Order West Virginia vital records online with Vital Records Online (VRO). VRO is a US-based service for secure and simple online ordering of birth, death, and marriage certificates. Rest assured—your personal information remains confidential, and your documents arrive safely.
Summary:
The history of vital records in West Virginia dates back to the establishment of the state’s primary Health Department – the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources – Health Statistics Center (WVDHHR-HSC). The DHHR-HSC has been responsible for maintaining and issuing birth, death, and marriage certificates since its inception.
The difference between public and confidential records is significant in West Virginia. Public records become accessible to the general public after a certain number of years following an individual’s death. However, until then, these records are kept confidential and protected by the local vital record offices.
It is crucial for individuals who need certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates to understand the process of obtaining vital records in West Virginia, why they are essential, and where to request them.
Start Your Application Online for WV Vital Records
Request a certified copy of live birth for your baby or child.
Obtain marriage records for yourself or a family member.
Get an original copy of a death certificate replacement for a lost record.
Vital records are crucial for various life events such as marriage, enrolling in school or the military, and traveling. They help to prove your identity, citizenship, and family relationships. Vital records can also help settle legal disputes, claim inheritances, and investigate family history, unveiling valuable information about our ancestors, including their full names, birth and death dates, and locations.
If you have lost any of these certificates, file a police report and request a certified replacement promptly. For more information on vital records and their uses, refer to the birth, death, and marriage certificate FAQs.
In West Virginia, vital records are kept at the county and state levels. You can request West Virginia birth, death, and marriage certificates online, in person, or via mail. The list below contains West Virginia’s county vital record issuing agencies, including locations, contact information, and access to online applications requesting birth, death, and marriage certificates.
West Virginia birth, marriage, and death certificates are issued centrally by the DHHR-HSC. However, many county offices also issue these certificates locally. The process for obtaining these certificates may differ by county, as only some counties offer in-person applications.
❗️If you’re seeking ancestral records for genealogy research in West Virginia, they are freely available from various public archives.
Visiting the Vital Records Office
Ordering Vital Records Online
Residents of West Virginia have three options to obtain vital records from the DHHR-HSC. They can make the request online, in person, or by mail. While some counties may offer local requests, this is not guaranteed across the state. Therefore, the most reliable and, in some circumstances, the best option is to request vital records online.
It is critical to understand the specific requirements for each type of vital record to ensure a straightforward process. The type of certificate you need and how you order it will impact the associated costs, eligibility, requirements, and processing times. Whether you request online, by mail, or in person, carefully review the steps and conditions before applying to request a certified copy from the DHHR-HSC.
Make sure to mail your completed application, payment, and required documents to the correct health department address that produces certified copies of your vital record.
Ordering West Virginia vital records online is quick and effortless and involves two simple steps:
(Choose additional options if you need to insure, expedite, or obtain premium customer support for your application.)
To apply for a West Virginia birth, death, or marriage certificate online, you must first meet the eligibility requirements as an authorized person. Preparing the required information and documents before starting the online application is necessary, as you will receive a prompt to upload copies during the secure online application process.
VRO created a simplified system to help you quickly generate the application with the required documents, ensuring your application avoids rejections due to common mistakes or missing documents. VRO submits your application packet to the correct health department’s vital records office, which issues the certified record. The entire application process can be completed in as little as five minutes from any device with an internet connection.
✔︎ Our $29 processing fee includes your automated document processing and first-class shipping & handling.
✔︎ Additional copies of your certified vital records can be purchased for the state’s fee during the online application to save future costs.
✔︎ Vital Records Online’s support team manages scanning and printing your application and documents. Learn more about how the online ordering and handling process works.
✔︎ A notarized sworn statement is not required when ordering a West Virginia birth, death, or marriage certificate online.
The West Virginia DHHR-HSC has a physical office where residents can obtain their vital record certificates in person. Those who live within a reasonable travel distance from the health department that created the original record can attempt an in-person request. Be mindful to confirm that the office is open and accepts walk-ins, and be prepared for potentially long lines upon arrival.
Applying via mail or online is generally more efficient than applying in person if the local vital records office is closed, does not accept in-person walk-ins, or is too far to travel. Ordering by mail or online also provides the convenience of avoiding travel difficulties for in-person requests and long queues.
The steps are generally the same whether you apply for vital records in person or by mail. If you choose to apply in person at the vital records office, prepare to complete the following steps:
Additionally, when ordering by mail, you will need the following:
Be aware that birth, death, and marriage certificates have unique requirements and eligibility for who is authorized to request a certified replacement. Vital Records Online simplifies the process, handles the documentation and shipping for you, and reduces the risk of errors that may result in a rejected application submission.
