§ 20-13. License and solemnization required
Every marriage in this Commonwealth shall be under a license and solemnized in the manner herein provided. Code 1919, § 5071.
§ 20-13.1. Repealed
Repealed by Acts 1995, c. 355, cl. 2.
§ 20-14. By whom license to be issued
Every license for a marriage shall be issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of a circuit court of any county or city. If from any cause neither the clerk nor his deputy is able to issue the license, it may be issued by the judge of the circuit court of such county, or city, […]
§ 20-14.1. Duration of license; issuance of additional licenses
Every marriage license issued under § 20-14 shall constitute authority for a period of only sixty days from the date of issuance for the solemnization of a marriage of the licensees. Whenever such sixty-day period shall have elapsed without the solemnization of a marriage of the licensees, the license shall expire. The provisions of this […]
§ 20-14.2. Repealed
Repealed by Acts 2012, c. 802, cl. 2.
§ 20-15. Tax on license
On each marriage license issued under § 20-14 there is hereby levied a license tax of $20, which tax shall be collected by the clerk when the license is issued and accounted for as in the case of other state taxes collected by him. Ten dollars of this license tax shall be allocated to the […]
§ 20-16. Issuance of marriage licenses and marriage certificates
The clerk issuing any marriage license shall require the parties contemplating marriage to state, under oath, the information required to complete the application for marriage license. The parties shall be able to designate themselves on the application for marriage license as spouse, bride, or groom. The clerk shall provide the parties with two copies of […]
§ 20-16.1. Clerk authorized to amend marriage records
The clerk (i) may, on his own authority, correct marriage records established in his office by amending the same upon application under oath and submission of evidence deemed by the clerk to be adequate and sufficient and (ii) shall correct such records upon order of the court in which the marriage record was established. Upon […]
§ 20-17. Repealed
Repealed by Acts 1968, c. 318.
§ 20-20. Clerk to file license and certificate; indexing names of parties; certified copies as evidence
The clerk to whom the license and certificate are returned, shall file and preserve the original in his office, and make an index of the names of both of the parties married. When the certificates of such person celebrating such marriage are returned to the clerk, and recorded as provided in this section and § […]
§ 20-21. Clerk to furnish attorney for the Commonwealth list of licenses not returned by minister
It shall be the duty of every clerk issuing marriage licenses no later than March 31 of each year to furnish to the attorney for the Commonwealth of his county or city a list of all marriage licenses issued during the preceding calendar year that have not been returned by the minister or other person […]
§ 20-22. Attorney for the Commonwealth to ascertain before circuit court name of minister failing to return certificates
It shall be the duty of the attorney for the Commonwealth for each county and city, upon the receipt from the clerk of the list required by § 20-21, to have such person or persons as he may think proper summoned before the circuit court of his county or city to ascertain the name of […]
§ 20-23. Order authorizing ministers to perform ceremony
When a minister of any religious denomination produces before the circuit court of any county or city in the Commonwealth, or before the judge of such court or before the clerk of such court at any time, proof of his ordination and of his being in regular communion with the religious society of which he […]
§ 20-24. Penalty for failure to certify record of marriage
If any minister, authorized to celebrate rites of marriage under § 20-23, shall fail to comply with § 32.1-267, he shall be subject to forfeit twenty-five dollars. Code 1919, § 5093; 1979, c. 502; 1981, c. 298.
§ 20-25. Persons other than ministers who may perform rites
Upon petition filed with the clerk and payment of applicable clerk’s fees, any circuit court judge may issue an order authorizing one or more persons resident in the circuit in which the judge sits to celebrate the rites of marriage in the Commonwealth. Any person so authorized shall, before acting, enter into bond in the […]
§ 20-26. Marriage between members of religious society having no minister
Marriages between persons belonging to any religious society which has no ordained minister, may be solemnized by the persons and in the manner prescribed by and practiced in any such society. One person chosen by the society shall be responsible for completing the certification of marriage in the same manner as a minister or other […]
§ 20-27. Fee for celebrating marriage
Any person authorized under § 20-25 to celebrate the rites of marriage shall be permitted to charge the parties a fee for the ceremony not to exceed $75 for each ceremony. Such person and parties may negotiate payment for any additional services agreed to by the celebrant and the parties. Additionally, such person shall be […]
§ 20-28. Penalty for celebrating marriage without license
If any person knowingly perform the ceremony of marriage without lawful license, or officiate in celebrating the rites of marriage without being authorized by law to do so, he shall be confined in jail not exceeding one year, and fined not exceeding $500. Code 1919, § 4542.
§ 20-29. Repealed
Repealed by Acts 1975, c. 644.
§ 20-30. Licenses of persons on federal reservations
The clerks of the circuit courts of any counties or their deputies and the clerks of the circuit courts of any cities or their deputies are authorized to issue marriage licenses in conformity with the law now governing the same, to any persons desiring to be married on any of the government reservations of this […]