Marriage licenses are issued by
Be sure to try to arrive by 3:45 p.m. In Virginia, you can be married by a qualified minister, judge or civil marriage celebrant who has been authorized by the court to perform weddings. View the Virginia Code Section 20-27 as it governs what civil marriage celebrants may charge for performing a wedding.
Once you receive your license, you may marry immediately anywhere in Virginia. If you choose to wait, it's important to remember that the marriage must take place within 60 days of obtaining your marriage license.
The minimum age at which persons may marry shall be 18, unless a minor has been emancipated by court order. Upon application for a marriage license, an emancipated minor shall provide a certified copy of the order of emancipation. For additional information view the Virginia Code Section 20-48.
Both persons who are to be married must appear in person at:
Northumberland Circuit Court Clerk's Office
220 Judicial Place
Heathsville, VA 22511
The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. If you plan to fill out the marriage license applicant information forms at the clerk's office, you should arrive by 3:45 p.m.
Applicants must, under oath, furnish information required to complete the marriage record. These items are material matters, and the applicant may be subject to prosecution for perjury for violation of the portion of the statutes which require this information. For divorced personas there is no statutory waiting period before remarriage after the divorce is granted, unless a court specifically prohibits remarriage.
Marriage records can be found as early as the 1600's in our records room. Marriage license from 1902 to current date are available electronically.
By Mail:
To request a certified copy of your marriage license by mail, you'll need:
Send the request to:
Northumberland County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 217
Heathsville, VA 22473
In Person:
You may obtain a certified copy of your marriage license in person at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office:
Northumberland Circuit Court
220 Judicial Place
Heathsville, VA 22473
If you have questions about obtaining a marriage license, please contact us at 804-580-3700. You may also be interested in reading the pamphlet “Marriage in Virginia,” which is published by the Virginia State Bar.