Amherst County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Amherst County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 113 Taylor Street in Amherst. Both applicants must appear together in person, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee. The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date.
Amherst County Overview
Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Amherst County is the only office authorized to issue marriage licenses in this jurisdiction. Virginia Code § 20-14 requires every marriage license in the Commonwealth to come from a circuit court clerk or deputy clerk. The Amherst clerk's office is at the courthouse on Taylor Street in the town of Amherst, which serves as the county seat. The clerk processes applications for anyone who walks in, resident or not, as long as both parties come together.
There is no residency requirement under Virginia law. You can apply for a marriage license in Amherst County even if you live in another county or another state entirely. The license is valid anywhere in Virginia for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. After 60 days it expires and you would need to start over. The clerk handles applications the same day, so there is no need to schedule ahead or wait for a callback.
Amherst County is located in central Virginia, just north of the independent city of Lynchburg. The clerk's office also handles minister authorizations and maintains certified copies of all marriage records from the county going back to 1853.
| Office | Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 113 Taylor Street Amherst, VA 24521 |
| Phone | (434) 946-9400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who plan to perform ceremonies in Amherst County must apply to the clerk's office for authorization. They must post a $500 bond and execute an oath of office. Couples using an out-of-state officiant should start this process several days before the wedding. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges are already authorized and do not need additional approval.
Marriage License Requirements in Amherst County
Both parties must appear at the clerk's office at the same time. The application cannot be done one person at a time, and no one can apply on behalf of someone else. Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Options include a driver's license, state-issued ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. Expired IDs are not accepted. Call (434) 946-9400 if you have questions about a specific type of identification before making the trip.
You will also need your Social Security number. The physical card is not required, but you must know the number. Virginia Code § 20-16 requires the clerk to collect Social Security numbers along with the full legal names of both applicants' parents, including the mother's maiden name. Have all of this ready before you go. If one parent's full name is unknown to you, speak with the clerk about how to fill in that portion of the form.
The minimum age to marry in Virginia is 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as an absolute requirement. Former provisions permitting younger persons to marry with parental consent were repealed. Both people must be 18 or older when they apply. Proof of age comes from your photo ID. If there is any uncertainty, bring a certified birth certificate.
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 office.
Marriage License Fees in Amherst County
The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this amount statewide. The fee breaks down as $20 for a state license tax and $10 allocated to the Virginia Department of Social Services for domestic violence services. The clerk collects the full amount at the time of application. Call (434) 946-9400 to confirm what payment forms are accepted before your visit.
The license is valid for 60 days. Virginia Code § 20-14.1 states that the license expires if no ceremony occurs within that window. There is no way to extend the license and no refund is issued. If your wedding is pushed back, you would need to apply again and pay the $30 fee a second time. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. An Amherst County license cannot be used for an out-of-state ceremony.
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Amherst clerk's office. The clerk records it and forwards a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond, where it enters the statewide registry. From that point, certified copies are available through the clerk for $2.50 each.
Amherst County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Amherst County marriage records are available from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 113 Taylor Street holds copies of all licenses issued by that office. Copies cost $2.50 each. You can request them in person or by mail. For mail requests, provide the names of both spouses, the approximate marriage date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond also holds copies of all Virginia marriage records and charges $12 per certificate. You can request online, by mail to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218, or in person at 8701 Park Central Drive, Richmond. Phone: (804) 662-6200. Expedited service is available through VitalChek at 1-877-572-6333.
Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, only immediate family members may obtain certified copies during the 25 years following the marriage. After 25 years, records become public. Social Security numbers are redacted from all copies provided to anyone outside the immediate family.
The VDH FAQ page covers eligibility, acceptable forms of ID, and how to submit a request for records from Amherst County or any other jurisdiction in Virginia.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains marriage records from Amherst County as part of the statewide vital records system, available for records older than 25 years.
Historical Amherst County Marriage Records
Virginia's systematic statewide recording of marriages began in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Amherst County marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 on microfilm. These registers document the date and place of marriage, full names of both parties, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and the officiant. Researchers can borrow microfilm through interlibrary loan.
FamilySearch has digitized Virginia county marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them searchable online at no cost. Virginia residents can also access Ancestry.com for free through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com service using a public library card number. For records after 1935, contact VDH or search Ancestry's Virginia marriage index, which covers the state since 1936.
Amherst County was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County. Marriage bonds and minister returns from the colonial era are held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Amherst clerk's office for researchers with historical record questions.
Nearby Cities
Lynchburg is an independent city that borders Amherst County. Residents of Lynchburg use that city's circuit court for marriage licenses, not Amherst County's clerk.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Amherst. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court regardless of where you live.