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Death Certificates
Obtaining Death Certificates
Birth Certificates
Who Can Purchase Certified Copies:
In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.
The people who may obtain a birth certificate are:
- The Person on the Certificate
- The Parents and Grandparents of Person on the Certificate
- The Wife or Husband of the Person on the Certificate
- The Children and Grandchildren of the Person on the Certificate
- The Brothers or Sisters
- Anyone who has Legal interest in the Certificate
How Much Does it cost?
By Mail or In Person
$12 per copy. The fee includes a non-refundable search fee. If our computerized search doesn't find the record, we will search the year specified, the year before and the year after. Additional searches may be paid for at a rate of $12 per three year period.
We accept cash, check and money orders. We do not accept debit/credit cards at our walk up counter, or by mail at this time, but next to our office is an ATM machine and West Virginia United Federal Credit Union.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
We contract with a company named VitalChek to take expedited credit card orders. This Service requires additional fees charged by them.
Order Type Fee Charged by VitalChek
Non-Rush. $30.50 + shipping
Rush $35.50 + shipping
Note: Shipping cost varies depending upon shipping method
How long does it take?
In Person
Ordering in person is the fastest way to obtain a certificate. Please allow for at least fifteen minutes, even though most requests are completed much quicker. 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM is a busy time, so keep this in mind if you are coming in on your lunch break.
By Mail
Ordering by mail is the slowest method to obtain a certificate. Total time consists of processing time and transit time. Processing time is the time it takes our office to enter your order into our computer system, make and mail the certificate to you. Transit time is the time it takes the Post Office to deliver the mail.
Processing time is usually about five business days, but can change depending upon staffing and order volume.
Transit time can vary greatly. If mail within the State of West Virginia, the mail usually takes one to two days to arrive. We suggest that you allow the Post Office five to seven days for delivery.
Total time is the time it takes from when you mail the request until you receive the certificate. Total time can be as short as five business days, to 19 business days or longer.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
From two days to ten days, depending upon what options you choose when ordering the certificate
Recent Births
Please note that it can take the hospital up to a month to get the birth certificate to us, and about a week for us to do all the steps that need to take place to place the certificate on file.
How Do I Place an Order?
In Person
We offer same-day walk in service at our office. We are located on the corners of Capitol and Washington Streets, (the old 'Diamond Department Store' building) in downtown Charleston, across the street from FedEx-Kinkos®. Our Address is 350 Capitol Street. The public entrance to the building is on Capitol Street, and we are located on the right side of the lobby.
By Mail
Click here for Instructions on how to purchase a certified certificate by mail
By Phone, Fax and Internet
We offer an expedited service is available through a company called VitalChek® at an additional charge. You must pay with a credit or debit card (they accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover cards).
Contacting VitalChek®
Phone: 877-448-3953 For orders and customer service*
Fax: 866-870-8723 For fax orders only
Internet: http://www.vitalchek.com For Online Ordering and general information
*Before calling, it may be helpful for you to print out a copy of our Birth Certificate Request form and be prepared to give all of the information, along with your credit card information, to the customer service representative.
Death Certificates
Who Can Purchase Certified Copies:
In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.
The people who may obtain a birth certificate are:
- The Parents and Grandparents of Person on the Certificate
- The Wife or Husband of the Person on the Certificate
- The Children and Grandchildren of the Person on the Certificate
- The Brothers or Sisters
- Funeral Director
- Anyone who has Legal interest in the Certificate
How Much Does it cost?
By Mail or In Person
$12 per copy. The fee includes a non-refundable search fee. If our computerized search doesn't find the record, we will search the year specified, the year before and the year after. Additional searches may be paid for at a rate of $12 per three year period.
We accept cash, check and money orders. We do not accept debit/credit cards at our walk up counter, or by mail at this time, but next to our office is an ATM machine and West Virginia United Federal Credit Union.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
We contract with a company named VitalChek to take expedited credit card orders. This Service requires additional fees charged by them.
Order Type Fee Charged by VitalChek
Non-Rush. $30.50 + shipping
Rush $35.50 + shipping
Note: Shipping cost varies depending upon shipping method
How long does it take?
In Person
Ordering in person is the fastest way to obtain a certificate. Please allow for at least fifteen minutes, even though most requests are completed much quicker. 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM is a busy time, so keep this in mind if you are coming in on your lunch break.
By Mail
Ordering by mail is the slowest method to obtain a certificate. Total time consists of processing time and transit time. Processing time is the time it takes our office to enter your order into our computer system, make and mail the certificate to you. Transit time is the time it takes the Post Office to deliver the mail.
Processing time is usually about five business days, but can change depending upon staffing and order volume.
Transit time can vary greatly. If mail within the State of West Virginia, the mail usually takes one to two days to arrive. We suggest that you allow the Post Office five to seven days for delivery.
Total time is the time it takes from when you mail the request until you receive the certificate. Total time can be as short as five business days, to 19 business days or longer.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
From two days to ten days, depending upon what options you choose when ordering the certificate
Death Certificate Requested by the Funeral Home
It is our goal to file death certificates and send out the certified copies of the death certificates the same day we receive them.
How Do I Place an Order?
In Person
We offer same-day walk in service at our office. We are located on the corners of Capitol and Washington Streets, (the old 'Diamond Department Store' building) in downtown Charleston, across the street from FedEx-Kinkos®. Our Address is 350 Capitol Street. The public entrance to the building is on Capitol Street, and we are located on the right side of the lobby.
