§ 20-31. Belief of parties in lawful marriage validates certain defects
No marriage solemnized under a license issued in this Commonwealth by any person professing to be authorized to solemnize the same shall be deemed or adjudged to be void, nor shall the validity thereof be in any way affected on account of any want of authority in such person, or any defect, omission or imperfection […]
§ 20-31.1. When marriage legitimates children; issue of marriages prohibited by law, etc., legitimate
If a person, having had a child, shall afterwards intermarry with the mother or father, such child if recognized by both of them, as their own child, jointly or separately, before or after marriage, shall be deemed legitimate. The issue of marriages prohibited by law, deemed null or void or dissolved by a court shall […]
§ 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 […]
§ 20-16. 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 […]