Winchester Marriage Records

Winchester marriage records are maintained by the Winchester Circuit Court, which is part of the 26th Judicial Circuit and serves both Winchester City and Frederick County. If you need to apply for a marriage license or get a certified copy of a past marriage record, the clerk's office at 5 N Kent Street handles both services. For records from 1936 onward, the Virginia Department of Health holds statewide records and accepts mail-in requests for certified copies from anyone across Virginia.

Winchester Circuit Court Clerk

The Winchester Circuit Court is located at The Judicial Center, 5 North Kent Street in Winchester. Phone is (540) 667-5770. The clerk's office has a dedicated marriage information line at (540) 667-8623. City fax is (540) 667-6638. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The court website is at winfredclerk.com.

The 26th Judicial Circuit serves both Winchester City and Frederick County. Both jurisdictions share the same court and clerk's office. Marriage records, land records, probate records, and other court filings for both Winchester and Frederick County are all held in this same system. If you are not sure which jurisdiction holds a particular record, the clerk's staff can search across both.

The dedicated marriage information line at (540) 667-8623 is particularly useful if you have specific questions about Winchester marriage licenses or want to confirm what you need to bring before visiting the courthouse. Staff there can also help with certified copy requests and explain the current fee schedule.

Getting a Marriage License in Winchester

Both people must appear in person at the Winchester Circuit Court clerk's office. Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID. 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 is $30. The license is valid for 60 calendar days and the ceremony must take place in Virginia. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the clerk within five days. Unused or expired licenses must also be returned. The clerk sends the completed record to the Virginia Department of Health for central filing. For specific questions about the Winchester marriage license process, call the marriage information line at (540) 667-8623 rather than the main court number.

Certified copies from the court typically cost $2.50 each. VDH charges $12 per certified copy for records from 1936 onward, as set under Virginia Code Section 32.1-273. The clerk also holds probate records, deed records, and other land documents that can be useful for related research.

Certified Copy Requests in Winchester

You can request certified copies of Winchester marriage records from the circuit court clerk or from the Virginia Department of Health. The circuit court holds records for all marriages licensed in Winchester and Frederick County. VDH holds records for all Virginia marriages from 1936 forward.

For the circuit court, visit the clerk in person at 5 N Kent Street during business hours (9 AM to 5 PM), or call (540) 667-5770 to ask about mail-in procedures. For marriage-specific questions, use (540) 667-8623. Bring photo ID and payment. Staff can search by party names and approximate date. Certified copies cost about $2.50 from the court clerk.

For VDH requests, submit Form VS6 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 service is 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. Older records are public under Virginia FOIA at Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704.

Frederick County marriage records and Winchester marriage records are both held at the same clerk's office. If you are researching a marriage that may have been recorded in either jurisdiction, one visit or call to the Winchester clerk covers both sets of records.

Winchester Marriage Records Resources

The Winchester city government portal provides information about city services and departments, including contacts for the circuit court. The screenshot below shows the Winchester city portal.

From the Winchester city portal, you can find links and contacts for the circuit court clerk, which handles marriage license applications and records requests for Winchester residents.

The Virginia Department of Health vital records office serves Winchester residents and all other Virginians for statewide marriage record requests from 1936 forward. The VDH screenshot is shown below.

VDH certified copies cost $12 per record. Requests can be submitted by mail or in person at 2001 Maywill Street in Richmond.

Historical Marriage Records for Winchester

Winchester is one of the oldest cities west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The area has a long history connected to Frederick County, which was one of Virginia's earliest western counties. Frederick County marriage records and probate records are available through the Winchester Circuit Court clerk alongside Winchester City records. The two jurisdictions share a long common history, and many families have records in both.

The Library of Virginia holds historical marriage bonds, registers, and related documents from Frederick County and Winchester going back to the 18th century. Staff there can help you navigate older record formats and locate materials that may not be available at the local court. For very early marriages in the Winchester area, the Library's collections are often the most complete source.

Virginia's public records law under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704 applies to all government records, including those held by the circuit court clerk. Marriage records older than 25 years are open to public inspection and copying. Contact the clerk at (540) 667-5770 or the marriage line at (540) 667-8623 with specific research questions.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Winchester in the northern Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia region. Each has its own circuit court for marriage records.