Virginia Marriage License Requirements for Officiants

We have detailed filing guides for 133 counties in Virginia, covering filing deadlines, witness requirements, ordination acceptance, and clerk office details.

County Filing Guides

County	Filing Deadline	Witnesses	ULC
Accomack	5 days	None	Check
Albemarle	5 days	None	Check
Alleghany	5 days	None	Check
Amelia	5 days	None	Check
Amherst	5 days	None	Check
Appomattox	5 days	None	Check
Arlington	5 days	None	Check
Augusta	5 days	None	Check
Bath	5 days	None	Check
Bedford	5 days	None	Check
Bland	5 days	None	Check
Botetourt	5 days	None	Check
Brunswick	5 days	None	Check
Buchanan	5 days	None	Check
Buckingham	5 days	None	Check
Campbell	5 days	None	Check
Caroline	5 days	None	Check
Carroll	5 days	None	Check
Charles City	5 days	None	Check
Charlotte	5 days	None	Check
Chesterfield	5 days	None	Check
Clarke	5 days	None	Check
Craig	5 days	None	Check
Culpeper	5 days	None	Check
Cumberland	5 days	None	Check
Dickenson	5 days	None	Check
Dinwiddie	5 days	None	Check
Essex	5 days	None	Check
Fairfax	5 days	None	Check
Fauquier	5 days	None	Check
Floyd	5 days	None	Check
Fluvanna	5 days	None	Check
Franklin	5 days	None	Check
Frederick	5 days	None	Check
Giles	5 days	None	Check
Gloucester	5 days	None	Check
Goochland	5 days	None	Check
Grayson	5 days	None	Check
Greene	5 days	None	Check
Greensville	5 days	None	Check
Halifax	5 days	None	Check
Hanover	5 days	None	Check
Henrico	5 days	None	Check
Henry	5 days	None	Check
Highland	5 days	None	Check
Isle of Wight	5 days	None	Check
James City	5 days	None	Check
King and Queen	5 days	None	Check
King George	5 days	None	Check
King William	5 days	None	Check
Lancaster	5 days	None	Check
Lee	5 days	None	Check
Loudoun	5 days	None	Check
Louisa	5 days	None	Check
Lunenburg	5 days	None	Check
Madison	5 days	None	Check
Mathews	5 days	None	Check
Mecklenburg	5 days	None	Check
Middlesex	5 days	None	Check
Montgomery	5 days	None	Check
Nelson	5 days	None	Check
New Kent	5 days	None	Check
Northampton	5 days	None	Check
Northumberland	5 days	None	Check
Nottoway	5 days	None	Check
Orange	5 days	None	Check
Page	5 days	None	Check
Patrick	5 days	None	Check
Pittsylvania	5 days	None	Check
Powhatan	5 days	None	Check
Prince Edward	5 days	None	Check
Prince George	5 days	None	Check
Prince William	5 days	None	Check
Pulaski	5 days	None	Check
Rappahannock	5 days	None	Check
Richmond	5 days	None	Check
Roanoke	5 days	None	Check
Rockbridge	5 days	None	Check
Rockingham	5 days	None	Check
Russell	5 days	None	Check
Scott	5 days	None	Check
Shenandoah	5 days	None	Check
Smyth	5 days	None	Check
Southampton	5 days	None	Check
Spotsylvania	5 days	None	Check
Stafford	5 days	None	Check
Surry	5 days	None	Check
Sussex	5 days	None	Check
Tazewell	5 days	None	Check
Warren	5 days	None	Check
Washington	5 days	None	Check
Westmoreland	5 days	None	Check
Wise	5 days	None	Check
Wythe	5 days	None	Check
York	5 days	None	Check
Alexandria city	5 days	None	Check
Bristol city	5 days	None	Check
Buena Vista city	5 days	None	Check
Charlottesville city	5 days	None	Check
Chesapeake city	5 days	None	Check
Colonial Heights city	5 days	None	Check
Covington city	5 days	None	Check
Danville city	5 days	None	Check
Emporia city	5 days	None	Check
Fairfax city	5 days	None	Check
Falls Church city	5 days	None	Check
Franklin city	5 days	None	Check
Fredericksburg city	5 days	None	Check
Galax city	5 days	None	Check
Hampton city	5 days	None	Check
Harrisonburg city	5 days	None	Check
Hopewell city	5 days	None	Check
Lexington city	5 days	None	Check
Lynchburg city	5 days	None	Check
Manassas city	5 days	None	Check
Manassas Park city	5 days	None	Check
Martinsville city	5 days	None	Check
Newport News city	5 days	None	Check
Norfolk city	5 days	None	Check
Norton city	5 days	None	Check
Petersburg city	5 days	None	Check
Poquoson city	5 days	None	Check
Portsmouth city	5 days	None	Check
Radford city	5 days	None	Check
Richmond city	5 days	None	Check
Roanoke city	5 days	None	Check
Salem city	5 days	None	Check
Staunton city	5 days	None	Check
Suffolk city	5 days	None	Check
Virginia Beach city	5 days	None	Check
Waynesboro city	5 days	None	Check
Williamsburg city	5 days	None	Check
Winchester city	5 days	None	Check

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do officiants have to file a marriage license in Virginia?

In Virginia, officiants typically have 5 days to return the signed marriage license to the county clerk's office after the ceremony.

Is ULC ordination accepted in Virginia?

ULC (Universal Life Church) ordination may not be accepted in all Virginia counties. Some counties have restrictions — check the specific county guide below before your ceremony.

Where do I file the marriage license in Virginia?

Marriage licenses are filed at the county clerk's office (or equivalent) in the county where the license was issued. Each county has its own office — see the county guides below for specific addresses and contact information.

Never miss a Virginia filing deadline

Ordainely tracks county-specific deadlines and sends you reminders at 7, 3, and 1 day before each one.

Start your 7-day free trial