Harrisonburg Marriage Records Lookup
Harrisonburg marriage records are held by the Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk, which serves both the city and the surrounding county from the Harrisonburg courthouse. The clerk issues all marriage licenses for Harrisonburg residents and stores completed certificates on file. Records go back to 1778. Certified copies of marriages from 1936 forward are available from the Virginia Department of Health. Call the marriage licenses division at (540) 564-3124 for questions.
Harrisonburg Overview
Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk
Harrisonburg shares its circuit court with Rockingham County. The Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk's office is the primary source for all marriage records in the city. The courthouse is at 80 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. The main office phone is (540) 564-3111. For marriage licenses specifically, call the dedicated line at (540) 564-3124. The civil division is at (540) 564-3113 and the criminal division at (540) 564-3115. Probate matters are handled at (540) 574-4320. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The clerk's office stores real estate records, criminal records, wills, civil records, chancery records, and marriage licenses in a secured records vault. Microfilm copies of all real estate records are stored at the State Library in Richmond as a backup. For marriage records, the clerk keeps the original licenses and completed certificates. Emergency access to the records vault requires approval from the Clerk of Circuit Court. For standard research requests, staff can assist you during regular business hours at the courthouse.
| Office | Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 80 Court Square Harrisonburg, VA 22802 |
| Main Phone | (540) 564-3111 |
| Marriage Licenses | (540) 564-3124 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Clerk Website | rockinghamcountyva.gov |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Applying for a Marriage License in Harrisonburg
To get a marriage license in Harrisonburg, both parties must appear in person at the Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk's office at 80 Court Square. Call the marriage licenses line at (540) 564-3124 before visiting to confirm what documents to bring and whether walk-ins are accepted. Bring a valid photo ID. If either party has been married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. Virginia requires both applicants to be at least 18 years old.
Under Virginia Code § 20-14, the clerk issues all marriage licenses. Virginia has no waiting period. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. After the ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the completed license to the clerk's office. The clerk records the marriage and files a copy with the Virginia Department of Health under Virginia Code § 32.1-267.
Online Access to Harrisonburg Court Records
Civil and criminal case records for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are available online through OCRA (Officer of the Court Remote Access). This is a fee-based system for Virginia attorneys in good standing. It gives attorneys access to case documents and filings without a trip to the courthouse. For the general public, the Virginia Courts case information portal at vacourts.gov provides basic case status and docket information for free.
Marriage records are not generally included in the online case search systems. To find a specific marriage record, you need to contact the clerk's office directly. The clerk can search by name and confirm whether a record exists before you request a copy. This is the most reliable way to locate Harrisonburg marriage records, especially for older ones that may not be indexed in digital systems.
For genealogical research, the Library of Virginia and FamilySearch both have indexed Virginia marriage records that may include Rockingham County entries going back to the late 18th century. These can help narrow down a date before you order an official copy.
Copies of Harrisonburg Marriage Records
For marriages from 1936 onward, request a certified copy from the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records. The fee is $12 per copy under Virginia Code § 32.1-273. Fill out form VS6 and send it with a photo ID copy and payment to VDH at 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230. Online requests are also accepted.
For marriages before 1936, contact the Rockingham County Circuit Court Clerk. Rockingham County was created in 1778 from Augusta County, and the clerk has marriage records from that year. Note that some records were burned in 1864, which may affect certain time periods. The clerk can advise you on what is available and what alternatives exist for records that were lost. Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, records less than 25 years old are restricted to named parties and immediate family.
Harrisonburg City Resources
The Harrisonburg city government portal provides links to local services and directions to the Rockingham County Circuit Court for marriage license applications and record requests.
Use the city portal to confirm current courthouse hours and find direct contact links for the circuit court clerk's office before your visit.
Virginia Vital Records
The Virginia Department of Health Vital Records portal processes certified copy requests for Harrisonburg marriages from 1936 onward. Submit form VS6 with your ID and the $12 fee to receive a certified copy.
Mail-in requests go to the Richmond VDH office. Processing typically takes a few weeks. Check the VDH website for online request options that may be faster.
Virginia Laws for Marriage Records
Harrisonburg marriage records follow Virginia state law. Virginia Code § 20-14 covers license issuance by the clerk. Virginia Code § 32.1-267 covers state registration of all marriages. The 25-year restriction on access is in Virginia Code § 32.1-271, and the $12 fee cap is in Virginia Code § 32.1-273. For FOIA questions, contact the Virginia FOIA Council under Virginia Code § 2.2-3704.
Rockingham County Marriage Records
Harrisonburg shares its circuit court with Rockingham County. All marriage records for the city and county are kept in the same clerk's office at 80 Court Square. Visit the Rockingham County marriage records page for more details on the court and available resources.
Nearby Cities
These Virginia cities are near Harrisonburg and have their own circuit court resources for marriage records.