Claire Dawson
The West Virginia Vital Registration Office is the custodian of birth certificates for individuals born in West Virginia from 1917 to the present. Hospitals typically take up to a month to submit birth certificates to the office, after which it takes about a week for the certificate to be placed on file. The office issues certified copies of birth certificates, which serve as legal proof of age, citizenship, and parentage. These certified copies are accepted by local, state, and federal governments for various purposes, including applying for social security numbers, driver's licenses, and passports. While the office provides instructions for purchasing certified certificates by mail, phone, fax, or the internet, it does not currently accept debit or credit cards for mail-in or walk-in counter requests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Custodian of birth certificates | West Virginia Vital Registration Office |
| Address | Vital Registration Room 165 350 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301-3701 |
| Phone number | (304) 558-2931 |
| Fax | (304) 558-8001 |
| Office Hours | Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00 Eastern Time except for official holidays |
| Birth certificate search fee | $12.00 (non-refundable) |
| Payment methods | Cash, check, money orders, credit card/debit card (online, by phone, or fax) |
| Additional search fee | $12.00 per three-year period |
| Processing time for recent births | Up to a month for the hospital to send the certificate, about a week for processing |
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What You'll Learn
- The West Virginia Vital Registration Office issues certified birth certificates
- Hospitals don't produce birth certificates for stillbirths
- It can take up to a month for the hospital to send birth certificates
- A $12 fee covers a three-year search for birth certificates
- Certified birth certificates are accepted as legal proof for many applications
The West Virginia Vital Registration Office issues certified birth certificates
The West Virginia Vital Registration Office is the state-level custodian of birth certificates for individuals born in West Virginia from 1917 to the present. The office issues certified copies of birth certificates, which are legal proof of age, U.S. citizenship, and parentage. These certified copies are accepted by local, state, and federal governments for various purposes, such as applying for social security numbers, driver's licenses, school admission, military service, marriage licenses, U.S. passports, and retirement benefits.
To obtain a certified birth certificate, individuals can visit the Vital Registration Office in person, send a request by mail, or use the phone, internet, or fax options. The office is located at 350 Capitol Street, Room 165, Charleston, WV 25301-3701, and is open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding official holidays. The phone number is (304) 558-2931, and the fax number is (304) 558-8001.
There is a non-refundable $12 search fee for each certified copy of a birth certificate requested. This fee covers a three-year search, including the year specified and the years before and after. If no record is found, a "No Record" letter will be mailed to the applicant. Additional copies of the birth certificate can be obtained for $12 each. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders for mail-in and in-person requests.
For expedited service, individuals can use the VitalChek® network, which accepts credit and debit card payments (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover). This service incurs additional charges. Before contacting VitalChek®, it is recommended to have the Birth Certificate Request form printed out and ready, along with the necessary credit card information.
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Hospitals don't produce birth certificates for stillbirths
In West Virginia, the Vital Registration Office is the state-level custodian of birth certificates. It issues certified copies of birth certificates from the original certificate on file. However, hospitals do not produce birth certificates for stillbirths. Instead, a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth is an abstracted form of a Report of Fetal Death. This report must be on file with the Vital Registration Office before a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth can be produced.
The process of obtaining a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth can vary depending on the state. Some states allow for in-person requests at the Vital Records office, while others do not. It is possible to request the certificate by mail or through an online system, as in the case of Arizona. The completion of a form is typically required, including the applicant's name and contact information, their relationship to the child, the full name and sex of the child, the names of both parents, the hospital or location of stillbirth, and the delivery date.
The fees associated with obtaining a birth certificate in West Virginia are $12 per copy, payable by cash, check, or money order. This fee covers a three-year search, consisting of the year specified and the preceding and succeeding years. Additional searches may be conducted for a fee of $12 per three-year period.
It is important to note that each state has its own reporting guidelines for fetal death and stillbirth, often based on weeks of gestation and/or the weight of the fetus. In most states, a Fetal Death Certificate is prepared for babies who are 20 weeks of gestational age. However, some states, like Utah, issue a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth, which acknowledges that a mother gave birth, rather than solely providing a Fetal Death Certificate.
The process of registering a stillbirth involves obtaining a medical certificate of stillbirth from a doctor or midwife, which must then be taken to the registrar of births and deaths. The local register office can provide guidance on the required documentation for registration. Additionally, hospital staff can explain the process and assist with decision-making before registering the stillbirth.
