Colonial Heights Marriage License

Marriage licenses in the City of Colonial Heights are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 401 Temple Avenue. Both applicants must appear in person together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.

Colonial Heights Circuit Court Clerk

The City of Colonial Heights is an independent city under Virginia law, with its own circuit court and clerk's office separate from Chesterfield County. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, marriage licenses must be issued by a circuit court clerk. In Colonial Heights, that is the clerk at 401 Temple Avenue.

Colonial Heights is an independent city in south-central Virginia, across the James River from Petersburg. It operates its own circuit court separate from Chesterfield County. If you live in Colonial Heights, your marriage license comes from the Colonial Heights clerk, not from Chesterfield County or Petersburg.

Virginia has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. You can apply in Colonial Heights regardless of where you live. Both applicants must appear at the clerk's office together at the same time. No proxy applications are accepted. Come with all required documents and plan to finish in one visit.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (804) 520-9365 with any questions before your visit.

Out-of-state ministers who plan to officiate in Colonial Heights must apply to the clerk for authorization. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges need no additional local steps. Contact the clerk in advance if your officiant holds credentials from another state.

Marriage License Requirements in Colonial Heights

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 ID card, or military ID is acceptable. Expired IDs will not be accepted. Call (804) 520-9365 if you have a question about a specific document before making the trip.

You must provide your Social Security number on the application. The physical card is not required, but the number must be given. 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 ready before you arrive. If a parent's name is not known to you, ask the clerk for guidance.

Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as an absolute minimum. Virginia's prior law allowing minors with parental consent has been fully repealed. Your photo ID proves your age. If any question arises, bring a certified birth certificate as backup.

Marriage License Fees in Colonial Heights

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

The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, the license expires if no ceremony takes place in that time. No extension is available and no refund is given. If your ceremony is delayed past 60 days, you must reapply and pay again. The ceremony must take place in Virginia. A Colonial Heights license cannot be used in another state.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Colonial Heights 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.

Colonial Heights Marriage Records and Certified Copies

Certified copies of Colonial Heights marriage records are available from the Circuit Court Clerk at 401 Temple Avenue. Copies cost $2.50 each. You can request in person or by mail. Mail requests should include both spouses' names, the approximate date of marriage, and a self-addressed stamped envelope with postage.

The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond 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. After that, records become public. Social Security numbers are always redacted from copies.

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

Historical Colonial Heights Marriage Records

Colonial Heights became an independent city in 1948, carved out of Chesterfield County. Marriage records from before that date may be found in Chesterfield County records at the Library of Virginia. The Library holds Virginia marriage registers from 1853 onward on microfilm, covering both Chesterfield County and Colonial Heights after its incorporation. Microfilm can be borrowed through interlibrary loan at no cost.

FamilySearch has digitized Virginia marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them searchable for free online. Virginia library cardholders can also access Ancestry.com through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com service. For records from 1948 onward, the Colonial Heights clerk's office or VDH are the best sources.

The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact information for the Colonial Heights clerk for research inquiries. For pre-1853 records, the Library of Virginia in Richmond is the primary archive.

Nearby Cities

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

Nearby Counties

Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties are near Colonial Heights. Their circuit courts also issue marriage licenses.