In West Virginia, death records are on file for many of those who have lived and died in the state from very early times. Death records are an official notation of a person's death. There are various forms. For example, the state does not actually record and hold the death certificate. These are available at the county level. A registration of the death, though, which is a notation of it, are likely on file with the state. It is also possible to find non-legally binding death records from the various religious organizations and towns in the region. If you need this information for any reason, knowing where to look is always the first step in finding the records.

In West Virginia, many of the death records on file are hard to find. More so, some are lost. Others are readily available and searchable by the public. Keep in mind that many of the counties that were a part of West Virginia were formed prior to June of 1863. This is the time when Congress officially recognized West Virginia a state separate from Virginia itself. Some of these counties were still under laws used in Virginia prior to this. In other cases, many of the laws continued on from the early years, thus many of Virginia's state records will contain official death notices of those who lived in West Virginia as well. Finding the right information is a complex process in some cases.

In 1853, the state did require for all death records to be put on file with the state. From the period of 1853 through 1863, those death records are on file with Virginia's death records. From that point onward, though, you are likely to find records available in the state of West Virginia. From the period of time of 1917 through 1921, though, a fire destroyed all death and birth records in the area. These were never recovered. If you are looking for any death record from January of 1920 onward, the best place for getting this information is through the Division of Vital Statistics. You can do that by writing the following address or visiting the location directly.

West Virginia Department of Health

Division of Vital Statistics

Capitol Complex

Charleston, West Virginia 25305

When applying for West Virginia death records, it is a good idea to gather this information from the state level first. There may be a minimal fee to pay for the search of these records. It can also take time for you to find these records. Sometimes, the search of these records can take up to several months to work through.

In West Virginia, death records may also be available informally through religious organizations and even cemetery records. It is a good idea to look at all records even those at the county level since they can provide for you the most details possible. Take into consideration the range of death records available to you and what those records may mean to your family genealogy reports.

 

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