Radford Marriage Records

Radford marriage records are maintained by the Radford Circuit Court, an independent city court in southwest Virginia. The clerk's office at 619 Second Street handles marriage license applications, certified copy requests, and record searches. Remote online access is also available for researchers who cannot visit in person. For marriages from 1936 onward, the Virginia Department of Health holds certified copies and accepts mail-in requests from anyone across Virginia.

Radford Circuit Court Clerk

Radford is an independent city in the New River Valley. The circuit court clerk's office at 619 Second Street, Room 149, handles marriage licenses, land records, wills, judgments, financing statements, and general civil matters for the city. Hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, though the machine receipts cutoff is 4:30 PM. Phone is (540) 731-3610. You can also find information about the court at radfordva.gov.

The clerk's office offers a Secure Remote Access (SRA) system for online record searching. Subscriptions cost $300 per year or $50 per month for individual users. Business or multi-user plans start at $300 per year for the first user and $275 for each additional user. The SRA system includes marriage license indexes and images going back to August 2000, land records back to January 1918, and wills and fiduciaries from June 2000. This is one of the more robust remote access systems among Virginia's independent city courts.

Marriage Licenses in Radford

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old (or emancipated by court order) and appear in person at the Radford Circuit Court. Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Foreign identification is acceptable if it is legible in English. Both applicants' parents' birth names are required on the application. Under Virginia Code Section 20-14, the circuit court clerk issues all marriage licenses in Virginia.

Several things are not required: Radford City residency, proof of a prior divorce, witnesses, or blood tests. The fee is $30, payable by cash, credit card, money order, or personal check. The license is valid for 60 calendar days from issue. The ceremony must be performed in Virginia. Licenses cannot be issued retroactively and cannot document marriages outside the United States. Unused or expired licenses must be returned to the clerk.

The Radford Circuit Court does not perform marriage ceremonies. Two approved civil servants are available to perform ceremonies in the area: Robert Himmel and Sarah Himmel, both reachable at (540) 357-0348. After the ceremony, the officiant must file the completed license with the clerk within five days. Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-273, VDH charges $12 for each certified copy of a marriage record from 1936 forward.

Getting Certified Copies of Radford Marriage Records

You can get a certified copy of a Radford marriage record either from the circuit court clerk's office or from the Virginia Department of Health. The right source depends on when the marriage occurred and how quickly you need the record.

The circuit court clerk holds records for all marriages licensed in Radford. For in-person requests, visit Room 149 at 619 Second Street during business hours. Bring photo ID and payment. For mail requests, contact the office at (540) 731-3610 first to confirm current procedures. The online SRA system lets subscribers access marriage license indexes and images remotely, which can save a trip to the courthouse.

The VDH Division of Vital Records holds marriage records from 1936 forward. To request by mail, use Form VS6 and send it with $12 per copy to: Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Include a copy of your photo ID. Walk-in requests are handled at 2001 Maywill Street in Richmond. VDH phone is 804-662-6200.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, records within 25 years are restricted to parties and authorized individuals. Records older than 25 years are public. Virginia FOIA under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704 covers public access more broadly.

Radford Marriage Records Resources

The Radford city government portal provides information about the circuit court and other city departments. The screenshot below shows the city's main web portal.

From the Radford city portal, you can navigate to the circuit court clerk's pages for marriage license applications and the Secure Remote Access subscription system.

The Virginia Department of Health vital records portal serves all Virginia residents, including those in Radford, for marriage record requests from 1936 forward. The screenshot below shows the VDH page.

VDH certified copies cost $12 per record and can be ordered by mail or in person at the Richmond office on Maywill Street.

Historical Marriage Records in Radford

Radford has a layered history. The area was first known as Lovely Mount, then English Ferry, Ingles's Ferry, Central Depot, Central City, and finally Radford (named in 1890 for John Blair Radford). The city was incorporated in 1892. Before it became an independent city, the area was part of Montgomery County. For marriages before Radford's incorporation, you would look at Montgomery County records or the Library of Virginia.

The Library of Virginia holds historical marriage bonds, registers, and related documents for Montgomery County and surrounding areas. Staff there can help you locate materials for the Radford area going back to the county's earlier records. The Radford Circuit Court's SRA system goes back to August 2000 for marriage license images, and the land records go back to January 1918.

Nearby Cities

These cities are in the New River Valley and southwest Virginia region near Radford. Each has its own circuit court for marriage records.