Up to $10,000 · 5 years to file.
A contractor who took your money, did poor work, or never finished. In West Virginia, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Magistrate Court, where you can sue for up to $10,000.
Your deadline: West Virginia generally gives you 5 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $75 (About $50–$75 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: W. Va. Code § 50-2-1; deadlines: W. Va. Code §§ 55-2-6, 55-2-12. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Written contract 10 yrs; oral contract 5; property damage and personal injury 2 yrs.
Suing for something else in West Virginia: West Virginia unpaid loan · West Virginia security deposit · West Virginia property damage · West Virginia unpaid rent.
Suing for contractor dispute in nearby states: Pennsylvania ($12,000, 4 years) · Ohio ($6,000, 6 years) · Kentucky ($2,500, 5 years) · Virginia ($5,000, 3 years) · Maryland ($5,000, 3 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026