Resided in by more or less two million individuals, the state of West Virginia is not without its share of vital documents, from records of birth to dissolution of marriages. The state’s Division of Health Vital Registration has an extensive collection of these reports, whether its West Virginia marriage records, divorce decrees, birth certificates, or death accounts. We may have varying reasons for our interests with such documents, but most of us go to the Vital Registration office to gain access to these important legal dossiers and perhaps obtain a certified copy of the record we need.
In 1921, the state of West Virginia has experienced a fire that obliterated a significant portion of its vital record database. Due to this incident, the Vital Registration office may not have a complete collection of public records prior to 1921. Fortunately, vital records from 1853 onwards are still available at different county offices in the county where the events occurred. In fact, some counties even have marriage certificates that date back to the 1870s. If you are looking for documents that are quite old, it would be prudent to contact the court clerk or registrar in the originating county where the event took place.
If you want to acquire a marriage certificate that is not available at the state’s Vital Registration office, you need to figure out which county the event occurred so you can ask for a copy at the County Clerk. By calling the county office, you can also learn the proper procedures and requirements in requesting such documents. According to the official website of the Division of Health, each certified copy of a marital record will cost you $12, payable to the Vital Registration’s office.
The state government in West Virginia maintains an official website where all of the state’s services are cataloged, including the Vital Registration page. There are two ways to obtain a request form. You either visit the office in person or you download the form online, through the aforementioned website. You need to fill out the form as clearly as possible and submit it either in person or by mail. The latter will take several working days before you will be able to receive the documents you requested.
However, privately run online record search services are a much better alternative when it comes to efficiently acquiring vital information in a short amount of time. If you need to do a background check on another individual, a reputable online record provider is definitely a wise and practical choice. For a mere one-time payment, a registered user can perform unlimited searches in the website’s all-encompassing database of vital records, from birth certificates to divorce decrees.
In addition, because these record search websites cater to different parties all across the US, naturally, the records housed in their databases are quite extensive and far-reaching. Meaning, vital records from every state and territory are housed in one roof. You won’t have to open multiple websites or services to obtain records from another state. If you wish to access marriage licenses, for example, all you have to do is enter the name of the individual, specify the type of record you want to view, and choose the state. Once you hit “Enter”, the information you are searching for should be appearing on your screen almost immediately.
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