West Virginia Apostille

West Virginia Secretary of State apostilles documents issued, recorded or notarized in West Virginia, for $10 per certification ($5 for each additional document certified by the same public official). Pick the document and the country to see what it needs first and how to send it. This runs in your browser and stores nothing.

West Virginia office checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

This runs in your browser. Nothing you pick is sent, saved or added to the page address.

Pick the state where the document was issued, recorded or notarized, not the state you live in.

Choose who issued the document, the kind of document and the country to see the steps.

Who issues apostilles in West Virginia

Apostilles and authentication certificates for documents issued in West Virginia come from West Virginia Secretary of State (Business & Licensing Division). Official page

Fees

  • Apostille: $10 per certification ($5 for each additional document certified by the same public official). (source)
  • Authentication Certificate (for countries outside the Apostille Convention): $10 per certification (one fee schedule for apostilles and certificates). (source)
  • Each additional document certified by the same public official, instead of $10: $5 (source)

How to send a request

  • By mail (Charleston): mail the original document, Form AC-1 naming the destination country, a check or money order payable to WV Secretary of State and your return address; enclose a prepaid packet for anything other than regular USPS return (source)
  • In person (Charleston): walk-in, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday, at the Charleston office (source)
  • Request form: Apostille and Certification Request (Form AC-1, Rev. 06/2026)
  • The request must name the country where the document will be used.

Processing time, as the office states it:

  • The office tries to process filings within 48 business hours; it can take longer. (source)
  • Walk-in customers are usually served within minutes, depending on the number of documents. (source)
  • Form AC-1 (Rev. 06/2026) words the discount as $5 for each additional document, while the web page limits it to documents certified by the same official; check with the office if your documents have different signers. (source)

What West Virginia needs first, by document

Birth, death or marriage certificate

  • Birth or death certificate: a certified copy signed by the State Registrar or the Clerk of the County Commission where it is on file, with the office stamp. (source)
  • Marriage certificate: a certified copy signed by the Clerk of the County Commission of the county where the marriage was performed, with the office stamp. (source)
  • A notary cannot certify a copy of a record you can get as a certified copy; the clerk's copy needs an original signature and a raised seal. (source)

Court document (divorce decree, court order)

  • Divorce decree: a certified copy signed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court that issued it, with the office stamp; other court orders, a certified copy signed by the issuing court's clerk. (source)

Notarized document (power of attorney, affidavit, consent letter, translation)

  • The notarization needs a full acknowledgment statement, the notary's original signature and the rubber stamp seal; a signature and seal alone is rejected. No county step is named. (source)

School diploma or transcript

  • Transcripts and other school records must be signed by the school official and notarized in West Virginia. (source)
  • Diplomas need an original signature of the school official, notarized in West Virginia. (source)

Other state-issued document (business certificate, state background check)

  • If the office where a document is filed can issue a certified copy, that certified copy must be used. (source)

Countries outside the Apostille Convention

For a country outside the Apostille Convention, West Virginia Secretary of State issues its Authentication Certificate instead of an apostille. Then:

  • For a country outside the Convention, send the state-certified document to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, with Form DS-4194 and the $20 fee per document. (source)

Last, the destination country’s embassy or consulate in the United States legalizes it; ask it about its own steps, fees and timing before you send anything.

What the office will not accept or handle

  • Plain copies; send originals or certified copies. (source)

Checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

What this page does not do

  • It does not file anything. Requests go to West Virginia Secretary of State.
  • It does not cover documents from another state or a federal agency; those go to their own office.
  • It does not list embassy legalization rules for countries outside the Convention.
  • It does not promise processing times; fees and forms change, so check the office's page before you send originals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get an apostille in West Virginia?

West Virginia Secretary of State issues apostilles for documents issued, recorded or notarized in West Virginia. The fee is $10 per certification ($5 for each additional document certified by the same public official). Requests can be mailed to the office in Charleston. The office also serves people in person; check its page for hours and any appointment rule before going.

How do I apostille a birth certificate from West Virginia?

Birth or death certificate: a certified copy signed by the State Registrar or the Clerk of the County Commission where it is on file, with the office stamp. Marriage certificate: a certified copy signed by the Clerk of the County Commission of the county where the marriage was performed, with the office stamp. A notary cannot certify a copy of a record you can get as a certified copy; the clerk's copy needs an original signature and a raised seal. Then send it to West Virginia Secretary of State with the $10 fee, naming the destination country.

Does a document notarized in West Virginia need a county clerk certification first?

The notarization needs a full acknowledgment statement, the notary's original signature and the rubber stamp seal; a signature and seal alone is rejected. No county step is named.

What if the country is not in the Apostille Convention?

West Virginia Secretary of State issues its authentication certificate instead of an apostille. Send it next to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications (Form DS-4194, $20 per document); the destination country's embassy or consulate then legalizes it.

How do I get an apostille for an FBI background check?

An FBI Identity History Summary is a federal document, so a state office cannot apostille it. The U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications handles it: send Form DS-4194, the document and the $20 fee per document. The form asks for the country where the document will be used.

Do I need a paid apostille service?

No. Every office on this page accepts requests directly from the public by mail, and some take them online. A service can only file the same request with the same office for you.

Sources

West Virginia office checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.

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