Get your certified West Virginia Birth Certificate
Order your government-issued West Virginia birth certificate from home.
Start your application now.
Order West Virginia Birth Certificate
Trusted by +1.5 million customers
Order your government-issued West Virginia birth certificate from home.
Start your application now.
Order West Virginia Birth Certificate
Trusted by +1.5 million customers
Order with confidence
Learn how to order West Virginia birth certificates from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Health Statistics Center (DHHR - HSC). The standard processing time for replacements is currently 5 to 15 business days. Each certified copy has a state fee of $12.00. The person on record and authorized individuals, such as immediate family members and legal representatives, can submit requests.
You can now order West Virginia birth certificates through VRO’s online filing service. VRO offers a secure and simple way to order birth certificates. We handle the entire application process, ensuring accuracy and ease. Your application is securely delivered to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources - Health Statistics Center (DHHR-HSC) for processing, allowing them to issue and mail your birth certificate to you. You can place the order yourself in person or by mail through the DHHR-HSC by following the specific steps and meeting certain requirements. Before placing your order, verify costs, eligibility, requirements, and processing times.
Requesting a West Virginia birth certificate through our online filing service is quick and easy.
Starting from
$29+ state fees
Benefits of Ordering Online with VRO
required documents
All applicants must provide proof of identity with the birth certificate application, such as a U.S. state-issued driver’s license, a passport, or a U.S. Military ID. West Virginia requirements vary based on individual circumstances and conditions outlined by the WV DHHR-HCS. Carefully review the table below to ensure that all necessary information and documents are gathered in advance.
Primary ID Requirements Options | Secondary ID Requirements Options |
---|---|
State Driver's License | Major Credit Card |
If you do not possess a valid primary identification, you can use two secondary forms of ID listed in the table above, such as a State Social Services ID, utility bill, or vehicle registration. Alternatively, authorized third parties can request the birth certificate on your behalf, provided they have proof of identity and relationship with you.
Cost & fees
Each certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the West Virginia DHHR-HSC costs $12.00. The total costs of replacing a West Virginia birth certificate will also depend on how the application is submitted; in person, by mail, or online. When using VRO's online filing service, the fee starts at $29.00, plus the state fee. VRO provides a secure online solution for ordering birth certificates.
State Fee |
---|
$12.00 |
Rush Processing |
---|
Not offered |
Additional Copy |
---|
1 x $12.00 |
Processing time
The current processing time is approximately 5 to 15 business days; however, the total time to receive a birth certificate replacement in West Virginia varies based on the application method and the wait times determined by the West Virginia DHHR-HSC. To avoid delays, we recommend using VRO’s easy online service, which helps prevent incomplete submissions and errors.
Processing Time |
---|
1-3 weeks |
Rush Processing Time |
---|
Not offered |
Authorization
West Virginia birth records are public 100 years after birth date; until then, they are restricted to the person on record and authorized individuals. They remain confidential until 100 years from the date of birth. If a third party requests a birth certificate on behalf of the individual named on the record, they must ensure they are eligible and prepare to provide proof of identity and relationship with the application.
A notarization of the application is generally not required to obtain authorized copies of West Virginia birth certificates. A photocopy of your ID is sufficient to verify your identity.
Tracking
When you place your order with VRO, you can track the status of your application online as we handle it. VRO verifies your documents before sending them to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources – Health Statistics Center (WVDHHR-HSC) for further processing. You can also request mail tracking through VRO to monitor the progress of your application to the state health department.
If you manually mail your birth certificate request to the WVDHHR-HSC, it is purchasing first-class mail with tracking is recommended to know when your application is delivered to the WVDHHR-HSC. Once the WVDHHR-HSC sends your certificate to you, they are not responsible for lost or misdirected certificates.
frequently asked questions
If you were born overseas on a military base, there would not be a birth certificate on record with the state of West Virginia. Likely, your birth was filed with the U.S. Department of State. In this case, you must request a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, FS-240) from the U.S. Department of State. The CRBA is equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate as evidence of U.S. citizenship and can be used for the same legal purposes as a certified West Virginia birth certificate, such as passport applications and social services.
If you need a copy of an original birth record, you must contact the hospital in the country where your birth occurred to obtain copies of the original.
Certified copies of your West Virginia birth certificate are necessary for various uses in life, such as legal proceedings, family matters, school enrollment, employment, and travel. These copies are crucial for identity verification, containing your legal name at birth, place, and date of birth, your parent's names, and citizenship, and are accepted by government and commercial entities for official use.
Birth certificates are often useful or required for:
Applying for a driver's license
Applying for a new passport
Issuing or obtaining a Social Security Card
Applying for Social Security benefits
Claiming pension or insurance benefits
Genealogy research
Claiming family inheritance
Applying for a new job
Enrolling in school
Enlisting in military
Obtaining a marriage license
Official birth certificates must adhere to state guidelines stipulated by the West Virginia DHHR-HSC, displaying features such as the state seal, individual's name, registrar's signature, and secure paper to prevent counterfeiting. Although they may vary by the year of issue, they will contain the necessary information to validate authenticity.
Note that official (long-form) birth certificates are used for legal purposes and are different from informational (short-form) copies used for personal or commemorative reasons.
• Full Name of the Person: The full legal name of the person whose birth is being recorded.
• Date of Birth: The exact date of birth of the individual.
• Place of Birth: The city, county, and state where the birth took place.
• Parents’ Names: The full names of both parents, including the mother’s maiden name.
• State Seal: A raised, embossed, or printed multicolor or black and white seal of the issuing authority, which validates the document.
• Signature of State Registrar: The signature of the state registrar or authorized official responsible for issuing the certificate.
• Date of Issuance: The date when the state officially issued the birth certificate.
• Printed on Security Paper: Printed on specialized paper to prevent counterfeiting.
In some instances, a certified birth certificate may also include:
• Name of the Hospital where the birth was recorded.
• Name of the Physician who attended the labor.
If you lose your birth certificate:
The process for amending a West Virginia birth certificate may vary depending on the type of changes required. An addendum is a supplement issued to correct or modify information on a birth certificate, as the original birth record must remain unchanged.
Typically, amendments to birth certificates will require:
To obtain an apostille for a West Virginia birth certificate, you can order it directly through the West Virginia Secretary of State or use VRO's Express Apostille Service. Apostilles are typically necessary when filing a birth certificate with a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention.
To manually obtain an apostille for a West Virginia birth certificate, complete the following steps:
Mailing Address: