How to Get West Virginia Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in West Virginia — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by West Virginia DHHR Vital Registration Office. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Clerk.

What this page covers: West Virginia vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact West Virginia DHHR Vital Registration Office. For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Vital Registration - West Virginia Department of Health
Parent agency
Vital Registration - West Virginia Department of Health
Records back to
Online ordering
Certificate Requests - West Virginia Department of Health
Marriage license issued by
Authorized Officiants: The ceremony
Local intake
Where to Write for Vital Records - West Virginia
Population
1,769,979
Households
729,200
Median Income
$55,948
Median Home Value
$145,800
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: West Virginia vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at oeps.wv.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

West Virginia Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for West Virginia — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a West Virginia vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — West Virginia Vital Records

2026
West Virginia vital records portal active
The official West Virginia portal at oeps.wv.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements West Virginia state records.
2026
West Virginia access in 2026
For 2026, West Virginia continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check oeps.wv.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE West Virginia's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step West Virginia Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in West Virginia, start with the West Virginia health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
West Virginia typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
West Virginia records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About West Virginia Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's West Virginia birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including West Virginia) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older West Virginia marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A West Virginia death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample West Virginia counties: Barbour · Berkeley · Boone · Braxton · Brooke

Vital Records Databases

8 official West Virginia vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Vital Records (Interactive) - West Virginia Culture Center : West Virginia Culture Center
Official Free
The Vital Research Records Project is placing Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates on-line. Users can search the records and view scanned images of the original records. Certified copies of these records are available only from the issuing county or the West Virginia Vital Registration Office.
🌐 wvculture.org
Randolph County Arrest, Court, and Public Records
Official Free
Randolph County, and other counties in West Virginia, assist in the collection of these vital records. Individual counties may collect records and send copies to the state. Each county clerk collects marriage records in West Virginia. The West Virginia Vital Registration Office stores these records.
🌐 westvirginia.staterecords.org

West Virginia Counties

55 West Virginia counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Kanawha Berkeley Cabell Wood Monongalia Raleigh Jefferson Harrison Mercer Barbour Boone Braxton Brooke Calhoun

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in West Virginia are issued by the Official West Virginia Vital Records at oeps.wv.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

West Virginia death certificates are issued by the Official West Virginia Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at oeps.wv.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

West Virginia marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official West Virginia Vital Records (oeps.wv.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard West Virginia vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official West Virginia Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at oeps.wv.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official West Virginia Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at oeps.wv.gov.