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It can take up to a month for the hospital to send birth certificates
In West Virginia, the West Virginia Vital Registration Office is the state-level custodian of birth certificates. The office issues certified copies of birth certificates, which are accepted as legal proof for applying for social security numbers, driver's licenses, entrance to schools, entrance to the military, marriage licenses, U.S. passports, and retirement benefits, among other things.
While the process of obtaining a birth certificate may vary depending on the state, hospital, and other factors, it is important to note that it can generally take some time to receive the certificate. In some cases, it can take up to a month for the hospital to send birth certificates to the Vital Registration Office, and there may be additional processing time before the certificate is officially filed and ready for collection or delivery. This timeline is specifically mentioned on the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) website, indicating that it is a common timeframe for hospitals in the state to provide birth certificate information.
The process of obtaining a birth certificate can vary, and it is always a good idea to check with your specific hospital and local government offices to understand their procedures. In some cases, hospitals may submit the necessary paperwork to report the birth, and you can then follow up with the county clerk's office or a similar government office to obtain the birth certificate. Some hospitals may provide forms that can be mailed in, or you may be able to request a copy of the birth certificate online.
It is worth noting that there may be costs associated with obtaining a birth certificate, and these costs can vary depending on the state and the number of copies required. In West Virginia, there is a non-refundable $12 search fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate, and additional copies also cost $12 each. The DHHR accepts cash, checks, and money orders for these payments.
To expedite the process of obtaining a birth certificate, some states and counties offer expedited services, often for an additional charge. For example, West Virginia contracts with a company called VitalChek to provide expedited services for an extra fee. These services can be convenient if you need to obtain a birth certificate quickly, but be sure to check the specific options and requirements for your state and county.
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A $12 fee covers a three-year search for birth certificates
The West Virginia Vital Registration Office is the state-level custodian of birth certificates for people born in West Virginia from 1917 to the present. The office issues certified copies of birth certificates, which are accepted as legal proof of age, citizenship, and parentage by local, state, and federal governments. These certified copies can be used to apply for social security numbers, driver's licenses, school and military admissions, marriage licenses, U.S. passports, and retirement benefits.
To request a birth certificate, individuals can visit the office, mail in a request, or order by phone, fax, or internet. The Vital Registration Office address is Vital Registration, Room 165, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, WV 25301-3701. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding official holidays.
There is a non-refundable $12 search fee for birth certificate requests, which covers a three-year search: the year specified on the request and the preceding and following years. This fee includes one certified copy of the birth certificate. Additional copies can be requested for $12 each. Payments can be made via cash, check, or money order.
It is important to note that hospitals do not produce birth certificates for stillbirths. For stillbirth certificates, a Report of Fetal Death must be on file with the Vital Registration Office before a certificate can be produced.
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Certified birth certificates are accepted as legal proof for many applications
A birth certificate is one of the first legal documents acquired by an individual. In the United States, birth certificates are necessary for several purposes, including obtaining a social security number, applying for a passport, enrolling in schools, getting a driver's license, gaining employment, or applying for other benefits.
Certified birth certificates are distinct from informational birth certificates, which merely provide information about a birth and cannot be used for legal purposes. Certified copies, on the other hand, are official documents that serve as legal proof of identity and are required for various official processes. They are often printed on thick paper with watermarks and bear the phrase "Certified Copy" along with official government seals or stamps.
- Applying for a driver's license or state ID
- Applying for a passport
- School enrollment
- Proving citizenship in the U.S.
- Applying for social security numbers
- Applying for marriage licenses
- Applying for retirement benefits
In West Virginia, the Vital Registration Office issues certified copies of birth certificates for people born in the state from 1917 to the present. The office accepts requests for birth certificates by mail, phone, fax, or internet, and the cost is $12 per copy.
It's worth noting that copies provided to parents at the hospital are usually mementos and not official certifications. To obtain a certified copy for official purposes, individuals typically need to contact the relevant Department of Health or vital records office.
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Frequently asked questions
Vital Registration Room 165, 350 Capitol Street Charleston, WV 25301-3701.
Telephone: （304) 558-2931, Fax: （304) 558-8001, Email: not specified.
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, except for official holidays.
There is a non-refundable $12 fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate. This fee covers a three-year search, and additional copies are also $12 each. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted.
Yes, you can request a birth certificate by phone, mail, fax, or internet. An expedited service is available through VitalChek® for an additional charge, payable by credit or debit card.
