Frederick County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Frederick County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 5 N. Kent Street in Winchester. 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.
Frederick County Overview
Frederick County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Frederick 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 Frederick County clerk's office is at 5 N. Kent Street in Winchester, the county seat, in the Shenandoah Valley of northern Virginia.
Note that Winchester is an independent city and Frederick County's courthouse is located within Winchester city limits. Despite this, the clerk at 5 N. Kent Street serves Frederick County applicants. Virginia has no residency requirement for marriage licenses, so any couple can apply here regardless of where they live. Both people must appear in person together. No one can apply alone or on behalf of a partner.
The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (540) 667-5770 before your visit with questions. The Winchester area is a hub for the northern Shenandoah Valley and serves couples from across the region and beyond.
| Office | Frederick County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 5 N. Kent Street Winchester, VA 22601 |
| Phone | (540) 667-5770 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who want to perform ceremonies in Frederick County must apply to the clerk for authorization. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges are already authorized. If your officiant is from Maryland, West Virginia, or another state, contact the clerk well before the ceremony date to allow time for the authorization process.
Marriage License Requirements in Frederick County
Both applicants must go to the clerk's office together. This is a firm requirement with no exceptions. 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 (540) 667-5770 if you have questions about a specific document before your visit.
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 full maiden name before marriage. Have all of this information ready before you go. The information is provided under oath, so accuracy matters.
Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as a hard minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's former law allowing younger applicants to marry with parental consent has been fully 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 the office.
Marriage License Fees in Frederick 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 at the time of application. Call (540) 667-5770 to confirm accepted payment methods 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 with no extension option and no refund. If your wedding is delayed past the 60-day window, you must reapply and pay the fee again. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Frederick County license cannot be used in Maryland, West Virginia, or any other state.
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Frederick 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.
Frederick County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Frederick County marriage records are available from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 5 N. Kent 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. 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 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 the full process for requesting records from Frederick County or any Virginia jurisdiction.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains Frederick County marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Frederick County Marriage Records
Virginia began requiring statewide recording of marriages in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Frederick 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 searchable online for free. Virginia residents can also 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.
Frederick County is one of Virginia's oldest counties, formed in 1743 from Orange County. It has a long record history. Marriage bonds from before 1853 are held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Frederick clerk's office for historical record requests.
Nearby Cities
Winchester is an independent city adjacent to Frederick County with its own circuit court clerk.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Frederick. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court regardless of where you live.