Birth and Death Records

West Virginia Birth and Death Records

From January 1, 1920 to the present
West Virginia Department of Health
Division of Vital Statistics
Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-2931

The West Virginia Division of Vital Statistics has these records for the entire state. They also have access to some records from 1880. You may write to them for a form. Cost for a certified birth or death certificate in 1995 was $5.00.

From ca 1853 to the present
County Courthouse
see Address Book for addresses

The availability of records varies by county before 1920 and there may be years for which no records were kept. When writing to a county courthouse for a search, include as much information as you possibly can: full name of individual, maiden name if a woman, known dates or years of birth or death or approximate dates if not known, names of parents... The following information comes from a phone survey in Dec, 1996. Cost for a copy is generally $2.00.
Counties, records from:

Barbour, from 1929 (no early records)
Berkeley, from 1865
Boone, from 1865

Braxton, from 1853
Brooke, from 1853
Cabell, from 1853 (births), 1886 (deaths)

Calhoun, from 1856
Clay, from 1858
Doddridge, from 1853

Fayette, from 1866
Gilmer, from 1853
Grant, from 1866

Greenbrier, from 1853
Hampshire, from 1865
Hancock, from 1853

Hardy, from 1853
Harrison, from 1853
Jackson, from 1853

Jefferson, from 1853
Kanawha, from 1853
Lewis, from 1853

Lincoln, from 1867
Logan, from 1872
some births 1853-60
at Virginia State Library
Marion, from 1860

Marshall, from 1853
Mason, from 1853
McDowell, from 1858

Mercer, from 1853
Mineral, from 1865
Mingo, from 1895

Monongalia, from 1853
Monroe, from 1853
Morgan, from 1865

Nicholas, from 1855 (births), 1919 (deaths)
Ohio, from 1853
Pendleton, from 1853

Pleasants, from 1853
Pocahontas, from 1854 (births), 1853 (deaths)
Preston, from 1868

Putnam, from 1853
Raleigh, from 1853
Randolph, from 1853

Ritchie, from 1853
Roane, from 1856
Summers, from 1871

Taylor, from 1853
Tucker, from 1856
Tyler, from 1853

Upshur, from 1853
Wayne, from 1853
Webster, from 1888

Wetzel, from 1853
Wirt, from 1870
Wood, from 1853

Wyoming, from 1853

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Barbour, from 1929 (no early records)	Berkeley, from 1865	Boone, from 1865
Braxton, from 1853	Brooke, from 1853	Cabell, from 1853 (births), 1886 (deaths)
Calhoun, from 1856	Clay, from 1858	Doddridge, from 1853
Fayette, from 1866	Gilmer, from 1853	Grant, from 1866
Greenbrier, from 1853	Hampshire, from 1865	Hancock, from 1853
Hardy, from 1853	Harrison, from 1853	Jackson, from 1853
Jefferson, from 1853	Kanawha, from 1853	Lewis, from 1853
Lincoln, from 1867	Logan, from 1872 some births 1853-60 at Virginia State Library	Marion, from 1860
Marshall, from 1853	Mason, from 1853	McDowell, from 1858
Mercer, from 1853	Mineral, from 1865	Mingo, from 1895
Monongalia, from 1853	Monroe, from 1853	Morgan, from 1865
Nicholas, from 1855 (births), 1919 (deaths)	Ohio, from 1853	Pendleton, from 1853
Pleasants, from 1853	Pocahontas, from 1854 (births), 1853 (deaths)	Preston, from 1868
Putnam, from 1853	Raleigh, from 1853	Randolph, from 1853
Ritchie, from 1853	Roane, from 1856	Summers, from 1871
Taylor, from 1853	Tucker, from 1856	Tyler, from 1853
Upshur, from 1853	Wayne, from 1853	Webster, from 1888
Wetzel, from 1853	Wirt, from 1870	Wood, from 1853
Wyoming, from 1853