Anyone planning a wedding in Virginia deals with two layers of government. The license itself comes from a circuit court clerk's office at the local level. The statewide vital records system sits with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Knowing which office does what saves a wasted trip, especially when you live in one part of the Commonwealth and plan to marry in another. This page explains how marriage licenses are organised across Virginia and where the office in our directory fits.

Marriage Licenses in Virginia: Circuit Court Clerks Issue, the State Keeps the Records

Virginia law, found mainly in Title 20 of the Code of Virginia, lets a couple apply for a license at the circuit court clerk's office in any county or independent city. You do not have to live in that locality. You also do not have to hold the ceremony there. A couple from Roanoke can apply in Virginia Beach and marry in the Shenandoah Valley, as long as the officiant is authorized and the license is still valid.

Out-of-state couples can apply too, which suits destination weddings in the mountains, on the coast or in the historic towns of the Piedmont. Virginia has no waiting period between getting the license and holding the ceremony. No blood test is required. That makes a last-minute application possible, though most couples allow more time than the minimum.

A license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If you do not marry in that window, it expires. You then have to apply again and pay the fee again. Plan the application around your wedding date rather than collecting the license months early.

After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license and returns it to the clerk's office that issued it. The clerk records the marriage, and the record is then reported to the state's vital records system. That is why VDH can later issue certified copies of Virginia marriage records.

Step by Step: Getting a Marriage License at a Virginia Clerk's Office

The requirements come from state statute, but each clerk's office runs its own schedule. Some take walk-ins during counter hours. Others prefer appointments. Check the clerk's website or call before you go, and ask whether both of you must appear together. Most offices expect that, and it is the safest assumption.

Bring the following to the clerk's counter:

Virginia generally sets 18 as the minimum age to marry. If either of you is younger, or you have any doubt about age rules, call the clerk before you book a venue. The rules for younger applicants have been tightened in recent years, and the clerk can tell you what the current law allows.

The officiant matters as much as the paperwork. In Virginia, ministers and other religious leaders must be authorized through a circuit court before they can perform marriages. Civil celebrants are authorized through the court as well. Judges and certain other officials can marry couples by virtue of their office. If a friend or relative will officiate, ask the clerk well before the wedding whether the court can authorize that person for a single ceremony.

Counties, Independent Cities and Regional Differences Across Virginia

Virginia is unusual because it has 95 counties and 38 independent cities. An independent city, such as Richmond, Alexandria, Norfolk or Virginia Beach, is not part of any county. Each one has its own circuit court and its own clerk. On many documents you will see a city name where another state would show a county name. In our directory, Richmond is grouped on the City of Richmond County page, which gathers the capital's listings in one place.

Regional differences are mostly about volume and convenience. In the Northern Virginia jurisdictions near Washington, D.C., including Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William and Alexandria, the courts serve large populations. Check appointment options early and allow extra time at the counter. In Hampton Roads, the cities around Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake draw many weddings in the warmer months, so spring and fall schedules can fill up.

Rural counties in Southside, Southwest Virginia, the Northern Neck and the Eastern Shore usually have smaller clerk's offices. Staff are fewer and counter hours may be shorter, so a phone call matters more. The trade-off is that you often deal with a clerk who can answer questions directly. Courts also close on state and federal holidays, so never plan to pick up a license the morning of a wedding that falls near one.

Because you can apply anywhere, many couples choose by convenience. A couple living in Charlottesville but working in Richmond may apply near the office. A couple marrying at a Blue Ridge venue may stop at the nearest courthouse on the drive. Both approaches are legal, as long as the license is used within 60 days and returned to the clerk who issued it.

Virginia's marriage history is also national history. Loving v. Virginia, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967, began with a Virginia couple, Mildred and Richard Loving, and struck down state bans on interracial marriage across the country. Virginia's own ban on same-sex marriage fell in federal court in 2014 in Bostic v. Schaefer. In 2024 Virginia voters approved removing the old ban language from the state constitution. Today the clerk's application process is the same for every couple.

The Richmond Listing: VDH Office of Vital Records

Our database currently holds one marriage licenses listing for Virginia. It is titled Virginia Marriage License and belongs to the VDH Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, and the phone number 804-662-6200. It is the state-level records office rather than a local clerk's counter, so it is not where most couples go to apply for a new license.

