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Finding West Virginia Birth Records

Births after 1900 often have restrictions on who can see them. Each state has its own laws. One state may have births for some years available to the public while other states may limit access to living relatives.

Statewide registration of births began in 1917 in West Virginia and was generally complied with by 1925. The counties have copies of these records.

The current law for the state registration of births in West Virginia is a restriction on births to only immediate family members for births within the last 100 years. However, the counties of West Virginia also recorded birth records, and their records are online up to 1930.

When did the birth occur?
Choose one of the following:


 * Births before 1853
 * Births between 1853 to 1863
 * Births between 1863 to 1930
 * Births between 1931 to 1969
 * Births after 1969 to the present
 * I don't know when the birth is

West Virginia became a state in 1863. Before 1863, it was a part of Virginia. Virginia began recording births on the county level starting in 1852. Not every birth was registered in each county leaving gaps in the records. Before 1852, no births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Births Before 1853
Because no birth records were created before 1853 by the local or federal government, you must use substitute records to locate birth information.

Substitutes for birth record information:


 * Church Records: Depending on the denomination, church records may contain information about birth, marriage and death.
 * Cemetery Records: Cemetery records are a rich source of birth and death information. These records may also reveal family relationships.
 * Census: Census records are a valuable source for birth and marriage information.
 * Newspapers: Besides obituaries, local newspapers may contain birth and marriage announcements and death notices. Also check newspaper social columns for additional information.
 * Military Records: Military pension records may give birth, marriage and death information. In addition, soldiers' homes records may include this same information.

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Births Between 1853 to 1863
Not all births were recorded for every county. For those that exist, use the following:

Index and Records


 * 1853-1930 at [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch.org - Free, index and digital version of birth records, not all counties are complete to 1930

Index Only


 * 1853-1930 West Virginia, Births, 1853-1903 at West Virginia Division of Culture and History website - free, index only, not all counties are complete to 1930

TIPS: If you can’t find your individual, try the following:


 * Because most of the state copies of the records from 1917 to 1921 were destroyed in a fire, it is best to request vital records through 1921 from the county clerk.
 * If you did not get results, type in less information about the person. Try only searching for the first and last name of the person.
 * If you have too many hits, try adding information including approximate birth date and the county.
 * Try a different index. Different indexes use different search parameters and your ancestor may be located in one but not the other.

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Births Between 1863 to 1930
Index and Records


 * 1853-1930 at FamilySearch.org - Free, index and digital version of birth records, not all counties are complete to 1930

Index Only


 * 1853-1930 West Virginia, Births, 1853-1903 at West Virginia Division of Culture and History website - free, index only, not all counties are complete to 1930

TIPS: If you can’t find your individual, try the following:


 * Because most of the state copies of the records from 1917 to 1921 were destroyed in a fire, it is best to request vital records through 1921 from the county clerk.
 * If you did not get results, type in less information about the person. Try only searching for the first and last name of the person.
 * If you have too many hits, try adding information including approximate birth date and the county.
 * Try a different index. Different indexes use different search parameters and your ancestor may be located in one but not the other.

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Step ONE: Find the birth in the Index
Index Only


 * 1853-1969 West Virginia, Births Index, 1853–1969 at Ancestry.com - $, free version available at Family History Centers

TIPS: If you can’t find your individual, try the following:


 * If you did not get results, type in less information about the person. Try only search for the first and last name of the person.
 * If you have too many hits, try adding information including approximate birth date and the county

Step TWO: Obtain the Certificate
Persons born within the last 100 years: To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
 * The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
 * The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
 * The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone else until after 100 years from the date of the birth.

Persons born more than 100 years ago: From the information found in the index, you can order a copy of the birth certificate from the West Virginia Vital Registration office.

If you do not know the exact date of death: For a fee, the Vital Registration office will do a 3 year search.

Because most of the state copies of the records from 1917 to 1921 were destroyed in a fire, it is best to request vital records through 1921 from the county clerk. Top of Page

Births After 1969
If you know the exact date of birth, you can order a copy of the certificate if you are:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
 * The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
 * The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
 * The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone else until after 100 years from the date of the birth.

Order a copy of the birth certificate from the Vital Registration office. If you do not know the exact date of death: For a fee, the Vital Registration office will do a 3 year search.

Substitutes for birth record information:


 * Church Records: Depending on the denomination, church records may contain information about birth, marriage and death.
 * Cemetery Records: Cemetery records are a rich source of birth and death information. These records may also reveal family relationships.
 * Census: Census records are a valuable source for birth and marriage information.
 * Newspapers: Besides obituaries, local newspapers may contain birth and marriage announcements and death notices. Also check newspaper social columns for additional information.

Top of Page