Introduction to Virginia Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Virginia Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure.

Virginia Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Virginia Division of Vital Records and Health Statistic for individuals married in the state of Virginia, since 1853.

Virginia Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Virginia state law, Virginia Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Virginia Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Virginia Marriage Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the Virginia Marriage Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Virginia Marriage Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Virginia Marriage Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the Virginia Marriage certificate 
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Virginia Marriage Certificate

Virginia Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain a Virginia Marriage Certificate, 50 years or later from the date of the Marriage for genealogy or other reasons.

Virginia Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Virginia Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Virginia Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Virginia Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Virginia Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Virginia Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 10-15 days upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Virginia Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Virginia Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Virginia Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Virginia Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Virginia Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Virginia Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Virginia Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

Division of Vital Records

P. O. Box 1000

Richmond, VA 23218-1000

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Virginia: You may go to any county health department in the State of Virginia to obtain a certified copy of a Virginia Marriage certificate. Most Virginia Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Virginia Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Virginia Marriage certificate is $12.00, which includes one certified copy of the Virginia Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Virginia Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $12.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Virginia State Health Department." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.