Hopewell Marriage License

Marriage licenses in the City of Hopewell are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 300 N. Main Street. Both applicants must appear in person together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.

Hopewell Circuit Court Clerk

The City of Hopewell is an independent city under Virginia law, with its own circuit court and clerk's office separate from Prince George County. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, marriage licenses must be issued by a circuit court clerk. In Hopewell, that is the clerk at 300 N. Main Street.

Hopewell is located at the confluence of the James and Appomattox rivers in south-central Virginia, surrounded by Prince George County. The city became independent from Prince George County when it was incorporated. Hopewell operates its own circuit court completely separate from Prince George County. Residents of Hopewell come to 300 N. Main Street for marriage licenses; residents of the surrounding county go to the Prince George County Circuit Court.

Virginia has no residency requirement. You can apply in Hopewell from anywhere. Both applicants must appear at the same time. No proxy applications are accepted. Bring all required documents and plan to complete the process in one visit.

The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (804) 541-2232 before your visit with any questions about the application.

Out-of-state ministers who plan to officiate ceremonies in Hopewell 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 and need no additional steps. Contact the clerk in advance if your officiant holds credentials from another state.

Marriage License Requirements in Hopewell

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 ID card, or military ID is accepted. Expired IDs are not accepted. Call (804) 541-2232 before your visit if you have a question about a specific document.

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 your visit. If a parent's name is unknown, ask the clerk for guidance.

Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as an absolute minimum. Virginia's old 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.

Marriage License Fees in Hopewell

The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this statewide. The $30 includes a $20 state license tax and $10 for the Virginia Department of Social Services domestic violence services. The clerk collects the fee when you apply. Confirm payment methods by phone before your visit.

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

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

Hopewell Marriage Records and Certified Copies

Certified copies of Hopewell marriage records are available from the Circuit Court Clerk at 300 N. Main Street. Copies cost $2.50 each. Requests can be made in person or by mail. Mail requests should include both spouses' full names, the approximate date of marriage, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

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 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. Social Security numbers are always redacted from copies.

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

Historical Hopewell Marriage Records

Hopewell is an independent city, so its records are maintained separately from Prince George County. The Library of Virginia holds Hopewell marriage registers from 1853 onward on microfilm. Records from before Hopewell's incorporation as an independent city may be found in Prince George County records at the Library of Virginia. 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 access Ancestry.com through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com portal. For records from Hopewell's modern period, contact the clerk's office or submit a request to VDH.

The Virginia Judicial System website provides current contact information for the Hopewell clerk's office for historical record inquiries.

Nearby Cities

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

Nearby Counties

Prince George and Chesterfield counties border Hopewell. Their circuit courts also issue marriage licenses.