Richmond City Marriage Records

Richmond marriage records are kept by the Richmond Circuit Court and by the Virginia Department of Health, which is headquartered in Richmond itself. As Virginia's state capital, Richmond is home to both the local circuit court for city residents and the statewide Division of Vital Records, which holds marriage records for all of Virginia from 1936 onward. If you need to apply for a marriage license or get a certified copy of a marriage record, this page explains where to go and what to expect.

Richmond Circuit Court

The Richmond Circuit Court is the independent city court in the 13th Judicial Circuit. The clerk's office at 400 North Ninth Street handles marriage licenses, land records, probate matters, and all civil and criminal records for Richmond City. The clerk is a constitutional officer who serves as custodian of the city's official records. Phone is (804) 646-6505.

Richmond is also home to the Virginia Department of Health's Division of Vital Records, which is the central state repository for all Virginia marriage records from 1936 onward. If you are not sure whether to use the circuit court or VDH, the general rule is: the circuit court holds records for marriages licensed in Richmond, and VDH holds copies of all Virginia marriages from 1936 forward regardless of where the license was issued.

For the statewide vital records office, the mailing address is P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. The street address for walk-in visits is 2001 Maywill Street, Richmond, VA 23230. The VDH phone number is 804-662-6200. The VDH vital records page has details on all record types, forms, and fees.

Virginia Department of Health in Richmond

The VDH Division of Vital Records serves as the statewide repository for Virginia birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. Richmond residents and all other Virginians can request certified copies from this office. The VDH office at 2001 Maywill Street accepts walk-in requests and processes mail-in requests submitted using Form VS6. Requests can also be ordered online through VDH's approved vendor.

To request a certified copy by mail, complete Form VS6 (Application for Certification of Vital Record). Send it with $12 per copy (payable to the State Health Department) to: Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218-1000. Include a copy of a government-issued photo ID or two secondary forms of identification. The fee is set by Virginia Code Section 32.1-273. VDH holds records from 1853 to the present, with varying availability dates for different record types. Marriage records are available from 1936 forward from VDH.

If the marriage occurred in Virginia but you are not sure which circuit court issued the license, contact VDH first. They can help identify the record and direct you to the right office. Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-267, VDH is the designated custodian of all state vital records.

Marriage Licenses in Richmond

To apply for a marriage license in Richmond, both people must go to the Richmond Circuit Court clerk's office at 400 North Ninth Street. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. No residency requirement applies, and there is no waiting period. Under Virginia Code Section 20-14, the circuit court clerk issues all marriage licenses in Virginia.

The license fee is $30. The license is valid for 60 calendar days and must be used for a ceremony in Virginia. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the clerk within five days. The clerk then sends the record to VDH. Certified copies from the circuit court cost about $2.50 each. VDH copies cost $12 per record.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, marriage records are restricted for 25 years. After that they are public. Virginia FOIA under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704 applies to public records generally. The Library of Virginia, also located in Richmond, holds historical marriage records from Richmond and all Virginia localities.

Richmond Marriage Records Resources

The Richmond city government portal at rva.gov provides links to city departments including the circuit court. The screenshot below shows the Richmond city portal used to find local government services.

From the Richmond city portal, you can locate the circuit court clerk's office and find links for marriage license applications and record requests.

The Virginia Department of Health vital records office is located in Richmond and serves as the state repository for all Virginia marriage records from 1936 onward. The VDH screenshot below shows the main vital records portal.

Richmond residents and all Virginia residents can request certified marriage records from VDH for $12 per copy. Walk-in service is available at 2001 Maywill Street in Richmond.

The Library of Virginia and Historical Records

The Library of Virginia is in Richmond and holds one of the most comprehensive collections of Virginia historical records in existence. Marriage bonds, registers, minister's returns, and related materials from localities across the state are held here. Researchers can visit in person, search the online catalog, or contact staff for help. The library's local records collection includes materials from Richmond and surrounding counties going back to the colonial period.

For genealogical research, the Library of Virginia is often the best starting point for old Virginia marriages. Many records that no longer exist locally have been preserved in microfilm or digital formats at the library. The Library of Virginia local records page lets you search available holdings by locality. Staff can assist with research requests by mail or in person.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Richmond in central Virginia. Each has its own independent city circuit court for marriage records.