State vital records · WHDHHR-HSC
West Virginia Vital Records Requirements
Fees, processing times, required documents, and who can request birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates in West Virginia — in one place.
West Virginia · 102 offices
At a glance
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources - Health Statistics Center (WHDHHR-HSC)
- Address
- 350 Capitol St Charleston, WV 25301
- Mailing
- Vital Registration Office 350 Capitol Street, Room 165 Charleston, WV 25301-3701
- Phone
- (304) 558-2931
- Website
- Official site ↗
- Hours
- 8:30AM - 5:00PM
West Virginia Birth Certificate
- Fee
- $12
- Additional copy
- $12
- Rush fee
- NA with mail-ins, $13.50 + shipping with vitalchek
- Processing time
- “can take five to 15 business days or one to three weeks” (total)
- Rush processing
- NA with mail-ins, not specified with online/vitalchek
- Public after
- 100 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandchildren
- Grandparents
- Great Grandchildren
- Great Grandparents
- In-Laws
- Legal Guardian
- Other Person of Interest
- Parents
- Person on Record
- Siblings
- Spouse
- Step-Parents
Required information
- Date of Birth
- Daytime Phone Number
- Father's Name
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Hospital of Birth
- Mailing Address
- Mother's Maiden Name
- Place of Birth
- Sex
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- Passport
- State Driver's License
- US Military ID
- Valid Government ID
Secondary ID
- Major Credit Card
- State Social Services ID
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
West Virginia Death Certificate
- Fee
- $12
- Additional copy
- $12
- Rush fee
- NA with mail-ins, $13.50 + shipping with vitalchek
- Processing time
- “can take five to 15 business days or one to three weeks” (total)
- Rush processing
- NA with mail-ins, not specified with online/vitalchek
- Public after
- 50 years
Who can request
- Children
- Grandparents
- Legal Guardian
- Parents
- Spouse
Required information
- Date of Death
- Daytime Phone Number
- Full Name of Person of Record
- Mailing Address
- Place of Death
- Sex
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- Passport
- State Driver's License
- US Military ID
- Valid Government ID
Secondary ID
- Major Credit Card
- State Social Services ID
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
West Virginia Marriage Certificate
- Fee
- $12
- Additional copy
- $12
- Rush fee
- NA with mail-ins, $13.50 + shipping with vitalchek
- Processing time
- “can take five to 15 business days or one to three weeks” (total)
- Rush processing
- NA with mail-ins, not specified with online/vitalchek
Who can request
- Children
- Grandchildren
- Legal Representative
- Other Person of Interest
- Person on Record
Required information
- Bride's Name Before Marriage
- Date of Marriage
- Groom Name
- Mailing Address
- Place where License Was Issued
- Your Name
- Your Relationship to the Person of Record
- Your Signature
Accepted ID
- Passport
- State Driver's License
- US Military ID
- Valid Government ID
Secondary ID
- Major Credit Card
- State Social Services ID
- Utility Bill
- Vehicle Registration
Don't want to visit in person? Order a West Virginia birth, death, or marriage certificate online through our partner, Vital Records Online.
Order online ↗Get a birth certificate by West Virginia county
Most West Virginia birth and death records are requested at the county level. Choose your county for local offices, fees, and how to order.
- Boone County birth certificate2
- Braxton County birth certificate2
- Brooke County birth certificate2
- Clay County birth certificate2
- Doddridge County birth certificate2
- Fayette County birth certificate2
- Gilmer County birth certificate2
- Grant County birth certificate2
- Greenbrier County birth certificate2
- Hampshire County birth certificate2
- Hancock County birth certificate2
- Hardy County birth certificate2
Apostille & authentication
- Office
- Secretary of State
- Phone
- 304-558-8000; 866-767-8683
- Mailing
- 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
- Walk-in
- Charleston Offices: West Virginia Secretary of State Business & Licensing Division 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East Bldg. 1, Ste. 157-K Charleston, WV 25305 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30a - 5:00p EST One-Stop Business Center 13 Kanawha Blvd. West Suite 201 Charleston, WV 25302 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30a - 5:00p EST Clarksburg Office: North Central WV Business Hub 153 West Main Street Suite G- Third Floor Clarksburg, WV 26301 Hours: Mon. -Fri. 9:00a - 5:00p EST Martinsburg Office: Eastern Panhandle Business Hub 229 E. Martin Street Martinsburg, WV 25401 Hours: Mon. -Fri. 9:00a - 5:00p EST Clarksburg Office: North Central WV Business Hub 153 West Main Street Suite G- Third Floor Clarksburg, WV 26301 Hours: Mon. -Fri. 9:00a - 5:00p EST
- Details
- • Documents must be originals or certified copies -- plain copies cannot be certified. • If a certified copy can be obtained from an officer in West Virginia (such as a birth, marriage or death certificate, deed, will, or license), a notary is not authorized to certify a copy. • A certified copy from a County Clerk, Circuit Clerk or Registrar must have an original signature of the clerk or a deputy and a raised impression seal. • A notarized document must include the proper notary affidavit (acknowledgment statement), the notary's original signature, and the notary's rubber stamp seal. A document with only the notary's signature and seal cannot be certified.
Public records: West Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Information is provided as guidance and may change — verify with the state office before applying.