West Virginia Marriage, Death, Birth Records

PLEASE READ!! In terms of obtaining vital records from the State Vital Records Office, West Virginia is not an "open record" state. Access to certified copies of birth certificates is restricted to persons with a legal right to the certificate, i.e: The registrant, Mother or father, Legal guardian, Registrant's spouse, Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., of the registrant, Brother or sister of the registrant, Mother-in-law / father-in-law of registrant, Son-in-law / daughter-in-law of registrant or Grandparents and great-grandparents of the registrant.

Since all but five of West Virginia's counties were formed before 20 June 1863 when Congress officially admitted it as a sovereign state, counties in existence prior to statehood were governed by the same laws as other Virginia counties, including the requirement to register births and marriages in 1853. While Virginia counties stopped recording births and deaths in 1896, West Virginia continued to do so until about 1900. Some county records extend beyond 1900. Statewide registration began 1 January 1917, although fire destroyed many 1917–21 records. Early records, 1853 to 1900, have been microfilmed and are available at the Archives and History Library in Charleston, the Virginia State Library (see Virginia), and the FHL. Certified copies of records from 1 January 1917 are available for a fee from West Virginia State Health Department, Division of Vital Statistics, Charleston, West Virginia 25305. The office accepts Visa or MasterCard charges as payment for requests made by phone. There is an additional fee including postal costs for this service. The Archives and History Library in Charleston has death certificates for 1917 to 1951 and delayed birth records from the 1880s to 1916.

Early Virginia law required church officials to record all marriages in registers. Most of the registers compiled in response to that law have not survived. Ministers were not required to forward a copy of the marriage entry to civil authorities until 1780. That requirement ended in 1853 when state law required county clerks to issue marriage licenses and keep marriage registers. Before a license was issued, the parties to be married had to fill out a form with the following information: full names, ages, places of birth and residence, proposed marriage date and place, marital status (widowed or single), parents' names, groom's occupation, and minister's name. After the marriage was performed, the minister returned the information to the clerk who recorded it in a marriage register with the date of the ceremony.

The FHL has filmed all early West Virginia county marriage records. Some early marriage records have been published and may be found in genealogical and local libraries with substantial genealogy collections. The West Virginia Division of Vital Statistics has marriage records from 1 January 1964, but a centralized index dates back to 1921. Send requests and fees to the address listed above.

County circuit court divorce records can be obtained from the clerk of the court at the county seat.

Choose A County in West Virginia

Vital Records, 350 Capitol St, Rm 165, Charleston, WV 25301-3701, Please allow up to approximately 2-3 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

• Birth & Death Certificates: Birth & Death records are maintained by West Virginia State Vital Records Office since Jan 1917 through the present. For earlier records, write to the Clerk of County Court in the county where the birth occurred. Fees vary.
  • Cost: There is a non refundable $10.00 search fee, which entitles the applicant to one certified copy of the birth certificate. The search fee covers a three year search that consists of the year specified, the year before, and the year after the year specified. Additional copies are also $10.00 each. If no record is found, a "No Record" letter will be mailed to the applicant informing them that no record is on file for the requested certificate. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Processing Time: 2-3 weeks when ordered by mail (Birth / Death) or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE
• Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage Verifications since 1921 and Divorce Verifications since 1968. Certified copies of marriage licenses or divorce decrees are only available from the county clerk in the county in which the event occurred.
  • Cost: Fees vary

Order In Person:  The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office.   If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00 Eastern Time except for official holidays. The West Virginia Vital Records Office is located at Room 165, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301-3701; Phone: 304-558-9100. Map 1, Map 2
Order By Mail:  Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Registration " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Registration, Room 165, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301-3701. Please include return address on envelope and application form.
Order On-Line:  To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek.

Click Here to Search West Virginia Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Below is a list of online resources for West Virginia Vital Records.

• West Virginia Archives and History Birth, Death and Marriage Records Search (limited dates & Places)
• West Virginia Marriage Records, 1863-1900
• Search All U.S and Foriegn Birth, Marriage and Death Records
• Search U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• Search Obituary Collection
• Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE