George Boyle
If you're planning to get married in Virginia, you'll need to obtain a marriage license from any Virginia Circuit Court Clerk. The good news is that there's no waiting period, so you can get your license and elope the same day! The license is valid for 60 days, and you must be 18 or older to apply. After the wedding, the signed license is returned to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office, and a certified copy of the marriage license (also known as the marriage certificate) is mailed to the couple. In some counties, you can also go to the Clerk of Courts a few days after the wedding and pay a small fee for a certified copy. So, if you're wondering how long it will take to get your marriage certificate after tying the knot in Virginia, the answer is that it shouldn't take long at all!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time to get marriage certificate after wedding | Not specified, but it is recommended to contact the Clerk's Office to request a certified copy of the marriage license (marriage certificate) |
| Time to obtain a marriage license | 60 days |
| Marriage license fee | $30 |
| Marriage license payment methods | Cash, Visa, or MasterCard (4% processing fee for credit card transactions) |
| Marriage license requirements | Both applicants must appear together in person and be at least 18 years old; applicants must bring a valid photo ID, their Social Security number, and the full names of their parents as they appear on their birth certificates |
| Marriage certificate fee | $3 per copy |
| Marriage certificate payment methods | Cash, check, or money order payable to the Circuit Court Clerk; debit and credit cards are not accepted |
| Marriage certificate request methods | By mail or in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office during regular business hours |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage license requirements
To obtain a marriage license in Virginia, couples must adhere to specific requirements. Firstly, both applicants must be at least 18 years old, as stipulated by Virginia law. To expedite the process, couples can complete an Online Marriage License Pre-Application and receive a confirmation document. This confirmation is valid for 60 days, during which the couple must visit the Fairfax County Courthouse to obtain their license. Both applicants must be physically present at the courthouse and provide the necessary documentation, including the confirmation document, valid photo identification, and their Social Security numbers. Additionally, they must provide the full names of their parents, as indicated on their birth certificates. The fee for the marriage license is $30, payable in cash or by Visa or MasterCard, with a 4% processing fee for credit card transactions.
It is important to note that there are no residency requirements for obtaining a marriage license in Virginia, and couples can purchase their license from any circuit court within the state. Once the license is issued, there is no mandatory waiting period, and no blood test is required. The marriage ceremony must take place within Virginia, and the license is valid for 60 calendar days. If the license is not used within this timeframe, the couple must reapply and pay the fee again.
After the wedding ceremony, the signed marriage license is returned to the Circuit County Clerk's Office by the officiant. The couple can then contact the Clerk's Office to request a certified copy of their marriage license, also known as the marriage certificate. In some areas, such as Alexandria, couples can obtain a certified copy from the Clerk of Courts three days after the wedding for a small fee. Alternatively, they can pay a higher fee to have the marriage certificate mailed to them by the Virginia Department of Health.
Virginia has strict requirements for officiants, and online ordinations are not accepted. Couples should ensure that their officiant is licensed or appointed by the courts. Additionally, Virginia does not require a witness for the marriage ceremony, only the presence of the couple, their officiant, and, optionally, a photographer.
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Where to get a marriage license
Obtaining a marriage license in Virginia requires both applicants to appear together in person at a Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. There are no residency requirements, so couples can obtain a marriage license from any circuit court in Virginia. The marriage license is valid for 60 calendar days, and the marriage must take place in Virginia. The fee for the license is $30, payable by cash or credit card (Visa or Mastercard only, with a 4% processing fee).
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old and should bring the following to the Courthouse:
- Online Marriage License Pre-Application confirmation document (if applicable)
- Valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, or military identification card)
- Social security number for each applicant (you don't need to bring the social security card)
- Full names of each applicant's parents (including full middle names) as they appear on their birth certificates
Couples can speed up the process by completing the Online Marriage License Pre-Application and receiving a confirmation document. They then have sixty days to obtain their license at the Fairfax County Courthouse.
It is important to note that marriage licenses are not transferable from state to state. If you are planning to get married outside of Virginia, you may need to consider the legal requirements of that state or country.
