Covington Marriage Records

Covington marriage records are kept by the Alleghany County Circuit Court Clerk at 266 West Main Street. Covington is an independent city that shares its circuit court with Alleghany County. The clerk issues marriage licenses and stores all completed marriage certificates. For marriages from 1936 forward, certified copies are also available through the Virginia Department of Health. Call the clerk at (540) 965-1730 to ask about older records and local fees.

Alleghany County Circuit Court Clerk

Covington shares its circuit court with Alleghany County. The Alleghany County Circuit Court Clerk handles all marriage records for both the city and the county. The office is at 266 West Main Street, Covington, VA 24426. You can also use the P.O. Box 670 mailing address for written requests. The phone number is (540) 965-1730 and the fax is (540) 965-1732. Business hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The clerk's office accepts inquiries in person, by mail, or by phone. If you send a written request by mail, include a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Staff can look up records by name and confirm what is on file before you make a trip. If you prefer to email, the clerk's contact is dbyer@vacourts.gov. The office maintains a wide range of records including deeds, wills, judgments, and vital records. Marriage licenses are a routine service that does not require an appointment in most cases.

Getting a Marriage License in Covington

To get a marriage license in Covington, both people must appear in person at the Alleghany County Circuit Court Clerk's office. Each person needs a valid photo ID. If either party was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Virginia sets the minimum age to marry at 18. No waiting period applies. The license is good for 60 days from the date it is issued under Virginia Code § 20-14.

The clerk also sells hunting and fishing licenses and accepts passport applications. The office handles a wide mix of services, so it may be busy during peak hours. Call ahead at (540) 965-1730 to find the best time to visit. After the marriage ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the license to the clerk's office. The clerk records the marriage and submits a copy to the Virginia Department of Health as required by Virginia Code § 32.1-267.

Certified Copies of Covington Marriage Records

To get a certified copy of a Covington marriage record, you have two paths depending on when the marriage took place. For marriages from 1936 to the present, request from the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office. The fee is $12 per certified copy under Virginia Code § 32.1-273. Fill out form VS6 and send it with a photo ID copy to VDH at 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230. You can also submit online through their portal.

For marriages before 1936, go to the Alleghany County Circuit Court Clerk. The clerk has records going back to 1845. Alleghany County was created in 1822, and county marriage records from the early 1800s may be accessible through the Library of Virginia as well. FamilySearch has an indexed collection for Alleghany County at familysearch.org that can help identify specific records before ordering copies.

Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, marriage records are restricted for 25 years after the event date. Records older than 25 years are public. Before that window, only the named parties, their immediate family, or those with a legal need can request them.

Historical Marriage Records for Covington

Alleghany County was created on January 5, 1822 from parts of Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe counties. The clerk's office has marriage records from 1845 and other civil records going back to 1822. For genealogical work, these older records can show family connections across multiple generations in the Covington area. The FamilySearch Alleghany County page is a useful guide to what is indexed and how to find specific records.

The Library of Virginia also holds birth and death registers from 1853 to 1896 and marriage records from 1853 to 1935 for many Virginia localities including this area. These can supplement what is available at the clerk's office and are useful when the exact date of a marriage is not known. Contact the Library of Virginia directly for research assistance.

The clerk's role as probate judge means that estate and will records are also kept in the same office. These can be helpful when researching a deceased person's marriage history as part of estate or genealogical work.

Virginia Vital Records Office

The Virginia Department of Health Vital Records page is where Covington residents can request certified marriage certificates from 1936 onward. The site walks you through the form VS6 process and accepted payment methods.

Mail-in requests are processed at the Richmond office and returned by mail. Online requests may process faster. Check the site for current processing times.

Virginia Marriage Laws

Marriage record practices in Covington are governed by several Virginia statutes. Virginia Code § 20-14 gives the circuit court clerk authority to issue licenses. Virginia Code § 32.1-267 requires registration of all marriages with the state. The public access window is defined in Virginia Code § 32.1-271, and the $12 cap on certified copies is in Virginia Code § 32.1-273. For FOIA questions, the Virginia FOIA Council can help under Virginia Code § 2.2-3704.

Alleghany County Marriage Records

Covington shares its circuit court with Alleghany County, so all marriage filings for the city go through the same clerk. Visit the Alleghany County marriage records page for more information on the court and available record types.

View Alleghany County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These Virginia cities are close to Covington and each has its own circuit court resources for marriage records.