Chesapeake Marriage License

Marriage licenses in the City of Chesapeake are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A. Both applicants must appear together in person, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.

Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk

The City of Chesapeake is an independent city under Virginia law, with its own circuit court and clerk's office. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, marriage licenses in Virginia must be issued by a circuit court clerk. In Chesapeake, that is the clerk at 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A.

Chesapeake is an independent city in the Hampton Roads metro area, bordered by Norfolk, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Portsmouth. As an independent city, it maintains its own circuit court separate from any surrounding county. Marriage license applications here go to the Chesapeake clerk's office, not to any county court.

Virginia has no residency requirement. You can apply in Chesapeake regardless of where you live. Both people must appear together at the same time. The clerk does not accept one applicant alone or by proxy. Plan to complete the application in a single visit. Marriage license hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Note that this is earlier than the general office closing time, so arrive before 3:30 p.m. Call (757) 382-3000 to confirm specific marriage license procedures before your visit.

Out-of-state ministers who plan to officiate at ceremonies in Chesapeake must first apply to the clerk for authorization. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges are already authorized statewide and need no additional approval. If your officiant is from out of state, contact the clerk well before your ceremony date.

Marriage License Requirements in Chesapeake

Both applicants must appear at the clerk's office together with valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, U.S. passport, state-issued ID card, or military ID is accepted. Expired IDs are not accepted. Call (757) 382-3000 before your visit if you have a question about a specific document.

You must provide your Social Security number on the application form. The physical Social Security card is not required, but the number must be provided. Under Virginia Code § 20-16, the clerk also requires the full legal names of both applicants' parents, including each mother's maiden name. Have this information ready before you arrive. If a parent's name is unknown to you, ask the clerk how to proceed.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as an absolute minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's prior law allowing younger applicants with parental consent has been repealed. Your photo ID establishes proof of age. Bring a certified birth certificate as a backup if any question arises.

If either applicant was previously married, you must disclose how that marriage ended: by death, divorce, or annulment. You do not need to present court documents, but you must answer accurately on the application.

Marriage License Fees in Chesapeake

The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this statewide. The $30 includes a $20 state license tax and $10 directed to the Virginia Department of Social Services for domestic violence services. The clerk collects the full amount when you apply. Call to confirm which forms of payment are accepted.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, if no ceremony takes place within that window, the license expires. There is no extension available and no refund is given. If your wedding date is delayed past 60 days, you must return to the clerk, reapply, and pay the fee again. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Chesapeake license is not valid in another state.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Chesapeake clerk. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. Certified copies are then available from the clerk for $2.50 each.

Chesapeake Marriage Records and Certified Copies

Certified copies of Chesapeake marriage records are available from the Circuit Court Clerk at 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A. Copies cost $2.50 each. You can request in person or by mail. For mail requests, include both spouses' full names, the approximate date of marriage, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond also holds Virginia marriage records since 1853. Their fee is $12 per certificate. Requests can go online, by mail to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218, or in person at 8701 Park Central Drive. Phone: (804) 662-6200. Use VitalChek at 1-877-572-6333 for expedited service.

Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, certified copies are restricted to immediate family members for 25 years after the marriage. Records become public after that period. Social Security numbers are always redacted regardless of the record's age.

The Virginia Department of Health maintains Chesapeake marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.

Historical Chesapeake Marriage Records

Chesapeake was formed in 1963 from the merger of South Norfolk city and Norfolk County. Marriage records from before 1963 may be found in Norfolk County records held at the Library of Virginia or the South Norfolk city records. The Library of Virginia holds Virginia marriage registers from 1853 onward on microfilm. These include the date and place of marriage, both parties' names, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, and the officiant's name.

FamilySearch has digitized Virginia marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them searchable online for free. Virginia library cardholders can access Ancestry.com through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com portal. For records from 1963 onward, contact the Chesapeake clerk directly or submit a request to VDH.

The Virginia Judicial System website provides current contact information for the Chesapeake clerk's office. For pre-merger records, the Library of Virginia in Richmond is the primary research resource.

Nearby Cities

These independent cities in the Hampton Roads area also issue marriage licenses. No residency requirement applies anywhere in Virginia.