❗️ To avoid your application being denied due to mistakes or incomplete information, review the requirements for each vital record before mailing it.
❗️ Be certain that your documents, application, and payment are submitted to the correct health department that issues certified copies from the preserved original record.
❗️ If you mail your application and documents manually, it is recommended to purchase mail tracking to confirm their arrival at the correct office.
Reviewing the terms and requirements before starting the application process is essential.
Proof of Identity for Verifying Authorization:
When ordering certified copies of West Virginia vital records, you must provide proof of identity with an accepted form of identification.
The DHHR-HSC accepts driver’s licenses, state-issued photo IDs, or passports. Other photo IDs, such as student and employment IDs, are also accepted as primary identification. If you don’t have a valid primary form of identification, you must submit two secondary forms of identity accepted by the West Virginia DHHR-HSC. Refer to the table below for accepted IDs.
Expired DMV-issued driver’s licenses, permits, and US passports are accepted for up to 5 years after expiration. DMV-issued photo identification cards can be expired for up to 1 year. Other primary IDs, such as school IDs and military IDs, must be current/unexpired. If your ID has expired beyond the accepted time frames, you must submit two secondary IDs.
What Documents Are Required to Order Vital Records in West Virginia?
Birth, death, and marriage certificate replacement in West Virginia have unique requirements. You can confirm the criteria defined by the DHHR-HSC for each circumstance in the table below.
❗️ Without proper ID and a fully completed application, your request will be returned, causing considerable delays in processing your order.
What Information is Required to Apply for Vital Records in West Virginia?
When applying for a vital record in West Virginia, applicants must provide key identifying information related to the record type. This may include names, dates, locations, and other relevant details to ensure accurate identification and processing of the request.
Who can request vital records in West Virginia?
The person on record or eligible third parties can request certified copies of vital records with proof of identity. When ordering a certificate on behalf of someone else, confirm that you are authorized by reviewing the table below.
Third-party eligibility varies by certificate type but generally includes certain family members, legal representatives, and those who can prove a tangible and direct legal interest in the document. You may be asked for additional documentation proving your eligibility as a third-party applicant.
If your relationship with the individual doesn’t qualify you as an eligible applicant, obtaining a birth or marriage certificate is still possible. However, you must have an eligible individual sign the DHHR-HSC’s permission slip and provide a clear copy of their ID.
✔︎ If you can provide documentation of legal interest or hold a Power of Attorney from the person on record, you are eligible to request the vital record.
Do I need a notary with my application?
Notarizations are generally not required when requesting certified copies of West Virginia birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificates, whether requested in person, online, or by mail. Notarized statements are also not necessary for third-party applicants.
The West Virginia DHHR-HSC only requires notarizations when requesting an amendment to a vital record. For more information, see the amendments section in the FAQs below or visit the DHHR-HSC’s website at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/vital-records/.
❗️ A notary is generally not required to obtain authorized copies of West Virginia vital records. A photocopy of your ID is sufficient to verify your identity.
The total cost of replacing your vital records will depend on how you submit your request and the DHHR-HSC’s fees for each type of certificate. When requesting birth, marriage, divorce, or death records through Vital Records Online, the online Application Filing Service starts at $29. The DHHR-HSC charges a fee of $12.00 per certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate.
✔︎ Additional copies can be requested during the same order to save future costs in case your vital records are lost, destroyed, or stolen.
VitalRecordsOnline.com processing fee is $29.
How long will it take to receive my vital records from West Virginia?
The order method and type of certificate requested can affect how long it takes to receive your certificate. The table below contains the current processing and delivery times stated by the DHHR-HSC for birth, death, or marriage certificates. The time frames are subject to change depending on the number of requests received.
VRO facilitates expediting and submitting your application and documents to reduce the total time it takes to receive your certified copies in the mail.
❗️ The processing and replacement duration of birth, death, or marriage certificates by DHHR-HSC may increase based on a high volume backlog of orders.
❗️ A simple error, typo, or missing document can cause wait times to double, repeat shipping costs, or expose personal information.
Once you submit your application through VRO, you can view the order status to monitor your progress and track the packet to the DHHR-HSC with the first-class prepaid mail service included with each order.
