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WEST VIRIGINA JUDICIARY
VIEWING PDF FORMS / FILES

Almost all forms / files available within the West Virginia Judiciary website are provided in Adobe Acrobat format (.pdf). While most web browsers have a PDF Viewer (add-in) for the files. The add-in does not provide the full functionality needed for some of the fillable forms throughout the West Virginia Judiciary website.  (Some forms will open with a 'Please wait...' message across the web browser window.)  It is therefore suggested that the form / file be downloaded to the computer or mobile device. Once the form / file is downloaded it requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing, which is a free application (see links below). 

For desktop/laptop computers: 

For mobile devices: 

TWO METHODS TO DOWNLOAD A PDF FORM / FILE

  1.  Save / Download an individual .pdf form / file; or
  2.  Change the web browser settings to always download .pdf forms / files

SAVE / DOWNLOAD A INDIVIDUAL .PDF

NOTE:  Remember to always visit this site and download the latest form / file to ensure accuracy.

Microsoft Windows
  1.  On the web page, hover the cursor over the PDF form / file link and Right Click
  2.  Click 'Save link as...'
  3.  Browse to a location to save the PDF form / file.
  4.  Click the Save button.
  5.  Go the saved in location.
  6.  Double click on the PDF document or form.

NOTE: If the .pdf form / file still opens in the web browser and not Acrobat Reader, then go to the default viewer instructions below.

Mac / Apple Users
  1.  Ensure Adobe Acrobat Reader is the default PDF viewer for the computer.
  2.  There is no guarantee that the MAC preview will properly render the PDF document or form.

CHANGE THE WEB BROWSER TO ALWAYS DOWNLOAD .PDF FILES / FORMS

The second method to download .pdf forms / files to the computer/mobile device is to change the web browser settings so that it always downloads .pdfs.

Microsoft Edge
  1.  Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser window.
  2.  Click Settings.
  3.  Click Cookies and Site Permissions.
  4.  Click PDF Documents.
  5.  Click the radio button to enable Always Download PDF files.

Google Chrome
  1.  Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser window.
  2.  Click Settings.
  3.  Click Privacy and Security.
  4.  Click Site Settings.
  5.  Click Additional Content Settings.
  6.  Click PDF Documents.
  7.  Click the radio button for Download PDFs.

 

Mozilla Firefox
  1.  Click the three dashes in the upper right corner of the browser window.
  2.  Click Settings.
  3.  Scroll down to Applications.
  4.  Look for Content Type: Portable Document Format (PDF).
  5.  In the Action menu, Click the dropdown list and choose Save File.
Apple Safari
  1.  Go to the menu bar.
  2.  Click on the General icon.
  3.  Check the Open 'Safe' Files after downloading.

SET ADOBE ACROBAT READER AS DEFAULT PDF VIEWER

Now that you have the document or form downloaded, you may still receive a 'Please wait...' message. This is due to the desktop/laptop having the default PDF viewer set to the web browser instead of Adobe Acrobat Reader. To change the default PDF viewer follow the below instructions:

Microsoft Windows

To change how all .pdfs are viewed:

  1.  Go to the .pdf file / form that you recently downloaded.
  2.  Hover the mouse cursor over the document name and Right Click.
  3. Click 'Open With'.
  4. Click 'Choose another app'.
  5.  Click on 'Adobe Acrobat Reader'.
  6.  Click 'Always use this app to open .pdf files'.
  7.  Click Ok.

 

To view an individual .pdf:

  1. Go to the .pdf form / file that you recently downloaded
  2. Hover the mouse cursor over the document and Right Click.
  3. Click 'Open with'
  4. Click 'Adobe Acrobat Reader'

 

Mac / Apple
  1.  Go to the document or form that you recently downloaded.
  2.  Hover the mouse cursor over the document name and Right Click.
  3.  Click Get Info.
  4.  Click Open With.
  5.  Select Adobe Acrobat Reader from the dropdown list.