Greensville County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Greensville County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 337 S. Main Street in Emporia. Both applicants must appear in person together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.
Greensville County Overview
Greensville County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Greensville County is the only office authorized to issue marriage licenses in the county. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, all Virginia marriage licenses must come from a circuit court clerk or a deputy clerk. The Greensville County clerk's office is at 337 S. Main Street in Emporia, in southern Virginia near the North Carolina border.
Virginia does not require residency to apply for a marriage license. You can apply in Greensville County even if you live somewhere else. Both applicants must go to the clerk's office together in person. No proxy applications are accepted. The clerk processes the application on the same day. Bring everything you need and both people in one visit.
Greensville County was formed in 1780 from Brunswick County. The courthouse in Emporia serves both the county and the adjacent independent city of Emporia. Note that Emporia is an independent city with its own clerk of circuit court separate from Greensville County. If your license is needed specifically for Emporia city, you would go to the Emporia city clerk's office. The Greensville County office serves county residents and anyone who chooses to apply there. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (434) 348-4215 before your visit.
| Office | Greensville County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 337 S. Main Street Emporia, VA 23847 |
| Phone | (434) 348-4215 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who plan to officiate at a ceremony in Greensville County must first obtain authorization from the circuit court clerk. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed officiants are already authorized and do not need to take this extra step. If your minister or officiant is from outside Virginia, contact the clerk well before your ceremony date to get this sorted out.
Marriage License Requirements in Greensville County
Both applicants must appear at the clerk's office at the same time. Each person must bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, U.S. passport, state-issued ID card, or military ID will work. Expired IDs are not accepted. If you have any doubt about whether your ID qualifies, call (434) 348-4215 before making the trip.
You must provide your Social Security number on the application. You do not need to bring the actual card. 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. Have this information ready when you arrive. If a parent's name is unknown, the clerk can guide you on how to note that on the form.
Both people must be at least 18 years old. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets 18 as the minimum with no exceptions. Virginia no longer permits younger applicants even with parental consent. Your photo ID establishes your age. Bring a certified birth certificate if there is any question about it.
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 clerk's office.
Marriage License Fees in Greensville County
The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this amount for the entire state. 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 when you apply. Call (434) 348-4215 to confirm accepted payment methods before your visit.
The license is valid for 60 days. Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, if no ceremony takes place within that time the license expires. There is no extension option, and the fee is not refunded. If your wedding is pushed past 60 days, you must reapply and pay the fee again. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Greensville County license cannot be used in North Carolina, which borders the county to the south.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Greensville County clerk. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. Certified copies become available from the clerk for $2.50 each after that.
Greensville County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Greensville County marriage records are available from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 337 S. Main Street in Emporia holds the county's copies. Each copy costs $2.50. You can request in person or by mail. For a mail request, include both spouses' names, the marriage date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your payment.
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 the first 25 years after the marriage. After that period the records become public. Social Security numbers are always redacted from all copies regardless of the record's age.
The VDH FAQ page covers eligibility requirements and how to request records from Greensville County or any other Virginia jurisdiction.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains Greensville County marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Greensville County Marriage Records
Virginia started requiring statewide recording of marriages in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Greensville County marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 on microfilm. These records include the marriage date and place, both parties' full names, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and the officiant. Researchers can borrow microfilm through interlibrary loan at no cost.
FamilySearch has digitized Virginia county marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them free to search online. Virginia residents can access Ancestry.com through the Library of Virginia's Finditva.com service with a public library card. For records after 1935, contact VDH or search the Ancestry Virginia marriage index.
Greensville County was formed in 1780 from Brunswick County. Marriage bonds and other early records from before 1853 are held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website has contact details for the Greensville clerk's office for historical record inquiries.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Greensville. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court clerk regardless of where you live.