If you manually send your documents to the health department, remember to purchase first-class mail tracking to know when your application has been delivered. The DHHR-HSC ships all vital records securely using first-class mail services but is not held responsible for any lost or misdirected certificates.
If your birth certificate is lost, immediately file a police report. A simple mistake could expose your personal information if your documents are sent to the wrong address.
❓ Find more frequently asked questions below the West Virginia counties office locations directory.
An apostille is commonly required when a vital record is submitted to a foreign government. The West Virginia Secretary of State issues apostilles for vital record certificates initially recorded by the DHHR-HSC.
How can I get an apostille for a vital record?
You can obtain an apostille for a West Virginia vital record certificate through the Secretary of State or Vital Records Online. VRO offers legally valid apostille services across all 50 US states, acknowledged by governments and organizations in over 100 countries.
Starting at $149 (plus government fees), VRO provides professional assistance throughout the process of obtaining apostilles for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in just three steps.
Providing physical copies of your documents isn’t necessary in most situations, so the entire procedure can be completed online. Once your apostille documentation is ready, it will be shipped via FedEx or DHL with global delivery, so you will receive your apostille safely, regardless of whether you live in the US or abroad.
You will need to provide the following information:
❗️ If the order includes multiple documents certified by the same public official, the first document to be certified by one official is $10, and all additional documents are $5 each.
You can submit requests for vital record apostilles to the Secretary of State at the following addresses:
For standard mail or express shipping (UPS, DHL, or Federal Express), submit the request to one of the following addresses:
Charleston Offices:
West Virginia Secretary of State Business & Licensing Division,
1900 Kanawha Blvd. East Bldg. 1, Ste. 157-K,
Charleston, WV 25305
One-Stop Business Center,
13 Kanawha Blvd. West Suite 201,
Charleston, WV 25302
Clarksburg Office:
North Central WV Business Hub,
153 West Main Street, Suite G- Third Floor,
Clarksburg, WV 26301
Martinsburg Office:
Eastern Panhandle Business Hub 229 E. Martin Street,
Martinsburg, WV 25401
You can reach the office at 304-558-8000, 866-767-8683 or online at https://sos.wv.gov/business/Pages/AuthDocs.aspx
The DHHR-HSC offers a simple procedure to correct or amend birth, marriage, or death certificates. The required affidavit and documentation will vary depending on the type of certificate and the correction needed. It is mandatory to sign all affidavits in the presence of a notary.
Any amendments made to a vital record become addendums to the certificate. However, no entity can alter the original record.
Correcting or amending vital records usually will require the following:
Learn more about correcting or amending birth, death, and marriage certificates.
Where can I search for free public records?
Accessing free public records can be difficult, but many WV vital records are freely and readily available to the public. In West Virginia, birth certificates are made public after 100 years, while death and marriage certificates are made public after 50 years.
You can utilize West Virginia’s archives to search birth, marriage, and divorce records for the information you want, but be prepared to spend substantial time browsing records.
Are West Virginia Vital Records Open to the Public?
Many state records in West Virginia are available to the public; however, the access depends on the vital record type and the year the record was initially created.
Third-party websites can be helpful reference points when researching specific vital records, as they are not limited to your geographic location. However, it’s important to note that the data on these sites can differ from official government records.
To find a record on a third-party website, you must provide the following information:
Each county and municipality in West Virginia can have distinct vital record certificates. You can check what the documents look like in the county where yours was recorded to ensure you have an official certified copy.
If your certificate has a stamp or large print across the face of the document that reads “Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity” or something similar, it is an informational copy, not an official, certified copy.
Authorized Copy:
Authorized copies are certified, legal documents that, unlike informational copies, can be used for official identification in legal matters such as obtaining a passport. The certificates are only issued to individuals with a “direct and tangible interest” in the document.
Informational Copy:
Many states offer Informational copies of birth or marriage certificates, which can include short-form, unofficial (non-certified), “heirloom,” and “commemorative” certificates. These certificates are intended only for display, personal reference, or genealogical research copies. They cannot be used for official purposes like establishing identity, obtaining a passport, or proving eligibility for benefits.
Informational copies are typically not official legal documents, although some states offer certified heirloom certificates. Uncertified (informational) certificates are usually easier to obtain than traditional certified copies; in many states, neither an ID nor a notary is required to obtain one. In compliance with the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, citizens have the right to inspect or obtain copies of public records.
Find more references regarding birth, death, and marriage certificates in the resources section.
Visit the official West Virginia government website at https://dhhr.wv.gov/HSC/VR/CR/Pages/default.aspx
