York County Marriage Records

York County marriage records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in Yorktown, Virginia. You can request certified copies for legal use or search older records for genealogy research. York County was established in 1634 as one of Virginia's original shires, which means some of the oldest continuous marriage documentation in America is on file here. This page covers how to get York County marriage records, what they contain, the fees involved, and how to find historical records going back to the colonial period.

York County Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court Clerk's Office in Yorktown is the official keeper of all York County marriage records. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records them after the officiant returns the completed document, and provides certified copies on request. This office is your primary source for any marriage that took place in York County, from the most recent filings back through the county's long history.

York County was established in 1634 as Charles River Shire, one of Virginia's eight original shires. It is one of the oldest continuously operating county governments in the United States, and its records reflect that age. Marriage documentation here includes some of the oldest surviving records of their type in the country. The courthouse address is listed below, though the clerk's office may direct you to the courthouse annex building for some services. Call ahead at (757) 594-7300 to confirm exactly where to go and what to bring.

The York County Government portal at yorkcounty.gov provides county department listings and contact information. For marriage records and license applications, contact the clerk directly at (757) 594-7300.

The York County Government Portal provides contact information for county offices including the Circuit Court Clerk, which handles marriage licensing and record requests for York County residents and researchers.

Check the portal for current hours and any changes to the clerk's location or procedures before submitting a record request or visiting in person.

Requesting York County Marriage Records

York County marriage records can be obtained in person at the courthouse, by mail to the clerk's office, or through the Virginia Department of Health for marriages from 1936 onward. In person is the fastest option for most people.

For an in-person request, go to the clerk's office and ask for a marriage certificate. Bring a valid government photo ID and the full names of both parties along with an approximate year. The fee is $5.00 for the first certified copy and $2.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Plain uncertified copies cost less but are not accepted by government agencies or courts for legal purposes. Same-day service is available for in-person requests in most cases.

To request by mail, write a letter with the names of both parties, the year of the marriage, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Mail to York County Circuit Court Clerk, 416 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601. Expect a response in one to two weeks. For marriages registered in Virginia from 1936 to the present, the Virginia Department of Health Vital Records office also holds copies. VDH charges $12 per certified copy and allows online or mail orders. Their copies carry the state seal and are accepted by federal agencies for passports, Social Security, and other legal needs.

Note: The Virginia courts portal is for civil and criminal case records only, not marriage license filings.

Getting a Marriage License in York County

Both people who intend to marry must appear together at the York County Circuit Court Clerk's Office. You cannot apply through someone else or send only one person. Each applicant needs a valid government photo ID and their Social Security number. The clerk fills out the license application with both parties present and collects the $30 fee at the time of application.

Under Virginia Code Section 20-14, a marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. The ceremony must occur within that period. Virginia has no waiting period. You can get the license and hold the ceremony the same day. If the ceremony does not happen within 60 days, the license expires and you must apply for a new one and pay the fee again.

Once the ceremony is complete, the officiant must return the signed license to the York County Circuit Court Clerk within 5 days. The clerk records it in the county register and submits a copy to the state under Virginia Code Section 32.1-267. The state registrar then adds it to the statewide vital records index as required by Virginia Code Section 32.1-273. This dual recording is why both the county and VDH hold copies for post-1936 marriages.

What York County Marriage Records Include

A certified York County marriage certificate contains the full names of both parties, the date and location of the ceremony, the name of the officiant, and the county of license issuance. Prior marriage history for both parties is also noted. This is the document most commonly needed for legal purposes including name changes, passport applications, and beneficiary designations.

The marriage license application behind the certificate has more background data. Recent applications include birth dates, current addresses, and Social Security numbers. Older records from the 19th century include ages, the names of parents, and sometimes occupations. Records from the county's early period in the 1600s and 1700s are among the oldest surviving marriage documents in the United States. For genealogists researching colonial Virginia families and early Tidewater settlement, York County marriage records are a primary source. The records connect prominent colonial households and document family networks that shaped early American life in Virginia. No other county in the state has a continuous record of marriages going back as far as York County does.

Under Virginia Code Section 32.1-271, marriage records are public 25 years after the date of the event. Newer records are restricted to the parties or their legal representatives. Records older than 25 years are open to any person under Virginia FOIA Section 2.2-3704.

Historical York County Marriage Records

York County is one of the eight original Virginia shires established in 1634. It holds some of the oldest continuously maintained local government records in the country. Marriage documentation here extends back nearly four centuries, making it one of the most historically significant record sets in all of Virginia. Colonial-era marriage bonds, minister's returns, and registers from the 1600s and 1700s survive in various forms. Some records from that period are among the earliest of their type found anywhere in America.

The Library of Virginia holds extensive historical marriage records for York County, including colonial-era documentation and records from the 18th and 19th centuries. Their collection is searchable through the Library's online catalog at lva.virginia.gov. Some records have been digitized and are viewable remotely. Others are on microfilm and require a visit to the Library's Richmond reading rooms. The Library has made York County's historical records a priority for digitization given the county's age and the national significance of its documentation.

For records between 1853 and 1936, the local clerk holds the primary source. Virginia required local recording from 1853 but did not reliably collect vital records at the state level until 1936. If you cannot find a York County marriage through VDH for that era, try the clerk at (757) 594-7300 first. For anything before 1853, the Library of Virginia is the main research destination, though some very early records may still be held locally.

The Virginia Department of Health Vital Records holds certified copies of York County marriage records for marriages registered with the state from 1936 to the present.

VDH copies cost $12 each and are available online or by mail. They carry the Virginia state seal and are accepted for passport applications, name changes, and federal benefit claims.

The Library of Virginia Colonial Records includes York County marriage bonds and registers from the colonial era, some of which date to the 1600s and represent the oldest surviving marriage records in the United States.

Visit the Library's online catalog or their Richmond location to access these colonial-era York County records. Some are digitized for remote viewing; others are available on microfilm in the reading rooms.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near York in the Hampton Roads and Peninsula area. If you cannot find a marriage record in York County, check an adjacent jurisdiction based on where the couple lived at the time of the ceremony.