Marriage License Information

To Obtain a Marriage License

To obtain a marriage license at our Clerk’s office, you will need the following:

  • Both parties need to be present at the same time. See Who May Marry in Virginia below for age requirement and prohibited marriages in Virginia. If both parties cannot be present, please see Marriage Affidavit Process to request an affidavit. 
  • Both parties must have 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. 
  • $30 fee payable by cash, check, money order or credit card. All credit card transactions will include a 4% surcharge.

Requirements

  • There are no residency requirements and couples may purchase their marriage license at any circuit court in Virginia.
  • The marriage ceremony must be performed in Virginia within 60 days after the license is issued. The day the license is issued counts as Day 1 as 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.
  • No blood test is required.
  • For divorced persons, there is no statutory waiting period before marriage after the divorce is granted. A copy of divorce decree is not required. 

Online Application

Use the link below to complete the information for the application prior to coming to the office. After submitting the information for both parties, you will need to come to our office to take the oath and receive the license. 

Hours

Marriage licenses are issued Monday - Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. We request that you complete the application prior to coming to the office. We have one public station 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. 

Age Requirement

As of July 1, 2016, pursuant to Virginia Code §20-48, the minimum age to get married is 18, unless a minor has been emancipated by court order. Upon application for a marriage license, an emancipated minor shall provide a certified copy of the order of emancipation.

Prohibited Marriages

The following categories of marriages are illegal in Virginia:

  • A marriage entered into prior to the dissolution of an earlier marriage of one of the parties
  • A marriage between an ancestor and 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 the half or whole blood or by adoption
  • When either party lacks the mental or physical capacity to consent to the marriage
  • Common law marriages are not valid if entered into in Virginia or any other jurisdiction which does not permit them for its residents