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Services from the Main Office of the County Clerk:
The Main Office of the County Clerk provides a wide range of services to the public. From assisting patrons with a search, to preparing applications for a marriage license or birth certificate, our professional team of dependable clerks is ready to serve.
Vital Statistics – You may request copies of birth, marriage or death records. (As West Virginia is not an open records state, restrictions apply on who may make requests.)
General information is provided in a friendly and ready-to-assist manner. If our office cannot provide the information you seek, we will do our best to point you in the right direction. The County Clerk has a staff consisting of 16 professional clerks who are cross-trained in virtually every department to ensure the Clerk’s commitment to providing top-notch service to our community.
Genealogy Research
Birth Certificates
The Jefferson County Clerk's Office keeps official records of births that occur in Jefferson County. Our records date back to 1853.
In terms of obtaining vital records, West Virginia is not an "open record" state.
To obtain a Birth Certificate, you must:
Visit our office at:
Jefferson County Clerk's Office
Historic Charles Town West Virginia
100 East Washington Street
Charles Town, WV
Phone: (304)728-3215
Hours :
9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday-Friday
Write us to:
Jennifer S. Maghan
Jefferson County Clerk
Office of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 208
100 East Washington Street
Charles Town, WV 25414
Please include the following items:
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Request letter
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a photocopy of your photo identification (e.g., drivers license, state issued identification, etc.)
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a check or money order of $5.00 payable to the Jefferson County Clerk
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a self-addressed stamped envelope
Contact WV Department of Health and Human Resources:
Vital Registration
350 Capitol Street, Room 165
Charleston, WV 25301-3701
Phone: (304)558-2931
Fax: (304)558-8001
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Eastern
Marriage Licenses
Before getting married in West Virginia or Jefferson County, couples must obtain a marriage license together, in person, from the County Clerk's Office.
Eligibility
Under West Virginia law, only eligible persons can marry. Both the bride and groom must:
Individuals who reside out of state may not apply for a marriage license in West Virginia if such a marriage would not be legal in their home state.
If either the bride or groom resides in West Virginia, the couple must make application in the County where he/she resides, but may be married anywhere in the State.
Exceptions
Under state law, applicants who are 16 and 17 years old may obtain a marriage license with parental consent.
If a court-appointed legal guardian is providing consent, a certified copy of the appointment is required. Either parents or the legal guardians must provide a notarized affidavit of consent of the marriage at that time.
Underage applicants must provide valid identification, and are subject to a 3-day waiting period.
Applicants who are 16 or 17 must present a certfied copy of their birth certificate.
Applying
Couples must appear together at the Jefferson County Courthouse. They must:
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fill out and sign a marriage license application.
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present valid identification with proof of age.
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pay a $ 36 fee (cash or personal check).
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provide social security numbers.
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provide mothers' and fathers' full names at birth (first, middle and last names), City and the State or Foreign Country of their births.
Applicants who have been previously married must provide the exact month, day and year that the previous marriage ended, and indicate whether it was by death, divorce or annulment.
Timelines and Restrictions
Marriage licenses are:
A couple may be married either by a minister that is registered in the state of West Virginia or a Judicial Judge. It is the couple’s responsibility to make these arrangements.
After the Marriage Ceremony
The individual(s) performing the ceremony must complete the marriage license and mail or deliver it to the Clerk’s Office.
For a fee of $5.00 per copy, you may obtain a copy of your marriage certificate at the County Clerk’s Office, or by mail by sending the fee with pertinent information to the address found in this pamphlet.
Civil Ceremony in Jefferson County
A civil ceremony can be arranged, by appointment only, through the Jefferson County Family Court Judge.
The Honorable Judge David Greenberg
119 N. George Street
Charles Town, WV 25414.
Phone: (304)724-6253, or
The Honorable Judge David Sanders
110 E. Washington Street
Charles Town, WV 25414
Phone: (304) 728-3201
Religious OfficialsEffective September 1, 2005 All religious officials performing marriages in the State of West Virginia are required to file with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. Registration packets can be obtained by calling the Secretary of State’s Office toll free at (866)767-8683 or visiting their website at http://www.wvsos.com/A record of each marriage performed must be kept as a permanent record in their Church.
Acceptable Forms of IdentificationTo obtain certain vital records, you are required to submit one or more copies of ID. Any photo on an ID must match the face of the requesting individual. Identification required for obtaining vital statistics records (In the order of best acceptability):
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An UNEXPIRED state issued driver’s license.
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U.S. or foreign passport, visa, national identity cards issued by US government to foreign nationals.
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An expired version of 1. or 2. listed above.
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Employment photo ID issued by the Federal, State or local government, including military or photo ID card from a government-sponsored program. (NO business IDs, NO student IDs).
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Major credit card with a photo of the card holder.
If no photo ID is avilable, you may submit one of the following:
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major credit card
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motor vehicle registration card
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state social services program card
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current utility bill or pay stub with name and current address
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signed affidavit attesting to the requesting person's identity by someone who is accompanying the requestor, and who does have an acceptable photo ID, along with a copy of that photo ID.
Genealogy Research
The best online source of data for genealogical searches is the West Virginia State Government Archives and History home page, located at: http://www.wvculture.org/history/genealog.html.
Other Internet resources are WV Gen WEB Project and West Virginia University Libraries, West Virginia Collection.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has compiled extensive genealogical records and may have useful information. This web site is located at http://www.lds.org/familyhistory/
The County Clerk’s Office is an official license issuing agency for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
In order to obtain a Hunting/Fishing license or additional stamps, our office will need to see a valid photo identification (driver’s license, or state issued identification), and a Certificate of Hunter Education Course Completion if born after January 1st, 1975.
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