Search Portsmouth Marriage Records

Portsmouth marriage records are maintained by the Portsmouth Circuit Court, an independent city court in the 3rd Judicial Circuit. The clerk of the circuit court keeps marriage licenses, land records, wills, and other official filings. If you need to apply for a new marriage license or request a certified copy of an older record, the courthouse at 601 Crawford Street is where you go. For marriages from 1936 onward, the Virginia Department of Health also offers a mail-in request option for certified copies.

Portsmouth Circuit Court Clerk

The Portsmouth Circuit Court clerk is a constitutional officer elected to an eight-year term. The clerk's office maintains essential records for the city in a secure vault, including real estate records, criminal records, wills, civil records, chancery records, and marriage licenses. Microfilm copies of records through June 1999 are stored at the State Library in Richmond, and newer records are in a digital records management system.

The Circuit Court is at 601 Crawford Street. The City Hall office is at 801 Crawford Street. You can reach the court at (757) 393-8671. For more information about the court's services, the Portsmouth city website has a circuit court page with contact information and service details.

The clerk's office offers several public services beyond marriage licenses. These include probate of estates, concealed handgun permits, notary services (at no charge), DD214 recordation, records searches, and copies. Records searches cost $10. Copies are $0.50 per page and certification is $2 per document.

Marriage Licenses in Portsmouth

Both people must appear in person at the Portsmouth Circuit Court to apply for a marriage license. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. Foreign identification works if it is legible in English. No Virginia residency is required, and there is no waiting period. Under Virginia Code Section 20-14, circuit court clerks are the only officials authorized to issue marriage licenses in Virginia.

The fee for a marriage license is $30. The license is valid for 60 calendar days from the date of issue. The ceremony must take place in Virginia. After the wedding, the officiant must return the completed license to the clerk within five days. Unused or expired licenses must also be returned to the clerk's office. The clerk then sends the completed record to the Virginia Department of Health.

The clerk does not perform marriage ceremonies. Portsmouth has a list of civil marriage officiants approved by the court. You can ask the clerk's office for this list when you pick up your license. For certified copies after the record is filed, the court charges $2 per certification plus $0.50 per page. VDH charges $12 per certified copy for records from 1936 onward under Virginia Code Section 32.1-273.

Getting Certified Copies of Portsmouth Marriage Records

To request a certified copy of a Portsmouth marriage record, you can go to the circuit court clerk in person or submit a mail request. For marriages from 1936 forward, the Virginia Department of Health is another option. The clerk at Portsmouth Circuit Court holds all records filed in the city, including records that predate the statewide vital records system.

For in-person requests at the courthouse, bring a valid photo ID and payment. Staff can pull records by name or approximate date. Mail requests should include the names of both parties, the year of the marriage, and your return address with payment. Call (757) 393-8671 to confirm current fees and any required forms before mailing your request.

To request from VDH by mail, use Form VS6. Send it with $12 per copy to: Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Walk-in requests are handled at 2001 Maywill Street in Richmond. Include a copy of your photo ID. VDH phone is 804-662-6200.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, marriage records are restricted to the parties and authorized individuals for the first 25 years. After that they are public. Virginia's FOIA statute at Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704 applies to all public government records.

Portsmouth Records and Vital Records Resources

The Portsmouth city government portal connects residents with the circuit court and other city services. The screenshot below shows the city's main web portal, which includes links to the circuit court clerk's page.

From the Portsmouth city portal, you can navigate to the circuit court clerk's section for marriage license applications and records requests.

The Virginia Department of Health is the central repository for all Virginia marriage records from 1936 to the present. The screenshot below shows the VDH vital records portal used for state-level requests.

Portsmouth residents can request VDH certified copies for $12 per record by mail or in person at the Richmond office.

Historical Marriage Records in Portsmouth

Portsmouth has a long history as a port city in Hampton Roads. The clerk's vault holds original records going back many years, with microfilm copies at the State Library in Richmond through June 1999. For very old marriage records, the Library of Virginia is a valuable resource. Staff there can help you find marriage bonds, registers, and related materials from Portsmouth and the broader Hampton Roads region.

The Portsmouth Circuit Court handles both civil and criminal cases under the 3rd Judicial Circuit. Civil claims over $4,500 but not more than $25,000 are shared with the General District Court. Claims over $25,000 go to the circuit court. Divorce, wills, estate matters, and property disputes are all handled here. The court also hears felony criminal cases and juvenile matters certified up from lower courts.

Virginia FOIA rights under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704 apply to all public records held by the clerk's office. Marriage records more than 25 years old are public, and anyone can request access or copies. The clerk's office processes those requests during regular business hours.

Nearby Cities

These cities are in the Hampton Roads area close to Portsmouth. Each has its own independent city circuit court that handles marriage records.