How to Apply for a Henrico Marriage License
Marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk in Room 240, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Both parties must appear in person and show valid, unexpired government photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID. There is no blood test or waiting period in Virginia.
You can start the application online, but you still appear in person.
The county marriage page lays out the rules.
The Henrico marriage license page covers the requirements, fees, return rules, and the online application link.
- Both applicants gather valid, unexpired photo ID.
- Optionally complete the online application in advance.
- Appear together in Room 240 during issuing hours.
- Pay the $33 fee by cash, check, or credit card.
- Use the license within 60 days, anywhere in Virginia.
Marriage License Requirements
The basic rules are simple. Both parties must be at least 18, both must appear in person, and both must show valid photo ID. The license is valid for 60 days from issuance and can be used anywhere in the Commonwealth. A Henrico license may also be purchased anywhere in Virginia for use anywhere in Virginia.
If no ceremony happens within 60 days, a new application and fee are required.
Can I use a Henrico marriage license outside Henrico? Yes. A license issued in Henrico is valid anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and a license may be bought anywhere in Virginia for use anywhere in Virginia. The officiant still returns the required copies after the ceremony, no matter where in the state it takes place.
These rules keep the process quick, but the in-person appearance is not optional, even when you apply online first.
Marriage License and Copy Fees
The license fee is set, and certified copies cost a little more. Credit cards work but add a small transaction fee. Debit cards are not accepted for the marriage-license fee on the official page.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $33.00 |
| Credit card transaction fee | 2% |
| Certified copy picked up | $2.50 |
| Certified copy by mail with SASE | $2.50 |
| Certified copy by mail without SASE | $3.00 |
Payment is accepted by cash, check, or credit card at the Clerk's office.
Applying Online in Henrico
The online application is a pre-application, not a fully remote license. It lets you fill out the details ahead of time so the counter visit is faster. The application must be completed accurately and claimed at the Clerk's Office within 10 calendar days, or it becomes void and must be resubmitted. Both applicants still appear in person with ID.
The online tool is a web form that opens after you proceed.
The Henrico online marriage application lets applicants submit the application in advance and explains the 10-day claim rule.
| Field / Control | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Dropdown | Optional | English; Español. |
| Proceed to the Application | Button | Yes to start | Opens the interactive form. |
| Applicant information | Interactive form | Yes | Party names, birth details, addresses, prior marriage, ceremony details. |
After the Ceremony
The marriage is not fully recorded until the officiant does their part. After the ceremony, the minister or other officiant completes the license form and returns copies A and B to the Clerk's Office within five days. Once the Clerk receives them, the office mails a certified copy to the couple.
Copies are kept by the Clerk and by the state.
A copy is retained by the Circuit Court Clerk and by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, which can also provide certain vital-record certifications.
If a couple needs proof of marriage before the mailed copy arrives, the Clerk's office can explain the timing. The certified copy is mailed after the officiant returns the completed license, so build in time if a document is needed for a name change, benefits, or travel.
Marriage Copy Rules and Restricted Dates
Copy access depends on the license date, which is an unusual Henrico detail. Licenses issued from July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2001 require written permission from the bride or groom before the Clerk gives a copy to any party. Outside that window, access is not limited to the spouses.
| License Date | Access Rule | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 1997 - June 30, 2001 | Written permission from bride or groom required for any party | $2.50 with SASE; $3.00 without |
| Before 7/1/1997 or after 6/30/2001 | Not limited to bride, groom, or spouse | $2.50 with SASE; $3.00 without |
For the restricted window, the request needs the groom's name, the bride's maiden name, the date of marriage, a SASE, payment, and a notarized signature or a photo ID copy.
Minimum Age and the Marriage Statute
Virginia sets a firm minimum age for marriage. Both parties must be at least 18, and Henrico's marriage page cites the controlling statute. This affects who is eligible for a license and how the application is processed.
The statute is online and easy to read.
Va. Code § 20-48 sets the minimum age for marriage in Virginia.
Because both parties must be 18, there is no separate parental-consent path on the official page.
Divorce Records in Henrico County
Divorce is a Circuit Court matter. The Clerk's services page states that the Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction over divorce and annulment, including the equitable distribution of marital property. A divorce case file can include the complaint, answer, service documents, a property settlement agreement, child-support or custody orders, the final decree, and financial exhibits.
Some financial, child, and protective material may be sealed or redacted.
A divorce certificate from vital records is not the same as the full court file. The Henrico County court records systems show the case, while the Clerk's Civil and Divorce division holds the file.
Requesting Divorce Copies
To get a divorce decree or certified copy, contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Civil and Divorce division at (804) 501-5422. Have the case number, party names, and the decree date ready, since those help the Clerk find the file. Certified copies may require payment and, depending on the record, identification.
The Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records can provide certain marriage and divorce vital-record certifications, which are separate from the court file. The Circuit Court Clerk page explains copy procedures in more detail.
One more distinction helps here. A vital-record certification confirms that an event happened, while the court file holds the pleadings, agreements, and decree from the case. People who need proof of a divorce for a name change or remarriage often need only the certification, but anyone dealing with property, support, or custody usually needs the court file. Ask which one you need before you pay, since the two come from different offices.