Licensing Division

New Services!


Business Services

Business4WV

  • Terminations
  • Cancellations
  • Tradenames
  • Agent Address Changes
  • Agent Officer Changes
  • And more...

Licensing Services

Enterprise Registration
& Licensing System

  • Notaries
  • Charities
  • Marriage Celebrants
  • Private Investigators
  • Apostilles
  • Scrap Metal Dealers
  • Trademarks
  • FOIA Registration
  • And more...

Important Notice to all Business & Licensing Filers from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office

All WV Secretary of State’s Offices are continuing to perform and process all Business & Licensing functions in an timely fashion, providing a similar customer experience prior to implementing the COVID-19 precautions.

Almost all business filings can be done online through the West Virginia One Stop Buesiness Portal. The online process is quick, efficient and secure. Many online business filings are processed immediately and the other filings take less than a few days to complete. Expedited services are available for those that need documents processed in a hurry.

If assistance is needed, please contact one of Business and Licensing staff at 304-558-8000 to assist in any of the online processes. If a specific filing unavailable online, we are still accepting and processing mail.

Our Licensing customers such as notary commissions, apostille, marriage celebrants, athlete agents, scrap metal dealers and trademarks may file online through the new Online Licensing System.

Service of Process can be mailed to:

WV Secretary of State’s Office
State Capitol Building
Charleston, WV 25305


Secretary Warner issues an Emergency Rule Establishing Electronic Notarization
Processes in Lieu of In-Person Notary Requirements. Read more...
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Special Message for Medical Cannabis Organizations

If you or your organization is approved by West Virginia DHHR to conduct business under the Medical Cannabis Act, you must submit all required documents in hard-copy format via U.S. Mail to: WV One Stop Business Center – 1615 Washington St. East, Charleston WV 2531, or in-person at one of the Secretary of State’s Office locations in either Charleston, Clarksburg or Martinsburg. Payment for fees may only be made via check.

Please note that any organization approved for operation under the Medical Cannabis Act is currently prohibited from utilizing any online document filing or online payment options due to certain federal restrictions on the State’s banking systems.

For more information, to locate the proper forms or additional instructions, please contact the Secretary of State’s Office at 304-558-8000.

Notary Public

Notary Public

Notary Public commissions are issued by Secretary of State. Start the process here to apply for a Notary Public commission to notarize documents in West Virginia.

E-Notarization is a relatively new method of notarizing documents now available.

Learn more about notary public commissioning here.

Private Investigators/Security Guards

Expedite Service

Any person or group of people performing investigative or security guard functions in the state are required to be licensed through Secretary of State.

This office maintains a registry of all state licensed private investigators and security guards.

Learn more about Private Investigator and Security Guard licensing in the section below.

Commissioner for West Virginia

Commisioner for West Virginia

Commissioner for West Virginia appointments are issued by Secretary of State. Start the process here to apply for an appointment as a Commissioner for West Virginia to acknowledge signatures performed in or out of the state by persons residing in or out of this state covering deeds, leases and other writings pertaining to West Virginia property for recording in West Virginia.


LICENSING SERVICES

Forms and Fees

Search Licensing Forms

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If we may be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us:  304.558.8000   toll free 866.767.8683  email:   Licensing@wvsos.gov

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