Not a government site. We do not sell certificates. About us

VitalRecordsByState
Menu

West Virginia vital records

The Vital Registration Office is the vital records office for West Virginia.1 It issues certified birth certificates, death certificates and marriage certificates1. Local offices also issue certified copies.2

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Records and where to get them
  2. Local offices
  3. Access rules and the law
  4. The state office
  5. Questions people ask
  6. Sources

Current notices from the office

  • Busy period 11:30 am-1:00 pm at the walk-up counter3

Records and where to get them

RecordWho issues itYears heldFirst copyShortest published time
Birth certificateWest Virginia Vital Registration Office11917 to today4$123In person: Same day3
Death certificateWest Virginia Vital Registration Office11917 to today4$123In person: Same day3
Marriage certificateWest Virginia Vital Registration Office (from 1964); county clerk where the license was issued51964 to today4$126In person: Same day3
Divorce recordsClerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted5–$17 a page–

Birth certificate

Older records
County clerk in the county of birth (query first for births before 1917); some earlier births are at the state office as delayed certificates5
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, at a local office

How to get a West Virginia birth certificate

Death certificate

Older records
Clerk of the County Court (county clerk) in the county where the death occurred5
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, at a local office

How to get a West Virginia death certificate

Marriage certificate

Who holds it
County Clerk in county where license was issued (certified copies before 1964 come from the county)5
Older records
County Clerk in the county where the license was issued5
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, in person, at a local office

How to get a West Virginia marriage certificate

Divorce records

Older records
Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted5
Ways to order
At a local office

How to get West Virginia divorce records

Local offices

Local offices issue certified copies
Yes2
Which offices
Clerk of the County Commission (county clerk); Clerk of the Circuit Court for divorce decrees8

Access rules and the law

Who may get certified copies
Closed: copies may be issued only as authorized by the vital statistics article, legislative rule or a court order. Births become public after 100 years; deaths, fetal deaths, marriages and divorces after 50 years.10

Laws and rules the office cites

  • W. Va. Code §16-5-27 (disclosure)10
  • W. Va. Code §16-5-28 (copies; who may obtain)11
  • W. Va. Code §16-5-29 (fees for copies and searches)12
  • W. Va. Code §16-5-25 (correction and amendment)13
  • 64CSR32 Vital Statistics (legislative rule, effective May 8, 2025)14
  • 64CSR51 Fees for Services, Appendix D Health Statistics Center Fees (effective July 1, 2026)15

The state office

Office
Vital Registration Office (West Virginia Health Statistics Center)1
Mailing address
Vital Registration Office, 350 Capitol Street, Room 165, Charleston, WV 25301-3701
3
Walk-in address
Vital Registration Office (walk-up counter, right side of the main lobby, first floor), 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301
16
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, except State holidays16

Questions people ask

How much do birth and death certificates cost in West Virginia?

A certified birth certificate costs $12 for the first copy and a death certificate $12.3

What is the phone number of the West Virginia vital records office?

Vital Registration Office: (304) 558-2931.16

Where do I get a marriage certificate in West Virginia?

West Virginia Vital Registration Office (from 1964); county clerk where the license was issued. County Clerk in county where license was issued (certified copies before 1964 come from the county).5

Where do I get divorce records in West Virginia?

Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.5

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Vital RegistrationWest Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)
  2. W. Va. Code §59-1-10 Fees to be charged by clerk of county commissionWest Virginia Legislature
  3. Certificate RequestsWest Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)
  4. GenealogyWest Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)
  5. Where to Write for Vital Records - West VirginiaCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  6. Application for Certified Marriage Certificate (marriage26.pdf)West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)
  7. W. Va. Code §59-1-11 Fees to be charged by clerk of circuit courtWest Virginia Legislature
  8. Office of the Kanawha County ClerkKanawha County Commission
  9. West Virginia County Clerk DirectoryWest Virginia Secretary of State
  10. W. Va. Code §16-5-27 Disclosure of information from vital recordsWest Virginia Legislature
  11. W. Va. Code §16-5-28 Copies from the system of vital statisticsWest Virginia Legislature
  12. W. Va. Code §16-5-29 Fees for copies and searchesWest Virginia Legislature
  13. W. Va. Code §16-5-25 Correction and amendment of vital recordsWest Virginia Legislature
  14. 64CSR32 Vital Statistics, Final File (effective May 8, 2025)West Virginia Secretary of State (Code of State Rules), rule of the WV Department of Healthdated May 8, 2025
  15. 64CSR51 Fees for Services, Final File (effective July 1, 2026)West Virginia Secretary of State (Code of State Rules), rule of the WV Department of Healthdated July 1, 2026
  16. Contact InformationWest Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Health Statistics Center (Vital Registration Office)
  17. Health Statistics Center | WV Bureau for Public HealthWest Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health