Marriage License Information

To Apply for a Marriage License

1.  Complete the application.  We request that you complete the application prior to coming to the office. We have public stations available to use if you cannot complete the application prior to coming to the office. We ask that you arrive no later than 4:15 pm to have time to complete the process especially if you are filling out the application here.
2. Both parties must come to our office together to review the application and take the oath. See address and office hours on right sidebar.  
   • If both parties cannot be present, please see Marriage Affidavit Process to request an affidavit. 
3. Both parties must present a valid, non-expired government issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport or DMV issued ID card. 
   • We will not accept photos of the ID on your phone or other device. 
4. Fee for the license is $30 if paid by cash, check or money order. Fee is $31.20 if a credit card is used to include the 4% surcharge.

Pursuant to § 20-48, the minimum age is 18.  See § 20-38.1 for marriages that are prohibited. There are no residency requirements and couples may apply at any circuit court in Virginia. No blood test is required. For divorced individuals, there is no statutory waiting period before marriage after the divorce is finalized. A copy of the divorce decree is not required as you are taking an oath to the information provided on the application.  

Once the License is Issued

• Our office does not provide "Justice of the Peace" services at the Courthouse for immediate unions. See Who Can Perform Your Ceremony? below for more information on who can perform your ceremony. 
• Ceremony must be performed within the Commonwealth of Virginia by an officiant authorized by a circuit court in Virginia within 60 days of receiving the license.
  • You can get your license at any clerk's office in Virginia and it will be returned to that clerk's office regardless of the ceremony location.   
  • There is no waiting period required between application and issuance of the license so you can have the ceremony immediately after receiving the license if you would like. Unused licenses do expire after day 60 (day of issuance is day 1). 
•  We must report all unreturned licenses to the Commonwealth's Attorney quarterly so the license must be returned to the issuing office. The officiant is responsible for returning both copies within 5 days after the ceremony and we can issue certified copies once it is returned. If it expires or is not going to be used, the couple is responsible for returning both copies. 

Info on Marriage Officiants, Requesting Certified Copies, Name Change and Amending the License: