Marriage License:
Every marriage in this Commonwealth shall be under a license and solemnized in the manner provided by law. A marriage license is issued by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office of any city or county in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Application for Marriage
Both applicants must appear in person in the Clerk's Office with state issued photo identification bearing a DMV control number, to apply for a marriage license. The fee for a marriage license is $30.00
Certified copy of a marriage license:
You may obtain a certified copy of a marriage license from the Circuit Court Clerk's Office that issued the marriage license. You may make the request in person or by mail.
Northampton County Circuit Court Clerk's Office
Attention: Marriage Licenses
P O Box 36 Eastville VA 23347
Be certain to include the following when submitting a request:
- The full name of both spouses
- The date of the marriage
- The place of marriage
- A money order, certified check or in-state personal check, in the amount of $2.50 per EACH copy, made payable to the "Circuit Court Clerk"
- A self-addressed stamped envelope.
(Virginia Code Annotated, §20-20)
General Information about Marriage Licenses
- License is issued by the Circuit Court Clerk of any city or county in the State of Virginia.
- Out-of-state-residents may apply at any Clerk's Office throughout the State.
- The Northampton County Circuit Court Clerk's Office is located at 5229 The Hornes, 1st Floor.
- You should plan to arrive in our office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and no later than 4:30 p.m. to allow sufficient time for the Clerk's staff to prepare your marriage license.
- No blood tests or witnesses are required.
- The license must be used within 60 days of the date of issue or it will expire.
- Both parties must be present to obtain a marriage license.
- The Clerk's Office requires a valid, state issued picture identification card (Driver's License or Military ID) which has a state issued control number or SSN.
- The fee for the license is $30.00 in cash. CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
- The minimum age is 16 years old for the applicants (Virginia Code Section 20-48); however; anyone under the age of 18 must have written, notarized consent from a parent or their legal guardian (Virginia Code Section 20-49).
- For divorced persons, there is no statutory waiting period before remarriage after the divorce is final unless a Court specifically prohibits remarriage. A copy of the divorce decree is not required when applying for a license.
Certain marriages are prohibited
A marriage entered into prior to the dissolution of an earlier marriage of one of the parties; (Virginia Code Section 20-38.1)
- A marriage between an ancestor and descendant, or between a brother and a sister, whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood or by adoption; (Virginia Code Section 20-38.1)
- A marriage between an uncle and a niece or between an aunt and a nephew, whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood; (Virginia Code Section 20-38.1)
- When either of the parties lacks capacity to consent to the marriage because of mental incapacity or infirmity; (Virginia Code Section 20-43)
- Bigamous marriage; (Virginia Code Section 20-43)
The Virginia General Assembly is offering access to the Code of Virginia on the Internet as a service to the public. We neither assist users of this service with legal questions nor respond to requests for legal advice or the application of the law to specific facts. Therefore, to understand and protect your legal rights, you should consult an attorney.
Persons Authorized to Perform Marriages
The following commissioners have been appointed by the Northampton County Circuit Court to celebrate the rites of marriage:
Elizabeth R. Gordon (757) 710-0763
Traci Johnson (757)678-0465