Buckingham County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Buckingham County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 13380 W. James Anderson Highway in Buckingham. Both applicants must appear together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee. The license is valid for 60 days anywhere in Virginia.
Buckingham County Overview
Buckingham County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Buckingham County is the only office authorized to issue marriage licenses in the county. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, all Virginia marriage licenses must come from a circuit court clerk or deputy clerk. The Buckingham County clerk's office is at 13380 W. James Anderson Highway in Buckingham, the county seat, in central Virginia between Richmond and Lynchburg.
There is no residency requirement. You can apply for a Buckingham County marriage license regardless of where you live. Both people must come to the clerk's office at the same time. No one can substitute for a partner. The clerk issues the license the same day. As long as both people arrive with all required documents, you can complete the process in a single visit.
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (434) 969-4242 before your visit with any questions. The office also handles minister authorizations, certified copy requests, and historical record inquiries.
| Office | Buckingham County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 13380 W. James Anderson Highway Buckingham, VA 23921 |
| Phone | (434) 969-4242 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who plan to perform ceremonies in Buckingham County must obtain authorization from the clerk. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges are already authorized. Contact the clerk well ahead of your ceremony date if an out-of-state officiant will be involved.
Marriage License Requirements in Buckingham County
Both parties must go to the clerk's office together. This cannot be done separately. Each person needs a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms include a driver's license, U.S. passport, state-issued ID card, or military ID. Expired IDs are not accepted. Call (434) 969-4242 if you have any question about which documents are acceptable before making the trip.
You must provide your Social Security number. You do not need the physical card, but the number is required on the application. Virginia Code § 20-16 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, ask the clerk how to handle that section of the form.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as a hard minimum. Virginia's previous provisions allowing marriage at younger ages with parental consent have been repealed. Your photo ID serves as proof of age. If there is any question, bring a certified birth certificate.
Note: Virginia requires no blood test and has no waiting period. You can apply and receive the marriage license on the same day you visit the office.
Marriage License Fees in Buckingham County
The marriage license fee is $30 statewide. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this amount. The $30 consists of 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 (434) 969-4242 to confirm what payment methods the Buckingham office accepts before your visit.
The license is valid for 60 days. Virginia Code § 20-14.1 states that if no ceremony occurs within that window, the license expires without any extension option. The fee is not returned. If your wedding is pushed back past 60 days, you need to apply again and pay again. The ceremony must take place within Virginia. A Buckingham County license cannot be used for a wedding in another state.
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Buckingham clerk. 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 once the certificate is on file.
Buckingham County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Buckingham County marriage records are available from the Circuit Court Clerk at 13380 W. James Anderson Highway. Copies cost $2.50 each. You can request in person or by mail. For mail requests, 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 from 1853 forward. 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, 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 that, records become public. Social Security numbers are always redacted from copies regardless of the record's age.
For more on eligibility and how to request records, visit the VDH FAQ page, which covers procedures for Buckingham County and all other Virginia jurisdictions.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains Buckingham County marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Buckingham County Marriage Records
Virginia began requiring statewide recording of marriages in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Buckingham 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 name of the officiant. Researchers can borrow microfilm through interlibrary loan at no cost.
FamilySearch has digitized Virginia county marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them free to search online. Virginia residents can access Ancestry.com through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com service using a public library card. For records after 1935, contact VDH or use the Ancestry Virginia marriage index.
Buckingham County was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County. Marriage bonds from before 1853 are held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Buckingham clerk's office for historical record inquiries.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Buckingham. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court regardless of where you live.