Virginia Marriage License > Laws > VA Wedding Officiants

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Marriage Laws United States Virginia VA Wedding Officiants

Marriage license Laws in Commonwealth of Virginia, VA. Here is what you need to bring with you, and the requirements to apply for a marriage license in Virginia. We recommend getting this legal aspect of your wedding out of the way about a month before your ceremony wedding date.

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Age Requirements and Consent:

The minimum age for marriage in the Commonwealth of Virginia is sixteen (16) years for both the bride and groom; however, if either party is under eighteen (18), consent to the marriage must be given by the father, mother or legal guardian. This may be done in person by the parent or legal guardian before the person issuing the license or by written consent properly sworn to before a notary public. Special provisions are made in Virginia law to allow marriage for under age parties when the female is pregnant and for situations in which under age applicants have no parent or legal guardian.

Prohibited Marriages:

A marriage entered into prior to the dissolution of an earlier marriage of one or both parties.
A marriage between an ancestor and or descendant; or between a brother and a sister; or between an uncle and a niece; or between an aunt and a nephew; whether the relationship is by half or the whole blood or adoption.
When either of the parties lacks capacity to consent to the marriage because of mental incapacity or infirmity.
A marriage between persons of the same gender (same sex).
"Common Law" marriages are not valid if entered into in Virginia or any other jurisdiction, which does not permit them for its residents.

License Requirements:

Blood Test - There is no blood test requirement for marriage in Virginia.
Where to obtain license - A license for marriage in Virginia is issued by the clerk or his/her deputy clerk of a circuit court in any county or city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The ceremony may be performed anywhere in the State. Applicants must, under oath, furnish information required to complete the marriage record. These items are material and the applicant may be subject to prosecution for perjury for violation of the portion of the statutes which requires this information. For divorced persons, there is no statutory waiting period before marriage after the divorce is granted unless remarriage is specifically prohibited by a court. In some cases, clerks may require documentary proof of age or termination of previous marriage. Most of the offices of the clerks of court are closed on Saturdays.
Time Limitations - The marriage must be performed within sixty (60) days after the license is issued. There is no waiting period required between application and issuance of the license and a couple may be married immediately after the issuance of a license.
Fees - Any person authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage shall be permitted to charge a fee not to exceed $50, Section 20-27, Code of Virginia, Domestic Relations. This information should be confirmed with the court as we may not always be notified of changes that occur.
Virginia issued license - The marriage license issued in Virginia is for marriages to be performed in Virginia ONLY.
Marriages performed outside of Virginia - Marriages performed outside of Virginia are filed in the state or country in which the marriage was performed. You must contact the state or country you were married in to obtain a copy of the marriage record.

Marriage Ceremony:

Who may perform? - A minister of any religious denomination must be authorized by a circuit court to celebrate the rites of matrimony. To obtain such authorization, the minister must produce proof of his ordination and regular communion with the religious society of which he is a reputed member. In addition, the court in each city and county has appointed persons who are eligible to perform civil marriage ceremonies. For marriages between persons belonging to any religious society which has no ordained minister, refer to Section 20-26, Code of Virginia, Domestic Relations.
Witnesses - There is no statutory requirement that witnesses be present at the marriage ceremony.
Marriage Record - The minister or other person officiating at the marriage must complete and sign the Marriage Register and the Marriage Return and forward both forms to the clerk of the court who issued the license within five (5) days after the ceremony is performed. The Marriage Return is forwarded by the clerk of the court to the State Division of Vital Records. In addition to the forms to be returned to the clerk, the officiate may also prepared a certificate to be given to the newly married couple. If the minister or person who performs the marriage ceremony does not return the Marriage Register and the Marriage Return to the clerk of the court who issued the license, there will be no record of the marriage in the courts or with the state.

Certified Copies:

If a certified copy of the marriage is required, it may be obtained from the office of the clerk of court who issued the license (contact the court for the cost) or from the Virginia Division of Vital Records in Richmond, Virginia, for a fee of $12.00 for each copy. When application is made for a copy of a marriage record from the Division of Vital Records, the following information should be included: full name of groom, full maiden name of bride, date and place of marriage and the name of the circuit court that issued the marriage license.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage:

Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics
State Health Department
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
Phone: 804-225-5000

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

It is important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making any wedding or travel plans.

