Apostille
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.
- Complete the Apostille Express online application.
- Submit the required documents for approval.
- Receive your apostille document.
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:
- Completed Apostille and Certification Request (Form AC-1).
- Certified vital record certificate
- $10 for each certification, via check or money order payable to the WV Secretary of State
- Self-addressed envelope only if expedited delivery is needed
❗️ 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