The Ohio County Clerk’s Office keeps official records of recorded marriages that occur in Ohio County; our records date from 1790 to the present.
PLEASE NOTE, West Virginia is not an “open record” state. Therefore, restrictions apply as to who may obtain a Marriage Certificate. However, if you are trying to obtain a Marriage Certificate of individuals (not related to yourself) but the marriage ceremony took place 50 years ago or longer, you can have a copy of the Marriage Certificate. You might want to try the West Virginia Division of History and Archives website for the possibility that the couple was married in another part of West Virginia; this website will have more specific information than our Marriage Certificate.
Requirements for Obtaining a Marriage 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 (include both names of the couple PRIOR to the marriage, and the date of marriage, 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
Marriage 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 Marriage Certificate; UNLESS, the date of the marriage is 50 years or older.
Remember, it is necessary to have identification that links you to the individual named on the Marriage 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 Marriage 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 Marriage Certificate at (304) 234-3729