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Virginia marriage records

Who holds it: License issued and recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court; record filed with the VDH Office of Vital Records (state copies 1853-present)1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Fees
  3. Who may order and what is restricted
  4. More details
  5. Related records in Virginia
  6. How Virginia handles it
  7. Marriage records in Virginia counties with a full guide
  8. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  9. Sources

State fee

$15 per certified copy or search (no refund if not found)2

How to search and order

Copies from the state
VDH Office of Vital Records issues certified marriage certificates for 1853-present1
County copies
Certified copies also available from the circuit court clerk that issued the license; corrections go to that clerk1

Fees

Marriage license fee
$10 clerk's fee for issuing a marriage license3

Who may order and what is restricted

Restrictions
Restricted for 25 years after the marriage (immediate family/legal representative with ID); public after 25 years4

More details

SSN applications
Post-July 1, 1997 marriage license applications with unblocked SSNs are not open for general public inspection at clerks' offices5
Directory
Circuit Courts Directory6
Divorce records: who holds it
Circuit court clerk holds the divorce case file and final decree; VDH Office of Vital Records issues certified divorce certificates (1918-present)1
Older records: vital index
VDH online index: births/deaths 1912+, divorces 1918+, marriages 1936+ (open records)7

How Virginia handles it

  • DMV customer service centers issue certified birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates ($15 + $2 DMV processing fee).8

Marriage records in Virginia counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Albemarle CountyCircuit Court Clerk's Office9—State fee: $15 per certified copy or search (no refund if not found)10
Alexandria CityClerk of Circuit Court, Land Records Division11——
Arlington CountyClerk of the Circuit Court of Arlington County and the City of Falls Church12——
Chesapeake CityClerk of the Circuit Court, City of Chesapeake13——
Chesterfield CountyClerk of the Circuit Court - Record Room14——
Fairfax CountyFairfax Circuit Court, Public Services Division15—$2.50 per certified copy15
Hampton CityClerk of the Hampton Circuit Court16—Certificate fee: $15 per copy, 1936-present, or per search if no record found17
Loudoun CountyClerk of the Circuit Court, Public Services Division18——
Newport News CityClerk of the Circuit Court, Newport News Circuit Court19——
Norfolk CityClerk of the Circuit Court, Norfolk Circuit Court20——
Prince William CountyClerk of Circuit Court, Public Service Center21—Certified copy fee: $2.50 per certified copy22
Richmond CityClerk of the Richmond Circuit Court23——
Spotsylvania CountyClerk of the Spotsylvania Circuit Court24——
Stafford CountyClerk of the Circuit Court25—$30.00; card payments carry a 4% convenience fee26
Virginia Beach CityVirginia Beach Circuit Court Clerk27——

For any other county, see the county list on the Virginia guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Virginia office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: marriage records in every state. Everything else in Virginia: Virginia public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Vital Records Frequently Asked QuestionsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  2. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  3. Code of Virginia § 17.1-275. Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts; generallyVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Code of Virginia § 32.1-271. Disclosure of information in recordsVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  5. Code of Virginia § 32.1-267. Records of marriagesVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  6. Requesting Public Records from Clerks of CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  7. GenealogyVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  8. Code of Virginia § 32.1-273. Fees for certified copies, searches of files, etc.Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)checked November 4, 2026
  9. Circuit Court Clerk, Land RecordsAlbemarle Countychecked November 8, 2026
  10. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordschecked November 8, 2026
  11. Alexandria Circuit Court (court page)Supreme Court of Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  12. Courts & Judicial ServicesArlington Countychecked November 4, 2026
  13. Circuit Court ClerkCity of Chesapeake / Clerk of the Circuit Courtchecked November 5, 2026
  14. Chesterfield Circuit CourtVirginia Judicial Systemchecked November 4, 2026
  15. Marriage License CopyFairfax County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  16. The Circuit Court (Circuit Courts Informational Pamphlet)Supreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 7, 2026
  17. Vital Records - Hampton & Peninsula Health DistrictsVirginia Department of Healthchecked November 7, 2026
  18. Public Services DivisionLoudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Courtarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  19. Newport News Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  20. Norfolk Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia (vacourts.gov)checked November 4, 2026
  21. ResearchPrince William County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  22. Copy of Marriage LicensePrince William County, Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  23. Richmond Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginiachecked November 4, 2026
  24. Spotsylvania Circuit CourtSupreme Court of Virginia, Office of the Executive Secretarychecked November 4, 2026
  25. Circuit CourtStafford County, Virginiachecked November 7, 2026
  26. Circuit Court: Marriage LicenseStafford County, Virginiachecked November 7, 2026
  27. Circuit Court Clerk's OfficeVirginia Beach Circuit Court Clerkchecked November 4, 2026