Bland County Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Bland County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 612 Main Street in Bland. Both applicants must appear together in person, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee. The license is valid for 60 days anywhere in Virginia.

Bland County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Bland County is the only office authorized to issue marriage licenses in this jurisdiction. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, all marriage licenses in Virginia must come from a circuit court clerk or deputy clerk. The Bland County clerk's office is at 612 Main Street, Suite 104, in the town of Bland, which serves as the county seat for this small southwestern Virginia county.

There is no residency requirement. Any couple can apply in Bland County regardless of where they live. Both people must appear together in person on the day of application. No proxy applications are permitted. The clerk processes applications the same day, so you leave with the license in hand. The license is valid anywhere in Virginia for 60 days from the date it is issued.

Bland County sits in the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia, bordered by Giles, Wythe, Tazewell, and Smyth counties. The county courthouse is in the small town of Bland. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (276) 688-4561 before your visit if you have questions.

The clerk also handles minister authorizations. Out-of-state ministers who plan to perform ceremonies in Bland County must apply for authorization, post a $500 bond, and take an oath of office before performing any ceremony. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges are already authorized and need no further approval from the clerk.

Marriage License Requirements in Bland County

Both people must go to the clerk's office together. This is required under Virginia law and no exception is made. Each applicant must bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Acceptable documents include a driver's license, U.S. passport, state ID card, or military ID. If your ID has expired, the clerk will not accept it. Call (276) 688-4561 if you have a question about a specific ID before making the trip.

You need to provide your Social Security number. You do not need to bring the physical card, but the number must be given on the application. 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 to you, talk to the clerk about how to complete the form.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets 18 as a firm minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's previous provisions allowing younger people to marry with parental consent have been repealed. Your photo ID serves as proof of age. If there is any question, bring a certified birth certificate.

Marriage License Fees in Bland County

The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this amount statewide. The $30 breaks down as a $20 state license tax and $10 directed to the Virginia Department of Social Services for domestic violence services. The clerk collects this fee when you apply. Call (276) 688-4561 to confirm the payment methods accepted at the Bland County office before your visit.

Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, the license is valid for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. If no ceremony happens in that window, the license expires. There is no way to extend it and the fee is not returned. If your wedding is pushed past the 60-day mark, you will need to apply and pay again. The ceremony must also take place within the Commonwealth of Virginia. This license cannot be used in another state.

After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Bland County clerk's office. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. Certified copies are available through the clerk for $2.50 each after the certificate is on file.

Bland County Marriage Records and Certified Copies

Certified copies of Bland County marriage records are available from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 612 Main Street, Suite 104 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, include both spouses' names, the approximate date of the marriage, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond also maintains copies of all Virginia marriage records since 1853. Their fee is $12 per certificate. Requests can be submitted online, by mail to P.O. Box 1000, Richmond, VA 23218, or in person at 8701 Park Central Drive, Richmond. Phone: (804) 662-6200. For expedited service, use VitalChek at 1-877-572-6333.

Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, certified copies are restricted to immediate family members for 25 years after the marriage. After 25 years, records become fully public. Social Security numbers are always redacted from any copy issued to the public.

For more information about eligibility and how to request copies, visit the VDH FAQ page, which covers ID requirements, processing times, and request procedures for all Virginia vital records, including those from Bland County.

The Virginia Department of Health maintains marriage records from Bland County as part of the statewide vital records system.

Historical Bland County Marriage Records

Virginia required statewide recording of marriages beginning in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Bland County marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 on microfilm. These registers include the date and place of marriage, full names of both parties, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and the officiant's name. Researchers can borrow microfilm through interlibrary loan at no cost.

FamilySearch has digitized Virginia county marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them available online for free. Virginia residents can access Ancestry.com at no charge through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com service using a public library card number. For records after 1935, contact VDH or search the Ancestry Virginia marriage index.

Bland County was formed in 1861 from parts of Giles, Wythe, and Tazewell counties. It is one of Virginia's newer counties, so early pre-county records would be found in those parent counties at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Bland clerk's office for historical record inquiries.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bland. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court regardless of where you live.