West Virginia Research Tips and Strategies

West Virginia Research Strategies
Below are links to different research strategy pages to help you locate your ancestors in West Virginia


 * West Virginia Online Genealogy Records
 * How to find West Virginia Birth Records
 * How to find West Virginia Marriage Records
 * How to find West Virginia Death Records

West Virginia Research Tips
These tips will help you as your research your ancestors in West Virginia.


 * Birth information: Birth records in West Virginia start on the county level in 1905 - although not all counties complied with the law. The best substitute record for locating birth information is death records (the majority of death records will list the date of birth of the decedent, and since death certificates are considered a primary resource, they can provide you with the same documentation as a birth certificate). Or, try these other substitute records.
 * Finding Parents: The State of West Virginia began recording deaths in 1905. They often will list the parents of the deceased and their birth information. Search West Virginia death records
 * Look in all censuses: Always look for your ancestor in every possible census. There are clues regarding immigration, naturalization, and occupation that can lead to other records. Sometimes parents can be found living with their children later in life. Search U.S. Censuses.