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The marriage certificate application process
The Marriage License
The first step is to obtain a marriage license, which is issued by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in any city or county within Virginia. Both applicants must appear together in person at the Courthouse and be at least 18 years of age. There are no residency requirements for obtaining a marriage license in Virginia. To speed up the process, couples are encouraged to complete the Online Marriage License Pre-Application and receive a confirmation document. After submitting the application, applicants have 60 days to visit the Courthouse to obtain their license.
Required Documents
When applying for a marriage license, the couple needs to bring several documents to the Courthouse. This includes the Online Marriage License Pre-Application confirmation document, a valid photo ID (such as a driver's license, passport, or military identification card), and proof of social security (although the physical card is not required). Additionally, they must provide the full names of their parents, including middle names, as they appear on the birth certificates. If a parent's maiden name differs from their current name, their full maiden name must also be provided.
Fees and Payment Methods
The marriage license fee varies across different counties in Virginia. In Fairfax County, the fee is $30, payable by cash or credit card (Visa or MasterCard) with a 4% processing fee. In Henrico County, the fee is $33, accepted in cash, check, or credit card with a 2% transaction fee.
Obtaining the Marriage Certificate
After the marriage license is signed at the wedding, the officiant returns it to the County Clerk, and a marriage certificate is issued. Couples can then request a certified copy of their marriage certificate from the Circuit Court Clerk's Office that issued the license. This request can be made in person or by mail. The cost for obtaining a certified copy varies depending on the county and method of request.
Additional Information
It is important to note that Virginia does not require a witness for the marriage ceremony. Couples have the option to get married at the Courthouse or by an officiant, either before or on the same day as their wedding ceremony. The marriage license is valid for 60 calendar days, and the marriage must take place within Virginia.
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How to obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate
In Virginia, a marriage license is a document obtained by the couple before the marriage. After the license is signed at the wedding and the officiant returns it to the county clerk, a marriage certificate is issued. This certificate proves that the union is legally official.
To obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate, you can go to the Clerk of Courts three days after your wedding and pay a small fee for a certified copy. The fee varies depending on the county. For example, in Alexandria, the fee is $6 for an in-person request, while it is $20 to request a mailed copy from the Virginia Department of Health.
You can also obtain a certified copy from the Blue Ridge Health District health departments, but only if the marriage occurred in Virginia. Copies are available to immediate family members with valid ID. Alternatively, you can obtain a copy from the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, in Richmond, VA.
If you are in a hurry, the court can print out certified copies of your certificate, and so can the DMV.
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The cost of a marriage license
To obtain a marriage license in Virginia, couples must visit any circuit court in the state. Both applicants must be present and provide a valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, or military identification card), their social security number, and the full names of their parents as they appear on their birth certificates. If the applicant's parents have different maiden names, they must provide those as well. Couples can speed up the process by completing the Online Marriage License Pre-Application and bringing the confirmation document to the courthouse. After submitting the application, applicants have 60 days to visit the courthouse and obtain their license. The marriage must then take place in Virginia within 60 days. If the marriage does not occur within this time frame, a new license must be issued, and additional fees must be paid.
For marriage licenses issued between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 2001, Virginia law requires written permission from one of the married parties for the Clerk's Office to provide a copy to others. For licenses issued before or after these dates, permission is not required. The cost of a certified copy of a marriage license is \$2.50, made payable to Edward F. Jewett, Clerk.
In Alexandria, couples can obtain a certified copy of their marriage license from the Clerk of Courts three days after the wedding for \$6. Alternatively, they can pay \$20 to the Virginia Department of Health to have one mailed to them.
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Frequently asked questions
After the wedding, the marriage celebrant should return the signed marriage license to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. After that, you can contact the Clerk's Office to request a certified copy of the marriage license (also known as the marriage certificate). In Alexandria, you can go to the Clerk of Courts 3 days after the wedding and pay $6 for a certified copy.
Both parties must be present and present their photo IDs. A self-addressed, stamped envelope should be presented for the return of a certified copy of the license. The marriage license is valid for 60 days and the fee for a license is $30 or $33, payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card.
There are no residency requirements and couples may purchase their marriage license at any circuit court in Virginia. Both parties must be at least 18 years old and present their valid, non-expired government-issued photo IDs. Virginia does not require a witness to get married.
