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Courts
| Clerk: General
District Court
Clerk: Circuit Court
Judges Chambers: Twenty-Seventh Judicial Court
Records Vault: Clerk Circuit Court
Clerk:
Juvenile/Domestic Relations Court |
Clerk of Circuit Court
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| The Radford Clerk
of the Circuit Court office is a Constitutional Office staffed by the
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Zelda Vaughn, an elected official and three
deputies. The duties of the office are mandated by state law.
You may receive assistance by calling 540-731-3610 or visiting the office
location 619 Second Street, Room 149, Radford, VA 24141, from 8:30 to 5:00
Monday through Friday.
Services provided by the office include:
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Virginia Marriage Requirements
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Who May Marry
1. Age
Requirements and Consent. The minimum age for marriage in the State of
Virginia is sixteen years for both bride and groom; however, if either
party is under eighteen, consent to the marriage must be given by the
father, mother, or legal guardian.
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This may
be done personally by the parent or legal guardian before the person
issuing the license, or by a written consent properly sworn to before a
notary public. Special provisions are made in Virginia law to allow
marriage for underage parties when the female is pregnant and for
situations in which underage applicants have no parent or legal guardian.
2. Prohibited Marriages.
a, A
marriage entered into prior to the dissolution of an earlier marriage of
one of the parties.
b. A
marriage between an ancestor and descendant; or between a brother and a
sister; or between an uncle and a niece; or between an aunt and a
nephew; whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood or by
adoption.
c. When
either of the parties lacks capacity to consent to the marriage because
of mental incapacity or infirmity.
d. A
marriage between persons of the same sex.
e.
"Common law" marriages are not valid if entered into in Virginia or any
other jurisdiction which does not permit them for its residents.
License Requirements
1. There
is no blood test requirement for marriage in Virginia.
2. Where
Obtained. A license for marriage in Virginia is issued by the clerk, or
his deputy, of the circuit court in any county or city. The ceremony may
be performed anywhere in the State. Applicants must, under oath, furnish
information required to complete the marriage record. These items are
material matters, and the applicant may be subject to prosecution for
perjury for violation of the portion of the statues which requires this
information. For divorced persons there is no statutory waiting period
before remarriage after the divorce is granted, unless remarriage is
specifically prohibited by a court. In some cases, clerks may require
documentary proof of age or termination of a pervious marriage. Most of
the offices of the clerks of court are closed on Saturdays.
3. Time
Limitations. The marriage must be performed within sixty days after the
license is issued. There is no waiting period required between application
and issuance of license, and a couple may be married immediately after the
issuance of a license.
4. Fees. A
fee of $30 is charged by the clerk of the court for issuing a marriage
license. Any person authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage shall be
permitted to charge a fee not to exceed $30 for each ceremony.
Marriage Ceremony
1. Who may
perform. A minister of any religious denomination may be authorized by the
circuit court to celebrate the rites of matrimony. In order to obtain such
authorization, the minister must produce proof of his ordination and
regular communion with the religious society of which he is a reputed
member. In addition, the court in each city and county has appointed
persons who are eligible to perform civil marriage ceremonies. Marriages
between persons belonging to any religious society which has no ordained
minister may be solemnized by the persons and in the manner prescribed by
and practiced in the society.
2.
Witness. There is no statutory requirement that witnesses be present at
the marriage ceremony.
3.
Marriage Record. The minister or other person officiating at the marriage
must complete and sign the Marriage Register and the Marriage Return and
forward both forms to the clerk of the court who issued the license within
five days after the ceremony is performed. The Marriage Return is
forwarded by the clerk to the State Division of Vital Records. In addition
to the forms to be returned to the clerk, the officiate may also prepare a
certificate to be given to the newly married couple.
Certified Copies
If a
certified copy of a marriage record is required, it may be obtained from
the office of the clerk of the court who issued the license, or from the
Virginia Division of Vital Records in Richmond for a fee of $5. When
application is made for a copy of a record of marriage, the following
information should be given: full name of groom, full name of bride, date
of marriage, place of marriage.
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