West Virginia Vital Records

Before starting the process to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, or death certificate, you should know more about the requirements, processing times, and other information that West Virginia requires. Learn more about processing times, associated fees, and required documentation below. You will have to send over sensitive information to request your records, Vital Records Online ensures that your private information stays safe. We answer some of the most frequently asked questions below.

Processing times differ between offices, but you should expect to receive your vital records in West Virginia in 5 to 20 business days.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR) requires applicants to prove their identity by including a photocopy of their ID to complete the online application. It varies depending on the type of certificate, but commonly people can use a driver's license or a state photo ID. Check other acceptable IDs per certificate needed:

• West Virginia Birth Certificate Requirements
• West Virginia Marriage Certificate Requirements
• West Virginia Death Certificate Requirements

Vital Records Online will charge a fee starting from $49 for the assistant service whenever you order birth records, marriage certificates or licenses, divorce certificates, or death records.
West Virginia will charge a $12.00 fee for each certified copy of birth. Any additional copy to your order will cost $12.00, a $12.00 fee for each marriage certificate certified copy, and any extra copy of your order will cost $12.00. A $12.00 fee for each death certificate, any additional copy to your order will cost $12.00.

At the moment, there are limitations to who can request vital records in the WV DHHR. It depends on if the request is for a birth, marriage, or death certificate, the requestor must be doing it on their own behalf. Otherwise, the requester must be part of the close family, some distant family member, or must be the legal representative for the individual of record.

There are two ways to order vital records in West Virginia. The first and the easiest is through our service – Vital Records Online. You can complete your application process online and will receive your vital records by mail. You are saving your time and a trip to the government agency.

The second option is going in person to the public office where the person in the record was born. This process can be time-consuming because of the paperwork required and the long waiting lines typically associated with the Administration.