How to get a Virginia marriage certificate

In Virginia, order a certified marriage certificate from the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.¹ Marriage and divorce records are also available at the circuit court in which the event took place.² Each certified copy costs $15³. You can order online, by mail, in person or at a local office. Anyone may order a certified copy. The fastest published option is in person: same day⁴.

Last checked November 6, 2026 against official sources.

On this page

Ways to order
What a Virginia marriage certificate costs
How long it takes
Who can order a Virginia marriage certificate
ID you need
What the application asks for
Which office holds a marriage record
Forms
Years held and older records
Special situations
Warnings from the office
The state office
Questions people ask
Sources

Ways to order

How	Cost per copy	Processing time	Payment
Online	$15³	–	Card⁴
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.	$20.80⁵, plus $12.70⁵ VitalChek service fee + 3 possible extra charges	2 to 5 days⁵	Card⁵
By mail	$15⁶ + one extra charge	–	Check and money order²
In person	$15¹	Same day⁴	Check, money order, card and cash¹
At a local office: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers	$17⁷ a search, which includes the $2⁸ processing fee	Same day⁹	–
At a local office (VDH health districts)	$15¹⁰ (Fairfax County)	Same day⁴	–
At a local office (option 3)	$2.50¹¹ (Fairfax County)	Up to 2 weeks¹¹	Cash, money order and card¹¹

Online

Run by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (state-run online application)⁴
Fees: Per copy $15³
Expedited service: Not offered⁴
Payment: Card⁴

Good to know

ID must be uploaded and the application e-signed⁴
Mailed by USPS First Class without tracking³
Allow 20 days for mail delivery before calling (portal notice, Nov. 6, 2026)⁴
Amendments need signed paper documents delivered to OVR⁴

Go to the ordering site³

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor: VitalChek Network, Inc.⁵
Fees: Per copy $20.80⁵
VitalChek service fee $12.70⁵
Shipping option $19.50⁵
Shipping option $18⁵
United States Post Office Regular Mail (No Fee) $0⁵
Processing time: 2 to 5 days⁵
Expedited service: Next day processing with express and trackable delivery options¹
Payment: Card⁵

Good to know

Credit card only⁵
No P.O. Box delivery addresses⁵
Signature required for UPS delivery⁵
VDH warns that all VitalChek fees are subject to change⁵
Phone orders through VitalChek: 1-877-572-6333, option 1⁵

Go to the ordering site⁵

By mail

Run by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records⁶
Fees: Per copy $15⁶
Returned check charge $50⁶
Payment: Check and money order²
Make payable to: State Health Department⁶
Mail to: VDH, Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000
¹

Good to know

Enclose an enlarged, legible photocopy of the requester's ID⁶
Unsigned applications are not processed⁶
Starter checks not accepted¹³
No cash by mail²

Open the application or mail instructions¹²

In person

Run by: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (Richmond)¹
Fees: Per copy $15¹
Processing time: Same day⁴
Payment: Check, money order, card and cash¹
Make payable to: State Health Department¹
Office: Office of Vital Records, 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227
¹⁴
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 AM-4:00 PM¹⁵
Appointment: Not required¹⁵

Good to know

Drop-off with same-day pick-up must be received by 2:00pm; released only to the requester¹
Drop-off option not for amendments, name changes or corrections¹
Amendments: drop-off or mail recommended¹⁵

Open the official page¹⁵

At a local office: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers

Run by: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers⁹
Fees: Search fee $17⁷
Processing fee, included in the search fee $2⁸
Processing time: Same day⁹
Make payable to: Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)⁷
Appointment: Not required¹⁵

Good to know

Bring original ID documents; photocopies not accepted at DMV¹⁶
If DMV cannot print the record, the application goes to VDH, which mails the certificate⁹
Returned-check charge at DMV: $85.00⁷

Find a local office⁹

At a local office (VDH health districts)

Run by: Local health departments (VDH health districts)¹⁵
Fees: Per copy $15¹⁰
Processing time: Same day⁴
Appointment: Not required¹⁵

Good to know

Call the health district first to confirm services and hours¹⁵
Vital records may be issued at a different address than the main health department building¹⁵
Amendments only at the Richmond office¹⁵

Find a local office¹⁵

At a local office (option 3)

Run by: Clerk of the circuit court of the county or city where the license was issued¹⁷
Fees: Per copy $2.50¹¹
Processing time: Up to 2 weeks¹¹
Payment: Cash, money order and card¹¹

Good to know

Licenses issued July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2001 are restricted to the spouses (or court order, subpoena, written authorization)¹¹
For an apostille, a court-issued copy needs the Certification of Official Record/Triple Seal¹⁸

Find a local office¹¹

What a Virginia marriage certificate costs

First certified copy: $15³
Each additional copy: $15³
If no record is found: The fee is kept as a search fee³
Fees in effect since: July 1, 2026¹

Types of copies

Copy	Accepted for	Fee
Marriage Certificate⁶	–	$15³
Single Status Letter⁶	Usually needed for marriages abroad⁶	$15⁶

No-fee copies

Veterans or survivors: no charge for a copy needed for service-connected benefits⁸
Homeless youth: no fee⁸
At DMV: homeless youth under 21 may get a vital record free with the Virginia Affidavit Certifying Homeless Youth Status¹⁹

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you order	Processing time	Counted
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.	2 to 5 days⁵	–
In person	Same day⁴	From receipt
At a local office: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles customer service centers	Same day⁹	From receipt
At a local office (VDH health districts)	Same day⁴	From receipt
At a local office (option 3)	Up to 2 weeks¹¹	From receipt

Who can order a Virginia marriage certificate

Anyone may order a certified copy.²⁰

The office also names these requesters and conditions. Each line gives the official wording.

