Introduction to West Virginia Divorce Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a West Virginia Divorce certificate.  Divorce Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Divorce Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Divorce Certificates is that states have not been registering Divorces for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register Divorces.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the Divorce took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Divorce Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Divorce Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Divorce certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Divorce certificate by following the correct procedure.
  

West Virginia Divorce index have been maintained by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources for individuals divorced in the state of West Virginia since 1967.  Certified copies are not available from State office.  For certificates Clerk of Circuit Court, Chancery Side, in county where divorce was granted. 

West Virginia Divorce Certificate Authorized Persons

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

• Person Named on the West Virginia Divorce Certificate
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the West Virginia Divorce Certificate
• Adult grandchildren of Person Named on the West Virginia Divorce Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the West Virginia Divorce Certificate

West Virginia Divorce Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain a West Virginia Divorce Certificate, 45 years or later from the date of the Divorce for genealogy or other reasons.

West Virginia Divorce Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order West Virginia Divorce Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your West Virginia Divorce Certificate.  Order online and you will get your West Virginia Divorce 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 Divorce Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your West Virginia Divorce 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 Divorce certificate:

• Full name of husband on the West Virginia Divorce certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the West Virginia Divorce certificate
• Date of Divorce on the West Virginia Divorce certificate
• County (or city) of Divorce on the West Virginia Divorce certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose West Virginia Divorce certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the West Virginia Divorce 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 Divorce certificate. Most West Virginia Divorce certificates can be issued while you wait.

West Virginia Divorce Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a West Virginia Divorce certificate varies by county.