Falls Church Marriage Records Lookup

Falls Church marriage records are handled by the Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk, which serves the city as part of the 19th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office at 1425 N Courthouse Road in Arlington issues all marriage licenses for Falls Church and keeps completed marriage certificates. For certified copies of marriages from 1936 forward, the Virginia Department of Health can help. Call the Arlington clerk at (703) 228-7400 for local requests.

Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk

Falls Church is one of Virginia's smallest independent cities. It is closely integrated with Arlington County and uses the Arlington County Circuit Court for all judicial matters. The circuit court clerk's office is at 1425 N Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201. The phone number is (703) 228-7400. Marriage licenses issued for Falls Church residents come from this office. Records of completed marriages are stored there as well.

The clerk's office maintains marriage records for both Falls Church and Arlington County. Falls Church is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit. If you need to find an older marriage record, call the clerk's office to ask about what is on file and what search services are available. The office also handles real estate records, court filings, and other vital records for the area. Plan for parking and security at the courthouse before you arrive.

Marriage Licenses in Falls Church

To get a marriage license as a Falls Church resident, visit the Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk at 1425 N Courthouse Road. Both parties must appear in person with valid photo IDs. If either person was previously married, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. The minimum age to marry in Virginia is 18. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, the clerk issues all licenses. Virginia has no waiting period, and the license is valid for 60 days.

There is no Virginia residency requirement to get married in the state. Any couple can apply for a license at any Virginia circuit court clerk's office. Falls Church residents generally use the Arlington court since it is their assigned court. After the ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the license to the clerk. The clerk records the marriage and files a copy with the Virginia Department of Health as required by Virginia Code § 32.1-267.

Certified Copies of Falls Church Marriage Records

For marriages from 1936 onward, request a certified copy from the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office. The fee is $12 per copy under Virginia Code § 32.1-273. Fill out form VS6 and send it with a copy of your photo ID and payment to VDH at 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230. Online requests are also accepted through the VDH portal.

For marriages before 1936 or records requiring a clerk-certified copy, contact the Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk at (703) 228-7400. The clerk can look up records by name and confirm the fee for copies. Bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you need the copy mailed back to you. If you are in person at the courthouse, staff can usually provide a copy the same day.

Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, marriage records are restricted for 25 years from the date of the marriage. After that they are public. Before that point, access is limited to the parties named in the record, immediate family, or those with a legal need.

Additional Falls Church Marriage Resources

The Falls Church city government website at fallschurchva.gov covers city services and provides guidance on where to go for marriage licenses and vital records. The site links to the Arlington County Circuit Court, which is the correct destination for all marriage record needs in Falls Church.

For genealogical research, the Library of Virginia holds older marriage records from the Northern Virginia region. If you are researching marriages in the Falls Church or Arlington area before 1936, the Library of Virginia is a good place to start. Their collections include indexed marriage records going back to the early 19th century for many Virginia localities.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court is another nearby option if you need records from that jurisdiction. Falls Church is close to both Arlington and Fairfax, so some family records may fall under either court. The Virginia Courts website can help you identify which court has jurisdiction for a specific record.

Falls Church City Resources

The Falls Church city government website provides information on city services and direct links to the Arlington County Circuit Court for marriage license requests.

Use the city site to verify current court hours and any special requirements before visiting the Arlington courthouse for your marriage records request.

Virginia Vital Records

The Virginia Department of Health Vital Records portal handles certified copy requests for Falls Church marriages from 1936 onward. Submit form VS6 with your ID and the $12 fee to receive a certified copy by mail.

VDH processes requests at the Richmond office. Mail-in requests typically take a few weeks. Online requests may process faster based on current workload.

Virginia Marriage Laws

Falls Church marriage records follow the same state laws as all Virginia jurisdictions. Virginia Code § 20-14 gives the circuit court clerk authority to issue licenses. Virginia Code § 32.1-267 requires all marriages to be registered with the state. Virginia Code § 32.1-271 sets the 25-year restriction, and Virginia Code § 32.1-273 caps the certified copy fee. For FOIA concerns, the Virginia FOIA Council can assist under Virginia Code § 2.2-3704.

Arlington County Marriage Records

Falls Church marriage licenses are issued and recorded by the Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk. All filings for the city go through this shared court in Arlington. Visit the Arlington County marriage records page for more details on the clerk and available record services.

View Arlington County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These Virginia cities are close to Falls Church. Each one has its own circuit court resources for marriage records.