Our journey down the Atlantic seaboard continues into Virginia and West Virginia. Once the same state, they divided over issues regarding slavery and secession and more. We lived in Virginia for more than 10 years and my daughter was born there, so I’ll always have a deep fondness for the state. So let’s talk about the marriage laws in Virginia and West Virginia.
Virginia
You do not need to be a resident of Virginia to apply for a marriage license there. You will need to show proof of ID and in some counties, you will have to prove that your previous marriage has been dissolved. Be sure to check with the requirements of the specific county where you intend to apply for your license. There is no waiting period on your license, but you do need to pay $35 for the marriage license and they accept cash only.
Virginia does not allow:
- Proxy Marriage
- Covenant Marriage Options
- Common Law Marriage
- Same-Sex Marriage
They do allow cousin marriage, but you do not have to take a blood test or any other kind of test in order to obtain a license. You must be 18 to apply for a marriage license and if you are under 18, then you need to have written, notarized consent from your parents or legal guardians.
To obtain a copy of your Virginia Marriage Certificate:
Office of Vital Records and Health Statistics
State Health Department
P.O. Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23218-1000
804-225-5000
West Virginia
West Virginia is very similar to Virginia, however, most counties there require proof of the dissolution of a previous marriage or the death of the previous spouse. The fee is about $36 but it does vary from county to county. As with Virginia, you do not need to be a resident of West Virginia to apply for a marriage license. If you do live there, you need to apply in the county of your residence.
There is no allowance for:
- Proxy Marriage
- Cousin Marriage
- Common-Law Marriage
- Covenant Marriage Option
- Same Sex Marriage
You do not need to take any blood tests to apply for a license. Your license is also valid for 60 days. If you are under 18, you need the consent of a parent or guardian to apply. You will also have a 3-day waiting period after you apply for your license. If you are underage and pregnant, there may be special provisions.
You can get a copy of your West Virginia Marriage Certificate by writing to the Marriage License Clerk in the county where you apply for your marriage license.
The above information should be taken as guidance only, legal requirements for state and county marriage licenses change often. Please verify the necessary paperwork and more with the office of the county clerk prior to making your wedding plans
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