How to Find Virginia Marriage Records

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Finding Virginia Marriage Records

 * 1660 - Colonial government required church officials to record all marriages in church registers (few colonial records survive)
 * 1780 - Law required ministers report all marriages to county clerk
 * 1853 - State law required clerk of the court in the county or independent city to issue marriage licenses and keep marriage records
 * Gretna Greens. When an eloping Virginia couple's marriage is not in their home county, search for it in alternate places like Manassas, Prince William, Virginia, or Howard County, Maryland, or Mount Airy, Surry, North Carolina, or Pike County, Kentucky.
 * Marriage records are restricted for 25 years from the time the event occurred. Only family members may obtain these records.

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Next Step: When did the marriage occur?

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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's marriage record: &#124;


 * Marriage Records
 * Choose a time period:
 * Before 1853
 * 1853 to Present
 * Marriage year unknown


 * }

Marriages Before 1853
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for marriage information in other records.

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in other records.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
If you did not find your ancestor in the above indexes, try searching for marriage information in other records.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
PART A: You know the approximate or exact date and place of marriage from your records or the above indexes

PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage


 * If you do know the county or independent city of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the county clerk.
 * If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Wiki Articles

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