Everything specific to West Virginia in one place: what a death certificate costs and how to get one, who has the legal right to arrange the funeral, and where to find official help. Each section links to a full guide with its sources.
West Virginia at a glance
| Certified death certificate (state fee) | $12 |
|---|---|
| Decides the funeral if nobody was named in advance | Surviving spouse |
| Can you name someone in advance? | Yes |
| The law | W. Va. Code § 30-6-22a |
Funeral cost calculator for West Virginia
Pick the kind of arrangement and what it includes, and the estimate updates line by line, using West Virginia funeral homes’ own prices where we have them. Every line shows its source.
Funeral costs in West Virginia
We are collecting West Virginia funeral homes’ own published General Price Lists, and state figures will appear here once there are enough of them to be reliable. Until then, the most recent national figure is the National Funeral Directors Association’s 2023 median of $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial, and $6,280 with viewing and cremation. Those are national midpoints, not West Virginia prices.
Under the FTC Funeral Rule every funeral home must give you its prices over the phone, so calling two or three is the fastest way to a real number. How much a funeral costs, line by line.
Death certificates in West Virginia
Certified copies come from West Virginia Department of Health, Health Statistics Center, Vital Registration Office. State page: in person is the fastest, 'Same-day walk in service' at 350 Capitol Street, Charleston – 'Please allow at least a 15-minute wait time'. No mail or online time stated. Full guide: getting a death certificate in West Virginia.
Who decides the funeral in West Virginia
West Virginia law sets the order. The first people in line are: Person designated by notarized affidavit; Surviving spouse; Children (majority); Parents. The full order, ties, deadlines and disputes.
Help paying for a funeral in West Virginia
Federal help is the same in every state: Social Security’s one-time $255 payment to an eligible spouse or child, VA burial benefits for eligible veterans, and FEMA help only after a declared disaster. What each pays and how to apply.
Some West Virginia counties and cities also help low-income families with burial or cremation costs. Ask the social services office in the county where the person died.
More official links for every state: funeral resources · all states.