Civil procedure includes the procedures and rules that govern civil (non-criminal) litigation in state and federal courts. Many states have rules of civil procedure written by the state supreme court, for example, and other states include their rules of procedure in state statutes enacted by the state legislature.
In West Virginia (WV), civil procedure is governed by the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure, which are promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. These rules outline the procedures and guidelines for conducting civil litigation in the state's circuit courts. They cover various aspects of the legal process, including filing complaints, serving documents, conducting discovery, trial procedures, and appeals. Additionally, the state legislature may enact statutes that affect civil procedure, but the primary source of procedural rules in civil cases is the set of rules established by the state's highest court. For federal cases, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure apply to civil litigation in the United States District Courts located in West Virginia.