West Virginia is not an “open record” state, which means that vital records of persons, including death certificates, are not treated as public documents and can only be accessed by certain authorized persons. These documents are filed, kept and found in the Health Statistics Center of the West Virginia .

People who may obtain a death certificate from the state of West Virginia are the following: the parents, grandparents, spouse, children, grandchildren, and siblings of the deceased, as well as the funeral director who managed the funeral services of the deceased and third persons who have legal interest over the acquiring of the document.

"Looking for Public Death Records in the West Virginia?"

"Why not save some time by searching billions of public records? Make things a lot faster by starting your preliminary search at the top or bottom of this page to see if there's a record available for your query."

There are different ways for you to apply for a copy of these death certificates. First, you can make use of the walk-in same day service by visiting the office and making the request in person. The office is located at this address:

Vital Registration
Room 165
350 Capitol Street
Charleston , WV 25301-3701

Make sure you are ready with the necessary information for your request when you drop by. This includes personal information of the person whose name is on the record you are requesting as well as your personal information and a valid identification.

You can also make your request by mailing to the office using the address above. Include in the mail a filled-up application form and a check or money order for the payment. The office discourages the sending of cash through mail.

Lastly, you can also make your request via telephone, fax, or the internet. These requests are processed through VitalChek. Telephone requests are entertained at 877-448-3953, fax orders are entertained at 866-870-8723, and you can also complete the form at the top or bottom of this page. Be sure to be able to give all the information that would otherwise be asked in the request form, as well as your credit card information for payment.

Certificates ordered by mail and in person cost $12 each, while those ordered by phone, fax or online are charged $30.50 ($35.50 if rush) plus shipping costs. Walk-in requests can be processed within 15 minutes, while the other ordering methods can take between 2 to 10 business days.

"Looking for Public Death Records in West Virginia?"

"Why not save some time by searching billions of public records? Make things a lot faster by starting your preliminary search at the top or bottom of this page to see if there's a record available for your query."