Certificate Requests

The Vital Registration Office provides certified copies of births, deaths, marriages, and births resulting in stillbirth. There are several ways to obtain a certified copy including in person, by mail, or by phone/internet/fax (credit/debit cards only).

Please note fee change effective July 1, 2023. Click here for a copy of the fee change memo.

In Person

Ordering in person is the fastest way to obtain a certificate. Same-day walk in service is available at the Vital Registration Office at 350 Capitol Street in Charleston. A walk up counter is on the right side of the main lobby. Please allow at least a 15-minute wait time, even though most requests are completed much quicker. Keep in mind 11:30 am to 1:00 pm is a busy time, so please allow for a longer wait time. The cost of a certificate is $12 per copy. The fee includes a non-refundable search fee. If a computerized search does not find the record, a search will be conducted for 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. Accepted forms of payment are cash, check, and money order only. Debit/credit cards are not accepted at the walk up counter. To shorten your wait time, you can fill out the application form in advance and bring it with you to the office. Go to the Certificate Request Forms page and then choose the appropriate application form.

To obtain a certified copy of a birth or death certificate, you must present one of the following forms of identification:

State issued driver's license (can be expired)
United States, or Foreign passports
Military ID
Photo ID cards from a government sponsored program

Any two of the following forms of identification are accepted:

Major credit card
Motor vehicle registration card
State social services program card
A recent utility bill in the name of the person who is requesting the certificate

If you do not have any of these forms of identification, exceptions can be granted on a case-by-case basis.

By Mail

Ordering by mail is the slowest way to obtain a certificate due to processing and transit time which can take five to 15 business days or one to three weeks. The cost of a certificate is $12 per copy. The fee includes a non-refundable search fee. If a computerized search does not find the record, a search will be conducted for 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. Accepted forms of payment are check and money order only. Debit/credit cards by mail are not accepted. To order a certified copy of a birth or death certificate, fill out the application form and mail to the Vital Registration Office with a color copy of your identification (see above) and a check or money order for the correct fee at the address below. Go to the Certificate Request Forms page and then choose the appropriate application form. The application form, a copy of identification as listed above, and proper payment is required for all mail requests.

Vital Registration Office

350 Capitol Street, Room 165

Charleston, WV 25301-3701

By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)

An expedited service available through a company called VitalChek® at an additional charge ($13.50 processing fee). You must pay with a credit or debit card (they accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover cards). Shipping costs depend on the shipping method (UPS is $18.50). You can contact VitalChek® via phone, fax, or internet as described below. Please note that VitalChek® is the only order service approved by the West Virginia Vital Registration Office.

Phone: 877-448-3953

Fax: 866-870-8723

Internet: http://www.vitalchek.com