Introduction to West Virginia Death Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a West Virginia Death certificate.  Counter to common belief, not everything is on the Internet.  Personal Death certificates are one of the items that are not readily available online, and that is probably a good thing.  You do not want a Death certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Death certificate.  

West Virginia Death certificates have been maintained by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources for individuals that died in the state of West Virginia since 1917. 

West Virginia Death Certificate Authorized Persons

By West Virginia state law, West Virginia Death certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the West Virginia Death Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the West Virginia Death Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the West Virginia Death Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the West Virginia Death Certificate
• Adult grandchildren of Person Named on the West Virginia Death Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the West Virginia Death certificate 
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the West Virginia Death Certificate

West Virginia Death Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain a West Virginia Death Certificate, 100 years or later from the date of the Death for genealogy or other reasons.

West Virginia Death Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order West Virginia Death Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your West Virginia Death Certificate.  Order online and you will get your West Virginia Death Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order West Virginia Death Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your West Virginia Death certificate online.  It usually takes 5-19 business days upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the West Virginia Death certificate:

• Full name of person at Death on the West Virginia Death certificate
• Date of Death on the West Virginia Death certificate
• Sex on the West Virginia Death certificate
• County (or city) of Death on the West Virginia Death certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose West Virginia Death certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the West Virginia Death certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

West Virginia Vital Registration

Room 165

350 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301-3701

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in West Virginia: You may go to any county health department in the State of West Virginia to obtain a certified copy of a West Virginia Death certificate. Most West Virginia Death certificates can be issued while you wait.

West Virginia Death Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a West Virginia Death certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the West Virginia Death certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the West Virginia Death certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $12.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "West Virginia Vital Registration." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.