Vital records office in West Virginia

How to obtain certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates from West Virginia for immigration filings, USCIS evidence, school enrollment, or any other purpose.

West Virginia

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Birth

Event: Birth Cost of copy: $12.00 Address: Vital Registration Office Room 165 350 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301-3701 Remarks: State office was established in 1917. Earlier records may be on file at the state office as “delayed certificates” if they were placed on file after 1917 and were not already on file in a county clerk’s office. Both offices may need to be queried but it is recommended that for births before 1917 that county offices be queried first. Personal check or money order should be made payable to Vital Registration . To verify current fees, the telephone number is (304) 558-2931. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources website . Death

Event: Death Cost of copy: $12.00 Address: Vital Registration Office Room 165 350 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301-3701 Remarks: State office has records since January 1917. For earlier records, write to Clerk of County Court in county where event occurred. Personal check or money order should be made payable to Vital Registration . To verify current fees, the telephone number is (304) 558-2931. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Internet at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources website . Marriage

Event: Marriage (State) Cost of copy: $12.00 Address: Vital Registration Office Room 165 350 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301-3701 Remarks: Marriage indexes from 1921 forward. Certified copies available from 1964 forward. Before 1964, see county below.

Event: Marriage (County) Cost of copy: Varies Address: See remarks Remarks: County Clerk in county where license was issued. Divorce

Event: Divorce (State) Cost of copy: See remarks Address: Vital Registration Office Room 165 350 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301-3701 Remarks: Indexes only since 1968. Certified copies are not available from state office. See county below.

Event: Divorce (County) Cost of copy: Varies Address: See remarks Remarks: Certified copies of divorce orders may be obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.

Last Reviewed: November 6, 2015 Source: National Center for Health Statistics

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West Virginia vital records office details

Why immigrants need certified vital records

USCIS, courts, schools, and many other US agencies require certified vital records (not photocopies) for:

  • I-130 family petition — birth certificate proves family relationship
  • I-485 adjustment of status — birth certificate of applicant and beneficiaries
  • N-400 naturalization — marriage certificate if applying under spouse-of-USC 3-year rule
  • Apostille — for use of US documents in foreign countries (your home country may require US apostille)
  • School enrollment — proof of date of birth
  • Real ID applications — proof of identity

Apostille and authentication

If you need to use a West Virginia vital record OUTSIDE the United States (e.g., for use at your home country’s consulate), you typically need an apostille from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office. See /procedures/apostille-document/ for the process.

Last verified: 2026-05-27. General procedural information — not legal advice. Fees and processing times change; verify with the West Virginia office.