By Mail
Click here for Instructions on how to purchase a certified certificate by mail
By Phone, Fax and Internet
We offer an expedited service is available through a company called VitalChek® at an additional charge. You must pay with a credit or debit card (they accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover cards).
Contacting VitalChek®
Phone: 877-448-3953 For orders and customer service*
Fax: 866-870-8723 For fax orders only
Internet: http://www.vitalchek.com For Online Ordering and general information
*Before calling, it may be helpful for you to print out a copy of our Birth Certificate Request form and be prepared to give all of the information, along with your credit card information, to the customer service representative.
Marriage Certificates
Who Can Purchase Certified Copies:
In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.
The people who may obtain a birth certificate are:
- The Bride and Groom
- The Children and Grandchildren of the Bride or Groom
How Much Does it cost?
By Mail or In Person
$12 per copy. The fee includes a non-refundable search fee. If our computerized search doesn't find the record, we will search the year specified, the year before and the year after. Additional searches may be paid for at a rate of $12 per three year period.
We accept cash, check and money orders. We do not accept debit/credit cards at our walk up counter, or by mail at this time, but next to our office is an ATM machine and West Virginia United Federal Credit Union.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
We contract with a company named VitalChek to take expedited credit card orders. This Service requires additional fees charged by them.
Order Type Fee Charged by VitalChek
Non-Rush. $30.50 + shipping
Rush $35.50 + shipping
Note: Shipping cost varies depending upon shipping method
How long does it take?
In Person
Ordering in person is the fastest way to obtain a certificate. Please allow for at least fifteen minutes, even though most requests are completed much quicker. 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM is a busy time, so keep this in mind if you are coming in on your lunch break.
By Mail
Ordering by mail is the slowest method to obtain a certificate. Total time consists of processing time and transit time. Processing time is the time it takes our office to enter your order into our computer system, make and mail the certificate to you. Transit time is the time it takes the Post Office to deliver the mail.
Processing time is usually about five business days, but can change depending upon staffing and order volume.
Transit time can vary greatly. If mail within the State of West Virginia, the mail usually takes one to two days to arrive. We suggest that you allow the Post Office five to seven days for delivery.
Total time is the time it takes from when you mail the request until you receive the certificate. Total time can be as short as five business days, to 19 business days or longer.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
From two days to ten days, depending upon what options you choose when ordering the certificate
Recent Marriages
New or Recent Marriages are first registered in the county clerk's office in the county where the license was issued. The county clerk is required to send all completed marriage applications to the Vital Registration Office by the 10th day of the month after the month in which the license was returned to them after the marriage. This process means that a delay of two months or more from the time the marriage occurs until the Vital Registration Office can issue a certified copy is not unusual. Once on file, the processing time is identical as existing orders. When a certified copy for a recent marriage is required before two to three months have elapsed, the requestor should contact the county clerk for certified copies.
How Do I Place an Order?
In Person
We offer same-day walk in service at our office. We are located on the corners of Capitol and Washington Streets, (the old 'Diamond Department Store' building) in downtown Charleston, across the street from FedEx-Kinkos®. Our Address is 350 Capitol Street. The public entrance to the building is on Capitol Street, and we are located on the right side of the lobby.
By Mail
Click here for Instructions on how to purchase a certified certificate by mail
By Phone, Fax and Internet
We offer an expedited service is available through a company called VitalChek® at an additional charge. You must pay with a credit or debit card (they accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover cards).
Contacting VitalChek®
Phone: 877-448-3953 For orders and customer service*
Fax: 866-870-8723 For fax orders only
Internet: http://www.vitalchek.com For Online Ordering and general information
*Before calling, it may be helpful for you to print out a copy of our Birth Certificate Request form and be prepared to give all of the information, along with your credit card information, to the customer service representative.
Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth
What is a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth?
A Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth is an abstracted form of a Report of Fetal Death. A Report of Fetal Death for a previous fetal death must be on file with the Vital Registration Office before one can be produced. Hospitals do not produce Certificates of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth.
Who Can Purchase Certified Copies:
In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.
The people who may obtain a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth are:
- The Parents of the Stillborn Baby (Note: If the corresponding Report of Fetal Death does not list a Father, only the Mother of the Stillborn may order a certified copy.)
How Much Does it cost?
By Mail or In Person
$12 per copy.
We accept cash, check and money orders. We do not accept debit/credit cards at our walk up counter, or by mail at this time.
How long does it take?
Certificates of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth are currently hand-abstracted from the source document, the Report of Fetal Death. As such, the process is more time consuming. Depending upon the year of the Report of Fetal Death, microfilm records may need to be accessed.
In Person or by Mail
Due to the extra processing time involved, customers are urged to order through the mail. Although the Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth may be ordered in person, due to the extra time involved, the Certificate will still need to be mailed to the requesting parent. The Certificate will be mailed within one to five business days from the date the order is placed.
How Do I Place an Order?
By Mail
Click here for Instructions on how to purchase a certified certificate by mail
In Person
We are located on the corners of Capitol and Washington Streets, (the old 'Diamond Department Store' building) in downtown Charleston, across the street from FedEx-Kinkos®. Our Address is 350 Capitol Street. The public entrance to the building is on Capitol Street, and we are located on the right side of the lobby.
