Martinsville Marriage License
Marriage licenses in the City of Martinsville are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 55 W. Church Street. Both applicants must appear in person together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.
City of Martinsville Overview
Martinsville Circuit Court Clerk
The City of Martinsville is an independent city under Virginia law, with its own circuit court and clerk's office separate from Henry County. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, marriage licenses must be issued by a circuit court clerk. In Martinsville, that is the clerk at 55 W. Church Street.
Martinsville is located in southern Virginia near the North Carolina border, surrounded by Henry County. As an independent city, Martinsville operates its own circuit court entirely separate from Henry County. Both jurisdictions are close geographically, but each has its own clerk's office and maintains its own marriage records. Martinsville residents come to 55 W. Church Street; Henry County residents go to the county clerk in Collinsville.
Virginia has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. You can apply in Martinsville from anywhere. Both applicants must appear together at the clerk's office at the same time. No proxy applications are accepted. Come with 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 (276) 656-5103 before your visit with any questions about documents or the application process.
| Office | Martinsville Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 55 W. Church Street Martinsville, VA 24112 |
| Phone | (276) 656-5103 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who plan to officiate at ceremonies in Martinsville 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 in advance if your officiant holds credentials from North Carolina or another state.
Marriage License Requirements in Martinsville
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 be accepted. Call (276) 656-5103 before your visit if you have a question about a specific form of ID.
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 before marriage. Have all of this ready before you go. 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 a firm minimum with no exceptions. Virginia no longer allows underage applicants even with parental consent. Your photo ID proves your age. Bring a certified birth certificate as backup if any question arises.
If either applicant was previously married, you must disclose how that marriage ended. The clerk will ask whether it ended by death, divorce, or annulment. Answer accurately on the application form.
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 Martinsville clerk's office.
Marriage License Fees in Martinsville
The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this fee statewide for all Virginia jurisdictions. The $30 includes a $20 state license tax and $10 for the Virginia Department of Social Services domestic violence services. The clerk collects the full amount when you apply. Call to confirm payment methods before your visit.
The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, if no ceremony occurs 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 within Virginia. A Martinsville license cannot be used in North Carolina.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Martinsville 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.
Martinsville Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Martinsville marriage records are available from the Circuit Court Clerk at 55 W. Church 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 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 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 Martinsville marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Martinsville Marriage Records
Martinsville is an independent city, so its marriage records are held separately from Henry County. The Library of Virginia holds Martinsville marriage registers from 1853 onward on microfilm. These include both parties' names, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, and the date and place of marriage. Records from before Martinsville's establishment as an independent city may be in Henry 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 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 the modern period, contact the Martinsville clerk's office directly or submit a request to VDH.
The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Martinsville clerk's office, which can assist with historical marriage record inquiries.
Nearby Cities
Danville is another independent city in southern Virginia that issues marriage licenses. No residency requirement applies in Virginia.
Nearby Counties
Henry County surrounds Martinsville. Its circuit court also issues marriage licenses with no residency requirement.