Buchanan County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Buchanan County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 1016 Courthouse Road in Grundy. 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.
Buchanan County Overview
Buchanan County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Buchanan County is the only office authorized to issue marriage licenses in this jurisdiction. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, all Virginia marriage licenses must come from a circuit court clerk or deputy clerk. The Buchanan County clerk's office is at 1016 Courthouse Road in Grundy, the county seat, in the coalfields region of extreme southwestern Virginia near the Kentucky and West Virginia borders.
Virginia has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. You can apply in Buchanan County even if you live elsewhere. Both people must appear together in person. There is no way to apply remotely or through a representative. The clerk issues the license the same day, so you can come in and leave with everything in order during a single visit as long as you bring all required documents.
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (276) 935-6573 before your visit with questions about what to bring or how the process works.
| Office | Buchanan County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1016 Courthouse Road Grundy, VA 24614 |
| Phone | (276) 935-6573 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
The clerk handles minister authorizations for ceremonies in Buchanan County. Out-of-state ministers must apply to the circuit court where the wedding will be held, post a $500 bond, and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges do not require additional local authorization. Start the process early if an out-of-state officiant is involved.
Marriage License Requirements in Buchanan County
Both applicants must be present at the clerk's office at the same time. There is no substitute for this. Each person needs a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, U.S. passport, state-issued ID card, or military identification card all work. Expired IDs will not be accepted. Call (276) 935-6573 if you have a question about a specific document before making the drive to Grundy.
You must know and provide your Social Security number. The card itself is not required. Under Virginia Code § 20-16, the clerk also needs the full legal names of both applicants' parents, including each mother's maiden name before marriage. Have this information ready. If a parent's name is unknown to you, ask the clerk about how to fill in that portion of the application.
Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as an absolute minimum. Virginia's previous provisions allowing marriage at younger ages with parental consent have been repealed. Your photo ID is your proof of age. If there is any uncertainty, bring a certified birth certificate.
Note: No blood test is required and there is no waiting period in Virginia. You can apply and receive the marriage license the same day.
Marriage License Fees in Buchanan County
The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this amount statewide. The $30 includes a $20 state license tax and $10 allocated to the Virginia Department of Social Services for domestic violence services. The clerk collects this fee when you apply. Call (276) 935-6573 ahead of time to confirm accepted payment methods.
The license is valid for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. Virginia Code § 20-14.1 states that if no ceremony takes place within that window, the license expires. There is no extension and no refund. If your wedding is delayed beyond 60 days, you need to reapply and pay the fee again. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Buchanan County license is not valid for a wedding in another state.
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Buchanan clerk. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Certified copies are then available through the clerk for $2.50 each.
Buchanan County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Two offices can provide certified copies of Buchanan County marriage records. The Circuit Court Clerk at 1016 Courthouse Road holds copies of licenses issued there. Copies cost $2.50 each. You can request in person or by mail. Mail requests should include both spouses' names, the approximate marriage date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond also holds 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. Phone: (804) 662-6200. For expedited service, contact VitalChek at 1-877-572-6333.
Under Virginia Code § 32.1-271, certified copies are restricted to immediate family members for 25 years following the marriage. After that, records become public. Social Security numbers are redacted from all copies regardless of the record's age.
Visit the VDH FAQ page for details on eligibility requirements and how to request records from Buchanan County or any Virginia jurisdiction.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains Buchanan County marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Buchanan County Marriage Records
Virginia required statewide recording of marriages beginning in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Buchanan County marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 on microfilm. These registers include the date and place of marriage, both parties' full names, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and the officiant's name. Microfilm can be borrowed through interlibrary loan at no charge.
FamilySearch has digitized Virginia county marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them free to search online. Virginia residents can also access Ancestry.com at no cost through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com service using a public library card. For records after 1935, contact VDH or search the Ancestry Virginia marriage index.
Buchanan County was formed in 1858 from Russell and Tazewell counties. Marriage records from before the county's formation would be in the parent county records held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Buchanan clerk's office for historical record requests.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Buchanan. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court regardless of where you live.