Westmoreland County Marriage Records

Westmoreland County marriage records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Montross, Virginia. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records them after the ceremony, and provides certified copies for legal or research purposes. This page covers how to request Westmoreland County marriage records, what fees apply, what the documents contain, and where to access historical records from this colonial-era county that dates to 1653.

Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk in Montross is the primary source for Westmoreland County marriage records. The clerk issues licenses, records them once the officiant returns the completed document, and keeps the county's official marriage register. If you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate or want to look up whether a marriage was recorded here, this is your first call.

Westmoreland County was formed from Northumberland County in 1653, making it one of Virginia's oldest counties. The county has a long record history that includes some of Virginia's most prominent colonial families. Marriage records, bonds, and registers from the 1600s and 1700s survive in various forms and are among the most sought-after in the state for genealogical research. The courthouse is at 18849 King's Hwy. in Montross. Staff can help identify what the local office holds and point you toward the Library of Virginia for materials that have been archived there.

The Westmoreland County Government portal at westmoreland-county.org provides county service information. For marriage licenses and record copies, contact the clerk at (804) 493-1124.

The Westmoreland County Government Portal lists county offices and services, including the Circuit Court Clerk responsible for marriage licensing and record maintenance.

Check this portal for current contact details and hours before visiting the courthouse or submitting a written request for Westmoreland County marriage records.

How to Get Westmoreland County Marriage Records

You have three main options: visit the clerk's office in Montross, send a mail request to the courthouse, or order through the Virginia Department of Health for marriages from 1936 to the present. In person is fastest. Mail works if you cannot make the trip. VDH is a good option for post-1936 records when you want the state-certified version.

For an in-person visit, go to 18849 King's Hwy. in Montross. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties plus the approximate year. The fee is $5.00 for the first certified copy. Additional copies of the same record at the same time cost $2.00 each. The clerk can usually issue a certified copy while you wait. Plain uncertified copies are cheaper but not accepted by courts or government offices.

For mail requests, write a letter with both parties' names, the year of marriage, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Send to Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk, 18849 King's Hwy., Montross, VA 22520. Allow one to two weeks for a response. For marriages from 1936 forward, the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office in Richmond also holds certified copies. Their fee is $12 per copy. Orders can be placed online or by mail through the VDH website.

The Virginia courts system at vacourts.gov handles court case records but does not contain marriage license data.

Marriage License Process in Westmoreland County

Both people must go together to the Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk's Office to apply for a marriage license. You cannot send one person alone. Bring a valid government photo ID and your Social Security number. The clerk fills out the application with both parties and collects the $30 license fee at the time of application.

Under Virginia Code Section 20-14, a marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. The ceremony must occur within that period. Virginia does not require any waiting period between getting the license and holding the ceremony. You can get the license in the morning and marry in the afternoon the same day.

After the ceremony, the person who performed it must return the completed license to the Westmoreland County Circuit Court Clerk within 5 days. The clerk records the marriage in the county register and sends a copy to the Virginia Department of Health under Virginia Code Section 32.1-267. This is why both the local office and VDH hold copies for marriages that took place from 1936 onward.

What Westmoreland County Marriage Records Show

A certified Westmoreland County marriage certificate includes the full names of both parties, the ceremony date and location, the officiant's name, and the county of license issuance. It also notes whether either person was previously married. You need this document to change a name, update identification, or claim spousal benefits through government programs.

The marriage license application itself has more information. Recent applications include birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Older applications from the 19th century list ages, parental names, and sometimes occupations. Records from the 1700s, when Westmoreland County was a prominent center of Virginia colonial society, may include the names of well-known families and bondsmen. These records are significant not just for personal genealogy but also for the broader history of Virginia's Tidewater region. Researchers working on colonial Virginia families return to Westmoreland County records regularly because of the prominence of families who lived here.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, marriage records are public after 25 years. Newer records are restricted. Once the 25-year mark passes, records are open to any requester under Virginia FOIA Section 2.2-3704.

Historical Westmoreland County Marriage Records

Westmoreland County was established in 1653 from Northumberland County, making it one of the oldest counties in Virginia. Its records of marriage and family events stretch back nearly four centuries. Colonial-era marriage bonds, banns, and registers from the 1600s and 1700s survive in various forms and are among the most historically significant in the state. Researchers have long turned to Westmoreland County records to trace some of Virginia's most notable colonial families.

The Library of Virginia holds a substantial collection of Westmoreland County historical marriage records. Their holdings include colonial-era records, 19th-century registers, and indexes covering marriages from the county's earliest period. Some records have been digitized and are accessible through the Library's online catalog at lva.virginia.gov. Others are available on microfilm in the Library's Richmond reading rooms. For anyone researching Westmoreland County family history before 1936, the Library of Virginia is the most comprehensive source outside the local courthouse.

Records from 1853 through 1935 are primarily at the local clerk level. The state did not maintain a central vital records system until 1936 in most counties. For Westmoreland, the combination of the local clerk's office and the Library of Virginia provides reasonably complete coverage going back to the mid-1800s, with more fragmented but still valuable documentation reaching back to the colonial period.

The Library of Virginia Colonial Records collection includes Westmoreland County marriage bonds, registers, and other documents from the colonial era through the 19th century.

Visit the Library's online catalog or their Richmond reading rooms to access Westmoreland County marriage records from the 1600s and 1700s, including documents related to Virginia's most prominent colonial families.

The Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office holds Westmoreland County marriage records for events registered with the state from 1936 to the present and can issue certified copies.

VDH certified copies cost $12 each and can be ordered online or by mail. They are accepted for legal purposes by federal and state agencies.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Westmoreland along the Northern Neck of Virginia. If a marriage was not recorded here, check an adjacent county based on where the couple lived.