Hampton, Virginia Marriage License
Marriage licenses in the City of Hampton are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 101 Kings Way. Both applicants must appear in person together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.
City of Hampton Overview
Hampton Circuit Court Clerk
The City of Hampton is an independent city under Virginia law, with its own circuit court and clerk's office separate from York County. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, marriage licenses must be issued by a circuit court clerk. In Hampton, that is the clerk at 101 Kings Way.
Hampton is located on the Virginia Peninsula at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The city shares the Peninsula with Newport News to the north, with York County adjacent to the northwest. Hampton is one of the larger cities in the Hampton Roads region and handles a substantial volume of marriage license applications. As an independent city, it operates its own circuit court entirely separate from York County.
Virginia has no residency requirement. You can apply in Hampton from anywhere in the country. Both applicants must appear together at the same time. No proxy applications are accepted. Plan to complete everything in one visit. Bring all required documents with you.
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (757) 727-6381 before your visit with any questions about documents or procedures.
| Office | Hampton Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 Kings Way Hampton, VA 23669 |
| Phone | (757) 727-6381 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who plan to officiate at ceremonies in Hampton must 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. Contact the clerk well before the ceremony date if your officiant holds credentials from another state.
Marriage License Requirements in Hampton
Both applicants must go to the clerk's office together and present valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, U.S. passport, state-issued ID card, or military ID is accepted. Expired IDs will not work. Call (757) 727-6381 before your visit if you have a question about whether a specific document is acceptable.
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 information ready before you arrive. If a parent's name is unknown, ask the clerk how to proceed.
Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as a firm minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's prior law allowing underage applicants with parental consent has been repealed. Your photo ID proves your age. Bring a certified birth certificate as backup if any question arises.
If either applicant has been married before, you must state how that marriage ended: by death, divorce, or annulment. You do not need to bring court documents, but you must answer accurately on the application.
Note: No blood test is required and there is no waiting period. You can apply and receive your marriage license the same day you visit the Hampton clerk's office.
Marriage License Fees in Hampton
The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this fee statewide. The $30 breaks down as $20 for the state license tax and $10 directed to the Virginia Department of Social Services for domestic violence services. The clerk collects the fee when you apply. Call to confirm which payment methods are accepted before your visit.
The license is valid for 60 days. Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, if no ceremony takes place within that window, the license expires. No extension is available and no refund is given. If your wedding is delayed past 60 days, you must return and reapply. The ceremony must take place in Virginia. A Hampton license cannot be used in North Carolina or any other state.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Hampton 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.
Hampton Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Hampton marriage records are available from the Circuit Court Clerk at 101 Kings Way. Copies cost $2.50 each. Requests can be made in person or by mail. Mail requests should include both spouses' names, the approximate marriage date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope with return postage.
The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond holds Virginia marriage records since 1853. Their fee is $12 per certificate. Submit requests 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 faster 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. Social Security numbers are always redacted.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains Hampton marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Hampton Marriage Records
Hampton is one of Virginia's oldest cities and maintains its own marriage records separately from York County. The Library of Virginia holds Hampton marriage registers from 1853 onward on microfilm. These include both parties' names, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, and the date and place of marriage. Microfilm is available through interlibrary loan at no cost.
FamilySearch has digitized Virginia marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 for free online searching. Virginia library cardholders can also access Ancestry.com through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com portal. The Library of Virginia in Richmond holds pre-1853 Hampton records for researchers looking at older records.
The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact information for the Hampton clerk's office, which can assist with historical marriage record inquiries.
Nearby Cities
These independent cities in the Hampton Roads area also issue marriage licenses. No residency requirement applies anywhere in Virginia.
Nearby Counties
York County borders Hampton to the northwest. Its circuit court also issues marriage licenses.