge decides on the spot or sends the outcome later.
Putnam County Magistrate Court publishes its counter hours; they are listed on this page. This is the route a Putnam County case takes, whether it starts in 25011 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes.
A filed case still has to reach the defendant. Formal notice, known as service of process, does that, and delivering it personally is generally not allowed.
Courts accept service by a sheriff or constable, a professional server, the clerk via certified mail, or an adult who is not party to the case. Permitted methods and charges change by county.
Each court sets how far before the hearing the defendant must be served. The clerk confirms your deadline when the hearing date is set.
After delivery, the server fills out a proof of service, and that goes on the court file before the hearing.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
Addresses in Putnam County include places such as Bancroft, Buffalo and Eleanor. Mason County and Kanawha County are the counties nearest to Putnam County.
A claim has to be filed inside a set period that starts when the dispute arose. After that point the court may decline to hear it.
| What the claim is about | How long you have |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 10 years |
| Oral contract | 5 years |
| Property damage | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
The same periods apply in Putnam County as in nearby Mason County and Kanawha County, which are in the same state. Putnam County, population about 57,067, is covered by the table above.
In West Virginia, prejudgment interest follows a statutory formula rather than a fixed rate (W. Va. Code §56-6-31).
Interest can be calculated before filing using the Squabble interest calculator.
Putnam County is under the same state rate as nearby Mason County and Kanawha County. The rate above is the one for Putnam County, population about 57,067.
Make sure the claim is under the maximum and that the limitation period has not expired.
Get the defendant's legal name right, set out the events, and break down how the figure is reached.
File with the Putnam County small-claims court on paper, by mail or at the counter, and pay the $25–$50 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
Service comes after the date is set. File the server's proof once the papers have been delivered.
Arrange your evidence and number the exhibits so nothing has to be searched for on the day.
Attend the hearing, in person or by video if that is offered, make your case, and receive the outcome.
Describe the dispute to Eleanor. Squabble drafts the paperwork, puts it through a Triple-Check™ for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and lodges it with the court.
Start for FREE →A claim form opens the case, a proof of service records that notice was given, and a fee waiver applies where you qualify. Titles differ between courts, and Squabble uses the ones your courthouse expects.
Bancroft, Buffalo and Eleanor are among the places in Putnam County that filings come from. Putnam County takes in filings from 12 ZIP codes, 25011 first in the list.
The hearing is brief and informal. The judge asks the questions, and most people speak for themselves.
Putnam County has about 57,067 residents. Bancroft, Buffalo and Eleanor are among the Putnam County places a hearing can draw parties from.
Winning and being paid are two different things. The judgment records what is owed; collecting it is its own process, backed by court remedies that vary from state to state.
Where the law allows, an employer can be directed to send part of the debtor's pay to the court.
A court-ordered levy allows funds to be taken from the debtor's bank account.
Registering the judgment at county level can fix a lien on real estate the debtor holds.
You can also ask the court to order the debtor to appear and disclose income and assets under oath. An unpaid judgment generally keeps accruing interest at the rate state law sets until it's satisfied.
Mason County and Kanawha County are the counties nearest to Putnam County. The judgment in a Putnam County case comes from Putnam County Magistrate Court in Winfield.
Last checked in August 2026. Court fees, limits and procedures move; verify them with the court first.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Putnam County case for you.
