Go to Vital Registration office located at 350 Capitol Street, on the corners of Washington and Capitol Street, with your required identification, proper fee, and proper information. The service counter is located to the right of the lobby.
If no one is at the counter, ring the bell, and wait for someone to be with you.
By Mail
The easiest and most convenient way to obtain a vital record is to request one through the mail.
Simply fill out an application, and mail it with a check or money order for the fee. The fee is $12 per certificate. Cash is sent at sender's risk.
Mail to:
Vital Registration
Room 165
350 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301-3701
By phone/Fax/Online (VitalChek)
By phone: 877-448-3953 (For orders and customer service)
Fax: 866-870-8723 (For fax orders only)
Note
Before calling (by phone), it may be helpful for you to print out a copy of our Certificate Request form and be prepared to give all of the information, along with your credit card information, to the customer service representative.
Applying Online - VitalCheck
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
The fee includes a non-refundable search fee. If the computerized search doesn't find the record, the office will search using 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.
Payments accepted: cash, check and money orders.
Note: There's an ATM machine located next to the office and West Virginia United Federal Credit Union.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
Fees Charged by VitalChek
Non-Rush: $30.50 + shipping
Rush: $35.50 + shipping
Note: Shipping cost varies depending upon shipping method
The West Virginia Division of Vital Records (West Virginia Vital Records) issues West Virginia marriage records for events that occurred in the State of West Virginia.
Marriage records are available for events that occurred within the State of West Virginia from 1964 to present.
In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.
You may order the copies of certificate by mail, in person, online, by phone or fax (credit card and debit card only)
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only): The Vital Registration Office is in contract with a company named VitalChek to take expedited credit card orders. This Service requires additional fees charged by them.
Recent Marriages
Marriages officiated recently are first registered in the county clerk's office in the county where the license was issued.
The county clerk is responsible for sending 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.
Go to Vital Registration office located at 350 Capitol Street, on the corners of Washington and Capitol Street, with your required identification, proper fee, and proper information. The service counter is located to the right of the lobby.
If no one is at the counter, ring the bell, and wait for someone to be with you.
By Mail
The easiest and most convenient way to obtain a vital record is to request one through the mail.
Simply fill out an application, and mail it with a check or money order for the fee. The fee is $12 per certificate. Cash is sent at sender's risk.
Mail to:
Vital Registration
Room 165
350 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301-3701
By phone/Fax/Online (VitalChek)
By phone: 877-448-3953 (For orders and customer service)
Fax: 866-870-8723 (For fax orders only)
Note
Before calling (by phone), it may be helpful for you to print out a copy of our Certificate Request form and be prepared to give all of the information, along with your credit card information, to the customer service representative.
Applying Online - VitalCheck
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
The fee includes a non-refundable search fee. If the computerized search doesn't find the record, the office will search using 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.
Payments accepted: cash, check and money orders.
Note: There's an ATM machine located next to the office and West Virginia United Federal Credit Union.
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only)
Fees Charged by VitalChek
Non-Rush: $30.50 + shipping
Rush: $35.50 + shipping
Note: Shipping cost varies depending upon shipping method
Ordering in person is the fastest way to obtain a certificate. 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 during 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 the Vital Registration office to enter your order into their computer system, make and mail the certificate to you. Transit time is the time it takes the Post Office to deliver the mail.
It usually takes about 5 days for your request to be processed, but can this can change depending upon staffing and order volume.
Transit time can vary greatly. If the certificate is to be mailed within the State of West Virginia, the mail usually takes one to two days to arrive. It may be better if 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/fax/online
From two days to ten days, depending upon what options you choose when ordering the certificate.
The West Virginia Division of Vital Records (West Virginia Vital Records) issues West Virginia marriage records for events that occurred in the State of West Virginia.
Marriage records are available for events that occurred within the State of West Virginia from 1964 to present.
In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.
You may order the copies of certificate by mail, in person, online, by phone or fax (credit card and debit card only)
By Phone, Internet or Fax (Credit Card/Debit Card Only): The Vital Registration Office is in contract with a company named VitalChek to take expedited credit card orders. This Service requires additional fees charged by them.
Recent Marriages
Marriages officiated recently are first registered in the county clerk's office in the county where the license was issued.
The county clerk is responsible for sending 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.
Marriage is a legal contract binding two people together, granting them rights and obligations. A Marriage Certificate is an official statement that two people are married.
A copy of the marriage certificate is often necessary when you apply for administrative procedures such as obtaining a passport or applying for certain social benefits.
Following are procedures on how you can obtain a marriage certificate in West Virginia.