West Virginia

Keep your home address private

The Address Confidentiality Program, run by the West Virginia Secretary of State, gives participants a substitute address to use with state and local agencies. It forwards first-class mail to participants at no charge. Packages and magazines are not forwarded.¹

• All state and local government agencies and West Virginia courts must accept the program address, with some exceptions.¹
• It is for West Virginia residents (or people about to move there) who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking. They must have moved in the last 30 days, or plan to move soon, to an address the offender does not know.¹
• You apply in person at a local domestic violence, sexual assault, or victim service program, with a trained application assistant.¹

Go to the Address Confidentiality Program (sos.wv.gov)

Help for victims of crime

The West Virginia Crime Victims Compensation Fund helps eligible victims of crime who were injured with certain out-of-pocket costs. It is part of the Legislative Claims Commission. The program decides who qualifies.²

Go to the Crime Victims Compensation Fund (wvlegislature.gov)

Find a lawyer

This site does not give legal advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed West Virginia lawyer.

• The West Virginia State Bar points people to a Lawyer Referral Service, where you can find a lawyer taking new cases in a practice area near you.³
• If you have a low income, you may be able to get free legal help. The State Bar points people to Legal Aid of West Virginia, and to West Virginia Free Legal Answers, where volunteer lawyers answer legal questions online for eligible users.³

Find a lawyer referral service (wvlawyerreferral.org)

Find free legal aid (legalaidwv.org)