West Virginia documents are apostilled by the West Virginia Secretary of State in Charleston. If your document was issued in West Virginia, or notarized by a notary commissioned in West Virginia, that is the only office that can certify it, wherever you live now.
West Virginia apostilles come from the Secretary of State in Charleston: $10 for the first document and $5 for each additional one in the same request.
We handle West Virginia orders by mail from anywhere in the country, and a mobile notary can come to you anywhere in West Virginia when a document needs signing first. The state fee is already inside our price, along with the submission and return shipping.
At a glance
West Virginia documents we apostille most often
| Document | Where it comes from | Notarization |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | The West Virginia Health Statistics Center | Not required, certified copy |
| Marriage certificate | The county clerk | Not required, certified copy |
| Death certificate | The West Virginia Health Statistics Center | Not required, certified copy |
| Divorce decree | Clerk of the court that granted it | Not required, needs court seal |
| Power of attorney, affidavit | You | Required, West Virginia notary |
| Diploma or transcript | Your school | Usually required |
| Company documents | WV Secretary of State | Certified copies, or notarized if company-issued |
| FBI check, IRS, USCIS | Federal agency | Federal, goes to the U.S. Dept. of State |
Not sure which you have? Send it through the free review and we will tell you before you pay. No usable copy? We can order a certified copy.
West Virginia-specific things worth knowing
- Cheaper in a batch. Each document after the first costs $5 at the state.
- Marriage records come from the county clerk.
- The notary must be commissioned in West Virginia. A document notarized across a state line goes to that state instead.
- Federal documents never go to WV Secretary of State. An FBI background check, IRS letter or naturalization certificate is apostilled by the U.S. Department of State. See federal apostille.
How it works
Step 1
Send us the document
Post the original in, book a mobile notary who comes to you anywhere in West Virginia, or have us retrieve a certified copy.
Step 2
We check it first
We confirm the copy is certified, correctly sealed, and notarized where needed, before any state fee is paid.
Step 3
Apostille from WV Secretary of State
We submit to Charleston and pay the $10 state fee, which is already included in your price.
Step 4
Back to you
Shipped tracked and insured, or scanned and emailed as soon as it is issued.
West Virginia Apostille: common questions
Who issues apostilles in West Virginia?
The West Virginia Secretary of State, in Charleston. Documents issued in West Virginia, or notarized by a West Virginia notary, go there.
How much does a West Virginia apostille cost?
The state charges $10 ($5 each additional). Our price starts at $99 per document and already includes that fee, so there is nothing extra to pay the state. See pricing.
Does West Virginia need a county certification first?
No. West Virginia certifies its notaries and officials directly, so a correct document goes straight to the state.
My document is federal. Can West Virginia apostille it?
No. An FBI background check, IRS letter, USCIS document or federal court record carries a federal signature, so it goes to the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., whichever state you live in. See federal apostille.
I live outside West Virginia. Can I still get a West Virginia apostille?
Yes. The state that issued the document decides the office, not where you live. Post it to us from anywhere and we submit it in Charleston.
How long does a West Virginia apostille take?
It depends on the state’s current queue plus shipping. See processing times for what we are seeing now, and ask about rush if you have a deadline.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
West Virginia Secretary of State, apostilles · CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records
Ready to get started?
Book online for an exact price, including the West Virginia state fee.
Related: Apostille by state · Virginia apostille · Pennsylvania apostille · Ohio apostille · Federal apostille