Petersburg Marriage Records

Petersburg marriage records date to 1784 and are maintained by the Petersburg Circuit Court, one of Virginia's independent city courts in the 11th Judicial Circuit. If you need a marriage license, a certified copy of a marriage record, or want to research older filings, the circuit court clerk's office at 2 Courthouse Avenue is where to start. The Virginia Department of Health holds statewide records from 1936 forward, and VDH can help if you are not sure which local court holds a particular record.

Petersburg Circuit Court Clerk

Petersburg is an independent city with its own circuit court. The clerk of the circuit court maintains all official marriage records, land records, civil records, criminal records, wills, and related documents. Marriage records in Petersburg go back to 1784, which is well before Virginia's statewide vital records system was established in the 1930s. The clerk's office is the only source for those older records.

The court is organized into several divisions, including a Civil Division, Criminal Division, Land Records and Recording Division, and a Finance Division. The Jury Division and other support functions are also part of the clerk's office. Staff can look up records by name or case number and provide certified copies during regular office hours.

Copies of records stored in the clerk's vault are available on request. Pricing for copies is typically $0.50 per page with a certification fee of $2.00. Call (804) 733-2367 to confirm current fees and procedures before you visit or send a mail request.

Marriage Licenses in Petersburg

To apply for a marriage license in Petersburg, both parties must appear at the circuit court clerk's office. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. No Virginia residency is needed, and there is no waiting period. Under Virginia Code Section 20-14, only the circuit court clerk may issue marriage licenses in Virginia.

The license fee is $30. The license is valid for 60 calendar days from issue and must be used for a ceremony performed in Virginia. After the ceremony, the officiant has five days to return the completed license to the clerk's office. The clerk then sends the record to the Virginia Department of Health for central filing. Unused or expired licenses must be returned to the clerk.

Certified copies from the court cost $2.00 for certification plus $0.50 per page. For records from 1936 to the present, the VDH Division of Vital Records charges $12 per certified copy, as set under Virginia Code Section 32.1-273. VDH is located at 2001 Maywill Street in Richmond, and mail requests go to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000.

Certified Copy Requests for Petersburg Marriage Records

Petersburg Circuit Court holds marriage records going back to 1784. This is one of the oldest sets of local marriage records in Virginia. The court vault also holds real estate records, criminal records, wills, civil records, chancery records, and marriage licenses. A microfilm copy of records through June 1999 is stored at the State Library in Richmond, and digital images are on the clerk's records management system.

To request a certified copy by mail, write to the Petersburg Circuit Court clerk at 2 Courthouse Avenue, Petersburg, VA 23803. Include the names of both parties, the approximate year of marriage, and your contact information. Include payment for copies plus the certification fee. Call (804) 733-2367 first to confirm current fees and the exact format for mail requests.

For marriages from 1936 forward, the VDH Division of Vital Records in Richmond is a faster option. Submit Form VS6 with $12 per copy and a photo ID copy. Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, records less than 25 years old are restricted to the parties and authorized individuals. Older records are public.

Historical resources at the Library of Virginia include a Marriage Register Bonds volume covering Petersburg from 1784 to 1853, an Index-Transcript of Marriage Bonds from Amelia County from 1735 to 1853 (relevant to the Petersburg area), and microfilm held at the Virginia State Library. These are useful for tracing families in the Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield County areas that once encompassed Petersburg's territory.

Petersburg Marriage Records Resources

The Petersburg city government portal provides contact information and links to city departments, including the circuit court. The screenshot below shows the city's main web presence.

From the Petersburg city portal, you can find links and contact details for the circuit court clerk's office where marriage licenses and records are maintained.

The Virginia Department of Health vital records system handles marriage record requests from 1936 to the present for Petersburg and all other Virginia jurisdictions. The VDH page is shown below.

VDH certified copies cost $12 each and can be requested by mail or walk-in at 2001 Maywill Street in Richmond.

Historical Marriage Records in Petersburg

Petersburg has one of the longest documented local histories in Virginia. The city was established in 1748, incorporated as a town in 1785, and became a city in 1850. Before Petersburg was a separate city, the territory was part of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield Counties. Records for marriages in the area before 1784 may be in those county files, which the Library of Virginia can help you trace.

The Marriage Register Bonds volume for Petersburg from 1784 to 1853 is an especially important genealogical resource. It documents early marriages in the area using the bond system that Virginia used before the modern license system. These bonds named the parties, their bondsmen, and the date of the marriage intent. The Library of Virginia holds these records along with microfilm copies of additional Petersburg documents from the 19th century.

Virginia FOIA rules under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704 apply to public records generally. Marriage records more than 25 years old are public and can be inspected or copied upon request. The clerk's office can help you navigate older record formats and point you to related records like probate files, which often contain marriage information as well.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Petersburg in the central Virginia region. Each handles marriage records through its own independent city circuit court.