West Virginia Post-Judgment Interest Rate 2026 — How to Calculate It

Every unpaid West Virginia judgment accrues interest from the date of entry until it's fully satisfied. For 2026, that rate is 6.25% per year — and every dollar of accrued interest is recoverable from the debtor on top of the original judgment amount.

How the Rate Is Set

Under W. Va. Code § 56-6-31, the post-judgment interest rate is calculated each January by the Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals. The formula: take the Fifth Federal Reserve District secondary discount rate on January 2 and add two percentage points, subject to a floor of 4% and a ceiling of 9%.

On January 2, 2026, the Richmond Federal Reserve's secondary discount rate was 4.25%. Adding two points gives 6.25%, which falls within the statutory floor and ceiling — so 6.25% is the official rate for all West Virginia judgments accruing interest in 2026.

Calculating Daily Interest

West Virginia uses simple interest, not compound. The daily calculation:

Daily interest = (Principal balance × Annual rate) ÷ 365

For a $5,000 judgment at 6.25%:

• Daily interest: $5,000 × 0.0625 ÷ 365 = $0.8562 per day
• After 6 months (181 days): $0.8562 × 181 = $154.97 in accrued interest

The interest accrues on the unpaid principal — not on previously accrued interest and not on court costs.

How Partial Payments Apply

When the debtor makes a partial payment, West Virginia follows standard legal accounting rules. Payments are applied in this order:

1. Accrued interest (first priority)
2. Court costs (filing fees, service fees, writ fees)
3. Judgment principal (last)

This matters because the interest keeps running on whatever principal remains unpaid. A $1,000 payment on a $5,000 judgment doesn't reduce the principal by $1,000 — it first wipes out accumulated interest and costs, and only the remainder touches the principal.

A Worked Example

Judgment: $5,000 entered January 15, 2026, with $70 in court costs and a $5 writ fee.

After 181 days, the debtor pays $1,000:

• Accrued interest: $154.97
• Outstanding costs: $75.00
• Payment applied to interest: −$154.97
• Payment applied to costs: −$75.00
• Remaining payment to principal: $770.03
• New principal balance: $4,229.97

From that point, daily interest drops to $4,229.97 × 0.0625 ÷ 365 = $0.7243 per day.

Tracking the Balance

Keep a running ledger of every payment received, showing the date, amount, and how it was allocated. The debtor is entitled to an accurate accounting, and you need clear records if you return to court for additional enforcement.

The complete judgment collection guide includes a Post-Judgment Interest Calculator worksheet with the 2026 rate pre-filled, plus a payment tracking ledger that handles the allocation math automatically.

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