To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com. Please include the state and county information.

Virginia County Clerk's Office

Isle Of Wight Clerk Isle of Wight, VA 757. 365. 6233	King & Queen County Clerk Court House, VA 804. 769. 5010	King George County Clerk King George, VA 540. 775. 3322
King William County King William, VA 804. 769. 4936	Loudoun County Clerk Leesburg, VA 703. 777. 0270	Louisa County Clerk Louisa, VA 540. 967. 5312
Lunenburg Clerk Of Court Lunenburg, VA 804. 696. 2230	Lynchburg Clerk Of Court Lynchburg, VA 804. 847. 1590	Madison County Clerk Madison, VA 540. 948. 6888
Martinsville County Clerk Martinsville, VA 540. 656. 5109	Mathews County Clerk Matthews, VA 804. 725. 2550	Mecklenburg County Clerk Boydton, VA 804. 738. 6191
Middlesex County Clerk Saluda, VA 804. 758. 5317	Montgomery County Clerk Christiansburg, VA 540. 382. 5760	Nelson County Clerk Lovingston, VA 804. 263. 4069
New Kent County Clerk New Kent, VA 804. 966. 9520	Newport News Clerk Newport News, VA 757. 926. 8561	Norfolk County Clerk Norfolk, VA 757. 664. 4380
N. Hampton County Clerk Eastville, VA 757. 678. 0465	Northumberland County Clerk Heathsville, VA 804. 580. 3700	Nottoway County Clerk Nottoway, VA 804. 645. 9043
Orange County Clerk Orange, VA 540. 672. 4066	Page County Clerk Luray, VA 540. 743. 4064	Patrick County Clerk Stuart, VA 540. 694. 7213
Petersburg City Clerk Petersburg, VA 804. 733. 2367	Pittsylvania County Clerk Chatham, VA 804. 432. 7845	Portsmouth City Clerk Portsmouth, VA 757. 393. 8671
Powhatan County Clerk Powhatan, VA 804. 598. 5660	Prince Edward County Clerk Farmville, VA 804. 392. 5145	Prince George County Clerk Prince George, VA 804. 733. 2640
Prince William County Clerk Manassas, VA 703. 792. 6045	Pulaski County Clerk Pulaski, VA 540. 980. 7825	Radford County Clerk Radford, VA 540. 731.3610
Rappahannock County Clerk Washington, VA 540. 675. 3621	Richmond City Clerk Richmond, VA 804. 464. 6767	Richmond County Clerk Warsaw, VA 804. 333. 3781
Roanoke City County Clerk Roanoke City, VA 540. 853. 6702	Roanoke County Clerk Salem, VA 540. 387. 6205	Rockbridge County Clerk Lexington, VA 540. 463. 2644
Rockingham County Clerk Harrisonburg, VA 540. 564. 3110	Russell County Clerk Lebanon, VA 703. 889. 8023	Scott County Clerk Gate City, VA 540. 386. 3801
Shenandoah County Clerk Woodstock, VA 540. 459. 6150	Smyth County Clerk Marion, VA 540. 783. 7186	S. Boston County Clerk Halifax, VA 804. 476. 6211
S. Hampton County Clerk Courtland, VA 804. 653. 2200	Spotsylvania County Clerk Spotsylvania, VA 540. 582. 7090	Stafford County Clerk Stafford, VA 540. 658. 8750
Staunton City Clerk Staunton, VA 540. 332. 3874	Suffolk County Clerk Suffolk, VA 757. 925. 6458	Surry County Clerk Surry, VA 757. 294. 3161
Sussex County Clerk Sussex, VA 804. 246. 5511	Tazewell County Clerk Tazewell, VA 703. 988. 7541	Virginia Beach County Clerk Virginia Beach, VA 757. 427. 4181
Warren County Clerk Front Royal, VA 540. 635. 2435	Washington County Clerk Abingdon, VA 540. 676. 6224	Waynesboro County Clerk Waynesboro, VA 540. 942. 6616
Westmoreland County Clerk Montross, VA 804. 493. 0108	Williamsburg-James County Williamsburg, VA 757.564.2242	Wise County Clerk Wise, VA 540. 328. 6111
Wythe County Clerk Wytheville, VA 540. 223. 6050	York County Clerk Yorktown, VA 757, 890. 3350

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