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The End of Life Plannerby Valoren

General information · not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Free · general informationWest Virginia

Death certificates in West Virginia

What a certified copy of the death certificate costs in West Virginia and how one is ordered, in the official words. No figure on this page is ours; each is the office’s or the statute’s, with the date it was checked.

  • Every fact dated, in the official words
  • Each state’s own law

Every quotation checked October 24, 2026

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Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.

Filing the death certificate: where, how soon, and who files it

A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the section of vital statistics, or as otherwise directed by the State Registrar, within five days after death, and prior to final disposition…

(b) The funeral director or other person who assumes custody of the dead body shall:

(3) Upon receipt of the medical certification, file the certificate of death

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · W. Va. Code §16-5-19(a)–(c)

The county clerk’s register of deaths, and whether it is public

a copy of the certificates of all deaths occurring in the county … from which copies the clerk shall compile a register of deaths, in a form prescribed by the state Registrar. The register shall be a public record.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · W. Va. Code §16-5-19(i)

The fee ceiling in the statute, and extra fees for faster copies

not to exceed $10 per copy … Provided, That the fee may be increased to a maximum of $12 per copy, at the discretion of the commissioner, after July 1, 2008.

The commissioner may prescribe additional fees for the priority production or express delivery of certified copies.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · W. Va. Code §16-5-29(a)–(b)

Who may obtain a copy, the confidentiality rule, and identification

Death records are confidential and not open to the general public, except for those that are at least 50 years old.

Who is entitled to obtain records:

Informant listed on the death certificate;

Parents/grandparents;

Adult children/grandchildren;

Adult siblings;

Spouse; and

Legal representatives (proof of legal representation also required).

Photo identification is required for all orders.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · WV Health Statistics Center death certificate application

Same-day service in person, online orders through vendors, and how to pay

Same-day walk in service is available at the Vital Registration Office at 350 Capitol Street in Charleston.

Accepted forms of payment are check and money order only.

All online orders are handled by third-party vendors and any customer service issues regarding orders placed via third party vendors must be handled directly by the specific vendor used.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · WV Health Statistics Center, Certificate Requests

The same page for other states

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FAQ

Common questions

The cost of a certificate is $12 per copy.

Regardless of the fees charged by third-party vendors, the state receives $12 per copy.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · WV Health Statistics Center, Certificate Requests

not to exceed $10 per copy … Provided, That the fee may be increased to a maximum of $12 per copy, at the discretion of the commissioner, after July 1, 2008.

The commissioner may prescribe additional fees for the priority production or express delivery of certified copies.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · W. Va. Code §16-5-29(a)–(b)

Death records are confidential and not open to the general public, except for those that are at least 50 years old.

Who is entitled to obtain records:

Informant listed on the death certificate;

Parents/grandparents;

Adult children/grandchildren;

Adult siblings;

Spouse; and

Legal representatives (proof of legal representation also required).

Photo identification is required for all orders.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · WV Health Statistics Center death certificate application

Same-day walk in service is available at the Vital Registration Office at 350 Capitol Street in Charleston.

Accepted forms of payment are check and money order only.

All online orders are handled by third-party vendors and any customer service issues regarding orders placed via third party vendors must be handled directly by the specific vendor used.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · WV Health Statistics Center, Certificate Requests

Same-day walk in service is available at the Vital Registration Office at 350 Capitol Street in Charleston.

Accepted forms of payment are check and money order only.

All online orders are handled by third-party vendors and any customer service issues regarding orders placed via third party vendors must be handled directly by the specific vendor used.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · WV Health Statistics Center, Certificate Requests

A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the section of vital statistics, or as otherwise directed by the State Registrar, within five days after death, and prior to final disposition…

(b) The funeral director or other person who assumes custody of the dead body shall:

(3) Upon receipt of the medical certification, file the certificate of death

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · W. Va. Code §16-5-19(a)–(c)

Death records are confidential and not open to the general public, except for those that are at least 50 years old.

Who is entitled to obtain records:

Informant listed on the death certificate;

Parents/grandparents;

Adult children/grandchildren;

Adult siblings;

Spouse; and

Legal representatives (proof of legal representation also required).

Photo identification is required for all orders.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · WV Health Statistics Center death certificate application

a copy of the certificates of all deaths occurring in the county … from which copies the clerk shall compile a register of deaths, in a form prescribed by the state Registrar. The register shall be a public record.

West Virginia · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · W. Va. Code §16-5-19(i)

For anyone who would rather their family found it all in one place than went looking.

A couple. A parent. An adult child and a parent, doing it together. One sitting starts it; keep it current, and tell someone where it is.

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