West Virginia law
Commercial Litigation Laws in West Virginia.
West Virginia commercial litigation proceeds in the Circuit Courts of the appropriate county, with complex commercial disputes eligible for referral to the Business Court Division under Trial Court Rule 29. The U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia handle federal commercial disputes. West Virginia's Intermediate Court of Appeals (effective July 2022) now handles most appeals from Circuit Court in commercial cases, with discretionary review in the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Written-contract claims are subject to a 10-year limitation (W. Va. Code § 55-2-6); oral-contract claims, 5 years.
Last verified: 2026-04-20
State law
Statute of Limitations
Written-contract claims are subject to a 10-year limitation — one of the longest in the United States. Oral-contract claims, 5 years. UCC Article 2 sales-of-goods claims, 4 years from tender of delivery.
State law
Key West Virginia Statutes
10-year limitation for written-contract claims; 5-year limitation for oral contracts — among the longest contract-limitation periods in the United States.
West Virginia's specialized business-court docket — hears complex commercial cases meeting statutory thresholds.
West Virginia's broadly remedial consumer-protection statute — one of the most plaintiff-friendly in the United States, with a private right of action, actual damages, civil penalties, and attorneys' fees.
State law
Official Sources
Not Legal Advice
This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in West Virginia.
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