Wise County Marriage Records

Wise County marriage records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Wise, Virginia. You can request certified copies for legal use or search older records for genealogy research. The clerk maintains all marriage licenses issued in the county including records for the independent city of Norton, which is surrounded by Wise County. This page covers how to get Wise County marriage records, what they contain, what fees apply, and how to find historical documents from the county's founding in 1856.

Wise County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office in Wise handles all marriage licenses and records for Wise County. The clerk issues licenses, records the returned document after the ceremony, and provides certified copies upon request. This office is your main source for marriage records involving anyone who married in the county or in the city of Norton, which uses Wise County's circuit court for marriage licensing purposes.

Wise County was formed in 1856 from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. Marriage records at the local level begin from that year. The county is in the far southwestern corner of Virginia, adjacent to the Kentucky border. The courthouse is at 134 Roberts Ave. in Wise. Staff can look up records by party name and year and will issue certified copies the same day for in-person requests. For older records from the 19th century through the early 20th century, some materials may have been transferred to the Library of Virginia in addition to what the clerk holds locally.

The Wise County Government portal at wisecounty.org provides county service details and department contacts. For marriage records and license applications, contact the clerk at (276) 328-8000.

The Wise County Government Portal provides contact information and department listings for county offices, including the Circuit Court Clerk responsible for marriage records and licensing in Wise County.

Check the portal for current office hours and contact details before visiting or submitting a records request to the Wise County Circuit Court Clerk.

Requesting Wise County Marriage Records

Wise County marriage records can be requested in person at the courthouse, by mail, or through the Virginia Department of Health for marriages from 1936 onward. Each method differs in timeline and what documents can be provided.

For in-person requests, go to 134 Roberts Ave. in Wise. Bring a valid government photo ID and the names of both parties plus an approximate year. The fee is $5.00 for the first certified copy. Additional copies of the same record at the same time are $2.00 each. Plain uncertified copies cost less but cannot be used in court or for government applications. In-person requests are handled the same day in most cases.

Mail requests require a written letter with the names of both parties, the year, your return address, and a check or money order. Mail to Wise County Circuit Court Clerk, 134 Roberts Ave., Wise, VA 24293. Allow one to two weeks. For marriages from 1936 forward, the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office is another option. VDH charges $12 per certified copy and accepts online or mail orders. Their copies carry the state seal and are recognized by federal agencies for identification and benefit applications.

The Virginia courts portal at vacourts.gov lets you search court cases but does not include marriage license records.

How to Apply for a Marriage License in Wise County

Both people must appear together in person at the Wise County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. There is no way to apply through a representative. Each person needs a valid government photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID. You also need to provide your Social Security number. The clerk fills out the application with both parties present and collects the $30 license fee.

Under Virginia Code Section 20-14, a Wise County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. The ceremony must take place before the license expires or you will need to apply again. Virginia does not require any waiting period. You can receive the license and hold the ceremony on the same day.

After the ceremony, the person who performed it must return the completed license to the Wise County Circuit Court Clerk within 5 days. The clerk records it in the county register and sends a certified copy to the state under Virginia Code Section 32.1-267. The state registrar then adds it to the central vital records index under Virginia Code Section 32.1-273.

Contents of Wise County Marriage Records

A certified Wise County marriage certificate shows the full legal names of both parties, the date and place of the ceremony, the officiant's name, and whether either person had been previously married. This is the document you need to prove a marriage for a name change, to update a passport, or to show proof of marriage to an employer or benefits program.

The marriage license application behind the certificate has more detail. Recent applications include dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Older records from the late 1800s and early 1900s typically show ages, parents' names, and sometimes occupations. For genealogists researching Southwest Virginia and Appalachian families, Wise County marriage records are a primary source for tracing households and family connections through this part of the state. The records cover the period from the county's founding in 1856 through the present, providing over 160 years of documentation.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, marriage records become public 25 years after the event. Before that, access is restricted to the parties or their legal representatives. Once they pass the 25-year mark, they are accessible to any person under Virginia FOIA Section 2.2-3704.

Historical Wise County Marriage Records

Wise County marriage records begin from 1856, when the county was formed from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. The county's records span the period from just before the Civil War through the 20th century and into the present. For many families in far Southwest Virginia, Wise County records are the primary source for family history documentation from the second half of the 19th century onward.

The Library of Virginia holds historical marriage records for Wise County including microfilmed registers and indexes from the 19th century and early 20th century. Their catalog is searchable online at lva.virginia.gov, and some records are digitized for remote viewing. For materials not available online, a visit to the Library's Richmond reading rooms is the best option. The Library can also help connect researchers with Wise County records held in other collections or archives.

Records from 1912 to 1935 were supposed to be submitted to the state, but compliance was inconsistent in many rural Southwest Virginia counties. If you cannot find a Wise County marriage record at VDH for that period, check the local clerk first. The clerk at (276) 328-8000 can tell you what exists locally for a specific time range before you make the trip or send a written request.

The Library of Virginia maintains historical marriage records for Wise County including 19th-century registers and indexes that supplement what is held at the local clerk level and VDH.

Search the Library's online catalog or visit in person in Richmond to find Wise County marriage records from the 1856 founding through the early 20th century, including microfilmed originals.

The Virginia Department of Health Vital Records holds Wise County marriage records for all marriages registered with the state from 1936 to the present and can issue certified copies accepted by government agencies.

The fee is $12 per certified copy. You can order online or by mail through the VDH website. Documents carry the Virginia state seal and are accepted for passport applications, Social Security updates, and other legal purposes.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Wise in far Southwest Virginia. If a marriage record is not found here, check adjacent counties since the borders were redrawn several times in this region during the 19th century.