Dickenson County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Dickenson County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 293 Clintwood Main Street in Clintwood. Both applicants must appear together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee. The license is valid for 60 days anywhere in Virginia.
Dickenson County Overview
Dickenson County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Dickenson 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 Dickenson County clerk's office is at 293 Clintwood Main Street in Clintwood, the county seat, in the coalfields region of far southwestern Virginia near the Kentucky border.
Virginia has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. Any couple can apply in Dickenson County regardless of where they live. Both people must appear together in person at the time of application. The clerk processes applications the same day. Arrive with all required documents and both applicants present, and you can receive the license during a single visit.
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (276) 926-1600 before your visit with questions. Dickenson County is a remote area, so calling ahead to confirm hours and requirements before making the trip is a good idea.
| Office | Dickenson County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 293 Clintwood Main Street Clintwood, VA 24228 |
| Phone | (276) 926-1600 |
| 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 Dickenson County must apply to the clerk for authorization. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office before being permitted to officiate. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges need no additional local approval. Start this process early if your officiant comes from Kentucky or another state.
Marriage License Requirements in Dickenson County
Both parties must go to the clerk's office together. This requirement cannot be waived. 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 (276) 926-1600 if you have any questions about a specific document before making the trip to Clintwood.
You must provide your Social Security number on the application. The physical card is not required, but the number must be given. 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 information ready before you arrive. If a parent's name is not known to you, ask the clerk how to handle that part of the form.
Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as a hard minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's prior law that allowed younger applicants with parental consent has been repealed. Your photo ID establishes proof of age. Bring a certified birth certificate if there is any question.
Note: No blood test is required and there is no waiting period. You can apply and receive the marriage license the same day you visit.
Marriage License Fees in Dickenson 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 this fee when you apply. Call (276) 926-1600 to confirm what payment methods the Dickenson County 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 period, the license expires. There is no extension and no refund. If your wedding is delayed past 60 days, you must reapply and pay again. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Dickenson County license cannot be used in Kentucky or another state.
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Dickenson 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.
Dickenson County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Dickenson County marriage records are available from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 293 Clintwood Main Street holds copies of 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 following the marriage. After that, records become public. Social Security numbers are always redacted from copies regardless of the record's age.
The VDH FAQ page covers eligibility and how to request marriage records from Dickenson County or any Virginia jurisdiction.
The Dickenson County Circuit Court in Clintwood issues marriage licenses and maintains the official marriage record archive for the county.
Historical Dickenson County Marriage Records
Virginia required statewide recording of marriages beginning in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Dickenson 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 cost.
FamilySearch has digitized Virginia county marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them searchable 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.
Dickenson County was formed in 1880 from Russell, Buchanan, and Wise counties. Marriage records from before county formation would be in the parent county records at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Dickenson clerk's office for historical record inquiries.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Dickenson. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court regardless of where you live.