West Virginia Marriage Records

The government department in charge of vital public records in West Virginia is the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. Under its Public Health Bureau is the Health Statistics Center (HSC) which also functions as the state repository of vital records of which West Virginia Marriage Records is part. The Vital Registration Office is one of the 2 divisions within the HSC, the other being the Statistics Services and Chronic Disease Epidemiology Unit. Along with Birth, Death and Divorce documents, Marriage information of West Virginia since 1921 are maintained there.

In terms of obtaining Marriage Records, West Virginia is not an “open record” state. This information is restricted only to authorized government departments and certain eligible individuals such as the bride and groom of the records and their children and grandchildren. Certified copies of Marriage Certificates from only 1964 onwards are available. Requests for them made in person or through the mail cost $12.00. This is a non-refundable search fee whether or not a result is yielded, payable in cash, check or money order. Debit/Credit card payment are accepted for phone, fax or internet requests at $30.50 + shipping and $35.50 + shipping for Non-Rush and Rush processing respectively. The Clerk of County Court in the district where the wedding was held can also provide West Virginia Marriage Records but procedures, processing time and fees vary among the various counties. West Virginia Marriage Records are also archived at the Division of Culture and History in Charleston, WV.