Use that office for questions about marriage records already on file with the state, such as certified copies. Have the full names of both spouses, the date of the marriage and the city or county where the license was issued. That detail lets staff find the record quickly. A P.O. Box address is meant for mail, so call first if your request is time sensitive. Ask about current fees, accepted forms of payment and processing time before you send anything.

For a license you have not yet obtained, start with the circuit court clerk in the locality you prefer. For a record from a past marriage, you can start with the clerk where the license was issued or with VDH. If you are not sure which locality issued it, the state office is often the better first call. The City of Richmond County page shows the listing in full.

Marriage licenses in Virginia are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 1 cities across Virginia. They are spread across 1 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Richmond, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Virginia should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Virginia should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Virginia to find the nearest location.

Practical Planning Notes for Marriage Records in Virginia

A few habits make Virginia's two-level system easier to use. First, decide where you will apply and call that clerk's office a week or two ahead. Ask about counter hours, appointments and payment types, and confirm what identification the office accepts. Offices in busy metro areas and small rural courthouses can differ a great deal in how they operate day to day.

Second, keep the 60-day window in mind. Count forward from the date on the license and place the ceremony comfortably inside it. Third, settle the officiant question early. A venue's recommended officiant is usually already authorized, but a friend or family member may need the circuit court's approval first.

Fourth, think about the paperwork you will need afterward. Name changes at the Social Security Administration, the DMV, banks and employers usually require a certified copy of the marriage record. Order a few copies at once rather than coming back later. For records held by the state, the Richmond listing on our City of Richmond County page gives the VDH Office of Vital Records contact details, including the phone number 804-662-6200.

Marriage License Questions Virginia Couples Ask

Apply at the circuit court clerk's office in any Virginia county or independent city. You are not tied to your home locality or your wedding venue, so choose the office that is easiest to reach, such as one near your workplace or on the route to the ceremony. Check the clerk's website or call for counter hours, appointment rules and accepted payment types. Richmond couples deal with the Richmond circuit court clerk, while couples in Henrico or Chesterfield use those county clerks. Do not confuse these offices with the state vital records office in Richmond, which handles existing records rather than new applications.

A Virginia marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. There is no waiting period between receiving the license and holding the ceremony, and no blood test is required. In practice, that means you can apply close to the wedding date, but it is wise to leave a buffer for office closures and holidays. If the 60 days pass without a ceremony, the license expires and you must apply again and pay the fee again. Count the days carefully if your wedding is scheduled for late in the window.

No. Virginia clerks issue licenses to out-of-state couples, which is useful for weddings at mountain, coastal or historic venues. You will still need valid photo identification and the personal details the application asks for, including birth information and details of any prior marriage. Because the license is only good for a Virginia ceremony, do not apply here if you plan to marry in another state. Confirm with the clerk whether both of you must appear in person, and bring identification that shows your full legal names as you want them recorded.

Your officiant completes the license and returns it to the circuit court clerk's office that issued it. The clerk records the marriage, and the record is reported to the state's vital records system. For a certified copy, you can contact that clerk's office or the VDH Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics in Richmond, listed in our directory at 804-662-6200. Have both spouses' full names, the wedding date and the locality that issued the license ready. Ask about current fees and processing times before you order, especially if you need the copy for a name change.

Virginia requires the officiant to be authorized. Ministers and other religious leaders must be approved through a circuit court, and civil celebrants are authorized through the court as well. Judges and certain other officials can marry couples because of their office. If you want a friend or relative to officiate, ask the circuit court clerk well in advance whether the court can authorize that person for a single ceremony, and what paperwork it needs. An officiant who is not authorized can create problems for the marriage record, so verify this before the wedding day.

The statutory license fee in Virginia is $30, but confirm it with the clerk's office before you go. Also ask what payment methods the counter accepts, since cash, check and card policies vary by locality. Bring government-issued photo ID for each applicant, your Social Security numbers if you have them, and the dates and details of any earlier marriage that ended. Applicants are generally expected to be at least 18, and anyone younger should call the clerk first. A short phone call beforehand prevents most return trips.