Birth Certificates

The Ohio County Clerk’s Office keeps official records of recorded births that occur in Ohio County; our records date from 1853 to the present.

PLEASE NOTE, West Virginia is not an “open record” state. Therefore, restrictions apply as to who may obtain a Birth Certificate. However, if you are trying to obtain a Birth Certificate for an individual (not related to yourself) but the individual was born 100 years ago or longer, you can have a copy of their Birth Certificate. You might want to try the West Virginia Division of History and Archives website for the possibility that the individual was born outside of Ohio County, in another West Virginia county; this website will have more specific information than our Birth Certificate.

Requirements for Obtaining a Birth Certificate

If making a request in person, you must have:

  • A valid identification, from the list provided below
  • Payment of $5.00 in cash or by credit card (no checks) per requested copy

Office hours are from Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

OR

If requesting by mail, you must:

  • Provide a written request (including the name, date of birth, parents’ names including mother’s maiden name) or complete the online request form available on this website
  • Enclose a photocopy of your Driver’s License or State-Issued ID
  • Enclose $5.00 (cash or money order ONLY) per requested copy
  • Provide a self-addressed stamped envelope that is a least 4”x 9.5” in size

Requests are generally processed/mailed the same day received.

Forms of Valid Identification

  • Driver’s License or State ID
  • Passport
  • Major Credit Card with a picture of the cardholder

In the event that you do not have any of the above forms of identification, but do have:

  • A Vehicle Insurance Card
  • A Vehicle Registration Card
  • A current utility bill or pay stub with name and address

then we will mail the requested document to you, at the address listed on the document that you provided to us; please note:

Forms of Documentation to Establish Relationship

Birth certificates are generally issued to family members such as parents, spouses, adult children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and additional generations of the same, provided that they have identification that links them to the name of the individual named on the Birth Certificate; UNLESS, the date of birth is over 100 years ago or older.

Remember, it is necessary to have identification that links you to the individual named on the Birth Certificate. A Driver’s License or State Issued ID can be used along with Birth Certificates, other Death Certificates, and Marriage Certificates. IF SUCH DOCUMENTS ARE NOT ON RECORD IN THE OHIO COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE, IT IS THE REQUESTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING CERTIFIED COPIES WITH THEM WHEN MAKING THE REQUEST.

If you wish to make a request by mail, you can use the “Mail in Application” form or send a letter with the pertinent information that can be viewed on the “Mail in Application” form. Either method requires (1) a photocopy of your Driver’s License or State-Issued ID, document(s) to establish your connection to the individual listed on the Birth Certificate, (2) your telephone number (if we need to contact you), and (3) the fee of $5.00 per copy (cash or money order ONLY; no checks). The address for requesting copies is:

OHIO COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE
ROOM 205
1500 CHAPLINE STREET
WHEELING, WV 26003

Please contact our Office with any questions regarding how to obtain a Birth Certificate at (304) 234-3729