West Virginia Genealogy Records

To begin, add a genealogy record or view a list of locations and resources for West Virginia genealogy records.

The West Virginia Health Statistics Center maintains all vital records concerning the birth, death, or marriage of any person in the state of West Virginia. Genealogy records typically include these documents, as well as divorce records. Divorce records, however, are not kept at the state level and must be requested from the courthouse in the county where the divorce was finalized. Fortunately for those looking for genealogy records, West Virginia has a very liberal definition of immediate family members who are eligible to receive certified copies of birth records. Eligible family members include parents, spouse, grandparents, children, and siblings, as well as step-siblings and step-parents, son or daughter-in-law, and mother or father-in-law. Death certificates, however, are only issued to the deceased person's next of kin or people with a legal right to the certificate. Marriage records are only available to the husband or wife, their adult children or adult grandchildren.

According to state code 48-22-702, all records and information pertaining to adoption are sealed and cannot be made available to anyone for viewing without a court order.