Birth Certificates

SPECIAL NOTICE
In Accordance With (IAW)
West Virginia State Law 18-2-5c

No pupil shall be admitted for the first time to any public school in this state unless the person enrolling the pupil presents a copy of the pupil's original birth record certified by the state registrar of vital statistics confirming the pupil's identity, age, and state file number of the original birth record. If a certified copy of the pupil's birth record cannot be obtained, the person so enrolling the pupil shall submit an affidavit explaining the inability to produce a certified copy of the birth record: Provided, That if any person submitting such affidavit is in U.S. military service and is in transit due to military orders, a three-week extension shall be granted to such person for providing the birth records.  For more information on the State law click here.  

Certified Birth certificates can be obtained from two sources:

  1. Online From the West Virginia State Registrar’s office (click here).   
  2. In Person by visiting the Berkeley County Clerk's Office at 100 West King Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401.   For Directions click here.

In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.

The people who may obtain a Birth certificate are:

  1. The Parents and Grandparents of Person on the Certificate
  2. The Wife or Husband of the Person on the Certificate
  3. The Children and Grandchildren of the Person on the Certificate
  4. The Brothers or Sisters
  5. Anyone who has Legal interest in the Certificate

How Much Does it Cost?  The fee to obtain the birth certificate is $5.00 per copy.  We accept cash, credit/debit cards and money orders.  Money Orders may be made out to the Berkeley County Clerk.

What methods are available for me to obtain a birth certificate?  Currently, two (2) methods are available; In Person and Mail/Postal Service.  

In Person.  This method is the most expedient manner in which to obtain a copy.  Please allow for at least fifteen minutes, even though most requests are completed much quicker. 

Mail/Postal Service.  Ordering by mail is the slowest method to obtain a certificate.  Total time consists of processing time and transit time.  Processing time is the time it takes our office to enter your order into our computer system, make and mail the certificate to you.  Transit time is the time it takes the Post Office to deliver the mail.

  1. Processing time is usually about one business day, but can change depending upon staffing and order volume.
  2. Transit time can vary greatly.  If mailed within the State of West Virginia, the mail usually takes one to three days to arrive.  We suggest that you allow the Post Office five to seven days for delivery.
  3. Total time is the time it takes from when you mail the request until you receive the certificate.  Total time can be as short as five business days, to 19 business days or longer.

To submit an Application for a Birth Certificate click here. 

Downloads:

Vital Statistics Application