Giles County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Giles County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 501 Wenonah Avenue in Pearisburg. 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.
Giles County Overview
Giles County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Giles 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 Giles County clerk's office is at 501 Wenonah Avenue, Suite C, in Pearisburg, the county seat, in western Virginia near the West Virginia border.
Virginia has no residency requirement for marriage licenses. Any couple can apply in Giles County regardless of where they live. Both people must appear together in person at the time of application. No proxy applications are allowed. The clerk processes applications the same day. Bring all required documents and both applicants, and you can receive the license during a single visit.
Giles County sits along the New River in the mountains of western Virginia. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (540) 921-1721 before your visit with any questions about required documents or the application process.
| Office | Giles County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 501 Wenonah Avenue, Suite C Pearisburg, VA 24134 |
| Phone | (540) 921-1721 |
| 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 Giles County must apply to the clerk for authorization. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office before officiating. Virginia-licensed ministers and judges are already authorized. If your officiant is from West Virginia or another state, contact the clerk well before the ceremony date to start the authorization process.
Marriage License Requirements in Giles County
Both applicants must go to the clerk's office together. 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) 921-1721 if you have questions about a specific document before making the trip to Pearisburg.
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 this ready before you go. If a parent's name is unknown, ask the clerk for guidance when you arrive.
Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as a hard minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's prior 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 about your age.
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 Giles 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 (540) 921-1721 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. 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 Giles County license cannot be used in West Virginia or any other state.
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the marriage certificate and return it to the Giles 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.
Giles County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Giles County marriage records are available from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 501 Wenonah Avenue 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 process for requesting records from Giles County or any Virginia jurisdiction.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains Giles County marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Giles County Marriage Records
Virginia began requiring statewide recording of marriages in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Giles 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.
Giles County was formed in 1806 from Montgomery, Monroe (now WV), and Tazewell counties. Marriage bonds from before 1853 may be found in those parent county records at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website provides contact details for the Giles clerk's office for historical record requests.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Giles. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court regardless of where you live.