Fairfax County Marriage License

Marriage licenses in Fairfax County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 4110 Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax. Both applicants must appear together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee. An online pre-application is available to speed up your visit.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Fairfax County handles all marriage license applications for Virginia's most populous county. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, every marriage license in the Commonwealth must be issued by a circuit court clerk or deputy clerk. The Public Service Division of the Fairfax Circuit Court is located on the first floor of the Fairfax County Courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 116. Phone is (703) 691-7320 — press 3 then 4.

There is no residency requirement. Any couple can apply in Fairfax County regardless of where they live. The county sees a large volume of applications given its proximity to Washington, D.C., including many couples who live in the District or in Maryland. Both people must appear together in person. The clerk issues the license the same day. To speed up the process, Fairfax County offers an Online Marriage License Pre-Application. After submitting the online form, you have 60 days to come in and receive the license.

Note that marriage license hours are shorter than general clerk hours. The office accepts marriage license applications from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Plan to arrive before 3:30 p.m. to complete the application.

The clerk also handles minister authorizations for ceremonies in Fairfax 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 are already authorized. Start this process well ahead of time if your officiant is from out of state.

Marriage License Requirements in Fairfax County

Both applicants must appear together in person. No exceptions. Each person must bring a valid, unexpired photo ID — a driver's license, passport, or military identification card. The ID must not be expired. Fairfax County specifically accepts driver's licenses, passports, and military IDs. Call (703) 691-7320 if you have a question about a specific form of ID before your visit.

You need your Social Security number. The card is not required, but the number must appear on the application. Under Virginia Code § 20-16, Fairfax also requires the full names of both applicants' parents, including full middle names as they appear on birth certificates. If a parent's maiden name differs from their current name, provide the full maiden name. Have all of this ready before you go.

Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as the firm minimum. Virginia's former law that allowed younger applicants with parental consent has been fully repealed. Your ID establishes your age. Bring a certified birth certificate if there is any uncertainty.

Marriage License Fees in Fairfax County

The fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this statewide. In Fairfax County, the $30 is payable by cash or by Visa or MasterCard. Credit card payments carry a 4% processing fee, so cash is the cheaper option. The clerk collects the fee at the time of application.

The license is valid for 60 days. Virginia Code § 20-14.1 provides that if no ceremony takes place within 60 days, the license expires. No extension is possible and no refund is given. If your wedding is delayed past the 60-day window, you need to apply again and pay the fee a second time. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Fairfax County license cannot be used for a wedding in D.C., Maryland, or any other state.

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

Fairfax County Marriage Records and Certified Copies

To get a certified copy of a marriage license, it must have been issued by the Fairfax Circuit Court. The fee is $2.50 per copy. Requests can be made in person at Suite 116 or by mail. The clerk accepts cash, cashier's checks, money orders, and Visa or MasterCard (4% fee). Personal checks are not accepted. Mail requests to: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Attention: Marriage License Copies, 4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 116, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Licenses issued between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 2001, have a special restriction: only either spouse may obtain copies in person with valid photo ID, or by mail with a notarized copy of valid photo ID. This restriction applies because those licenses were not configured to prevent disclosure of certain personal information. All other licenses are available under the standard 25-year access rule.

The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond also holds copies of all Virginia marriage records since 1853. Their fee is $12 per certificate. You can request 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.

Fairfax County's Historic Records Center maintains marriage records dating from 1742, with an online index available for searching historical records. Marriage licenses from 1853 to 1957 can be searched by groom or bride through the center's online tools.

The Fairfax County Circuit Court provides detailed marriage license information and an online pre-application to help couples prepare before their visit.

Historical Fairfax County Marriage Records

Fairfax County has very little official surviving marriage information from before 1853. Beginning in 1661, Virginia required a marriage bond to be filed with the county court before a license could be issued. By the time of the Revolutionary War, marriage by banns had largely fallen out of use in the Tidewater and Northern Virginia regions. The Fairfax Historic Records Center holds records dating from 1742 and provides an online index.

Beginning in 1853, Virginia required statewide registration of marriages. The Library of Virginia holds Fairfax County marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 on microfilm. These registers list the date and place of marriage, both parties' full names, ages, marital status, birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and the officiant's name. Microfilm is available for borrowing through interlibrary loan.

FamilySearch has also digitized these registers and made them searchable online for free. Virginia residents can 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.

Nearby Cities

Several independent cities are located within or adjacent to Fairfax County. Each has its own circuit court clerk for marriage licenses.

Nearby Counties

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