Certified Copies in West Virginia: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in West Virginia
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in West Virginia, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $12.00
- Death certificate
- $12.00
- Marriage
- $12.00 from 1964 forward; earlier from the county
- Divorce
- Varies; county Circuit Court clerk
Vital records
Issued by: West Virginia Vital Registration Office
Post to: Vital Registration Office, Room 165, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301-3701
Verify current fees: (304) 558-2931
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $12.00 |
| Death | $12.00 |
| Marriage | $12.00 from 1964 forward; earlier from the county |
| Divorce | Varies; county Circuit Court clerk |
What West Virginia requires
- Certified divorce copies are not available from the state office.
- State office established 1917; earlier records may exist as delayed certificates.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a West Virginia entity come from West Virginia Secretary of State, normally online and often the same day.
West Virginia Secretary of State
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in West Virginia goes through West Virginia Secretary of State, at $10.00 for the first document, $5.00 for each additional document.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a West Virginia birth certificate?
From West Virginia Vital Registration Office. Post to Vital Registration Office, Room 165, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301-3701. A certified copy is $12.00.
Does the West Virginia Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
Can I get a certified marriage certificate from the state of West Virginia?
Not in the ordinary way. $12.00 from 1964 forward; earlier from the county Plan on dealing with the county rather than the state office.
What will West Virginia reject?
Certified divorce copies are not available from the state office.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
