Carroll County Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Carroll County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 605-1 Pine Street in Hillsville. 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.

Carroll County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Carroll 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 Carroll County clerk's office is at 605-1 Pine Street in Hillsville, the county seat, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia near the North Carolina border.

There is no residency requirement. Any couple can apply in Carroll County regardless of where they live in Virginia or elsewhere. Both people must appear at the clerk's office together in person. No proxy applications are allowed. The clerk processes applications the same day, so you can arrive with your documents and leave with the license during a single visit.

Carroll County is located along the Virginia-North Carolina border, close to Mount Airy, North Carolina, and near the city of Galax. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (276) 730-3070 before your visit if you have questions.

The clerk handles minister authorizations for Carroll County. Out-of-state ministers who plan to perform ceremonies here must apply to the clerk, post a $500 bond, and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges are already authorized. If your officiant is from North Carolina or another state, begin this process well before the ceremony date.

Marriage License Requirements in Carroll County

Both parties must appear at the clerk's office together. This is a firm requirement. Each applicant 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 will not be accepted. Call (276) 730-3070 before making the trip to Hillsville if you have any question about your documents.

You must provide your Social Security number. The card is not required, but the number must be on the application. 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. Get this information together before your visit. If a parent's name is unknown to you, ask the clerk for guidance on completing the form.

Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets 18 as an absolute minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's prior provisions allowing younger applicants with parental consent have been fully repealed. Your photo ID serves as proof of age. Bring a certified birth certificate if there is any uncertainty.

Marriage License Fees in Carroll County

The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this statewide. The $30 includes a $20 state license tax and $10 directed to the Virginia Department of Social Services for domestic violence services. The clerk collects the fee at the time of application. Call (276) 730-3070 to confirm accepted payment methods before your visit.

The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. Virginia Code § 20-14.1 states that if no ceremony takes place within that period, the license expires. There is no extension and no refund. If your wedding is delayed past 60 days, you need to reapply and pay the $30 fee again. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Carroll County license is not valid for a wedding in North Carolina or any other state.

After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Carroll clerk. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. Certified copies are then available through the clerk for $2.50 each.

Carroll County Marriage Records and Certified Copies

Certified copies of Carroll County marriage records can be obtained from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 605-1 Pine Street holds copies of all licenses issued there. 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 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. Expedited service is available through 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 redacted from all copies regardless of the record's age.

The Carroll County Circuit Court maintains its own archive of marriage records in addition to sending copies to VDH. The clerk's office at (276) 730-3070 can assist with record requests from the county archive.

The Carroll County Circuit Court in Hillsville issues marriage licenses and maintains the official county marriage records going back to 1853.

Historical Carroll County Marriage Records

Virginia began requiring statewide recording of marriages in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Carroll 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. 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 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.

Carroll County was formed in 1842 from Grayson County. Early marriage bonds from before county formation would be found in the Grayson County records at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact information for the Carroll clerk's office for historical record inquiries.

Nearby Cities

Galax is an independent city that borders Carroll County. Residents of Galax use the Galax circuit court for marriage licenses.

Nearby Counties

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