The person named on the record, spouse, a parent named on the record, child and brother or sister⁶
Attorney or legal representative⁶
Proof: Proof of representation⁶

Who cannot order a certified copy

We’re sorry, as the ex-spouse you are not entitled to your former spouse’s new marriage record.²
Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and any other person cannot obtain a person’s vital record.¹

Records open to the public after: 25 years²⁰
Social Security number on the copy: SSNs appear only on the license application kept by the clerk and the State Registrar's copy²¹

ID you need

Photo ID: Required²²
Accepted ID: Photo ID card or driver's license issued by a U.S. state, territory or jurisdiction (incl. Global Entry card), unexpired or expired not more than one year
Learner's/instruction permit (unexpired or expired not more than one year)
Current school or employment photo ID with ID number (not check-cashing cards)
Unexpired U.S. military card (active duty or retired)
Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
Unexpired foreign passport, I-94 or I-94W
Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-570, N-578)
Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561)
U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-197)
Temporary Resident Card (unexpired I-688)
Employment Authorization Document (unexpired I-766)
Refugee Travel Document (unexpired I-571)
Resident Alien / Permanent Resident / Northern Marianas Card (unexpired I-551)
Asylum: first and last page of the asylum application
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350)
Virginia Criminal Justice Agency Offender Information Form
U.S. Probation Offender Information Form
Certificate of Birth Abroad (FS-545)²²
Without that ID: Two documents from the secondary list (e.g., Selective Service card, DD214, certified school records, life insurance policy, Medicare/Medicaid card, driver's license/state ID/passport expired not more than 5 years, utility bill within 6 months, valid voter registration card, foreign photo ID). If you cannot meet the ID rules, VDH suggests an eligible immediate family member request the record.⁶
ID copy with a mail order: Include a copy of your ID⁶

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.⁶

Full names of both parties (including maiden names)
Date of marriage
Place of marriage (Virginia city or county)
Circuit court where the license was issued
Number of copies
Requester details, relationship and reason
Signature

Which office holds a marriage record

Certified copies come from the office that recorded the signed license, and also from the state vital records office¹; the years each office holds are listed below. Marriage license vs certificate explains the difference and which copy agencies ask for.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds: 1853 to today²
Older records: Library of Virginia: marriage registers 1853-1935 on microfilm; pre-1853 marriage records in county/city court records²³

Special situations

Use abroad: Single Status Letter for marrying abroad; attach a signed letter with date of birth, Virginia residence years, years to search, and any marriages/divorces⁶ Details

Warnings from the office

VDH is not associated with genealogy websites²⁴
A false application is a felony⁶
The State Registrar may accept or deny any application²²
Virginia certified copies have no raised seal; VDH provides a letter for agencies that question this²⁵

The state office

Office: Office of Vital Records¹
Phone: (804) 662-6200¹
Contact: Contact form¹⁴
Mailing address: VDH, Office of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000
¹
Walk-in address: Office of Vital Records, 8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23227
¹⁴
Hours: Walk-in Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:00pm; Customer Care Center phone Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm¹
Website: Official website¹

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Virginia marriage certificate?

Each certified copy costs $15.³

How long does it take to get a Virginia marriage certificate?

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.: 2 to 5 days. In person: same day. At a local office: same day. At a local office: same day. At a local office: up to 2 weeks.⁵⁴⁹¹¹

Can I order a Virginia marriage certificate online?

Yes. Online: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records (state-run online application). Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.⁴⁵

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: State Health Department.⁶

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Photo ID card or driver's license issued by a U.S. state, territory or jurisdiction (incl. Global Entry card), unexpired or expired not more than one year; Learner's/instruction permit (unexpired or expired not more than one year); Current school or employment photo ID with ID number (not check-cashing cards); Unexpired U.S. military card (active duty or retired); Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card; Unexpired foreign passport, I-94 or I-94W; and the other documents listed above.²²

Where are older Virginia marriage certificates kept?

Library of Virginia: marriage registers 1853-1935 on microfilm; pre-1853 marriage records in county/city court records.²³

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

Office of Vital Records (home)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
Frequently Asked QuestionsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 16, 2026
Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
OVR Online - How it Works (Application for Certification of a Vital Record)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
Express Delivery through the VitalChek NetworkVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated April 16, 2026
Application for Certification of a Marriage and/or Divorce Record (VS6MD-07/26)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2026
Virginia Vital Record Application: Marriage - Divorce - Death Certificate (DL 82)Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Code of Virginia § 32.1-273 (fees)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
Vital Records at DMVVirginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Vital Records (Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records)Fairfax County Health Department
Marriage License CopyFairfax County Circuit Court (Clerk of the Circuit Court)
Vital Records FormsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2026
How to Complete a Money Order or CheckVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
Virginia Department of Health: Contact usVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
Vital Record Walk-In LocationsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated April 16, 2026
Acceptable Vital Records DocumentsVirginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Where to Write for Vital Records - VirginiaCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated April 23, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
Authentications: Types of DocumentsOffice of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia Birth Certificate Application (DL 81)Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Code of Virginia § 32.1-271 (disclosure; records made public)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
Code of Virginia § 32.1-267 (records of marriages)Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Information System (Code of Virginia)
ID RequirementsVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 28, 2026
Birth, Marriage, and Death Records: Marriage RecordsThe Library of Virginiadated April 13, 2026
GenealogyVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
Virginia Office of Vital Records Certification Paper (raised seal letter)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records