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Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below. If it has not been digitized or if you need a certified copy, contact the appropriate state or county office to view the record.
Birth |
Note: West Virginia also has "Delayed birth certificates" maintained at both the county and state levels. These were generally issued to people for whom a birth record was not recorded, who lived long enough to be eligible for Social Security or other benefits that required proof of birth. |
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Death |
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Marriage Records |
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Divorce Records |
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West Virginia Archives and History External provides free access to digitized and indexed birth, death, and marriage records. The available years may vary based on county, filmed records, missing records, and privacy restrictions. See the Guide to West Virginia Vital Research Records Project External to view more detailed information.
Contact the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources, Health Statistics Center External to learn more about these records and explore additional options for obtaining copies.
Below are selected print publications for statewide vital records. The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to additional online content are included when available.
To locate additional published materials, go to the Print Resources section of this guide for search tips on locating published county courthouse records, abstracts, and indexes that may aide you in locating original records at the county level.