Halifax County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Halifax County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 10 E. Main Street in Halifax. Both applicants must appear together in person, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.
Halifax County Overview
Halifax County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Halifax County is the only office authorized to issue marriage licenses in the county. Under Virginia Code § 20-14, all Virginia marriage licenses must be issued by a circuit court clerk or a deputy clerk. The Halifax County clerk's office is at 10 E. Main Street in Halifax, the county seat, in south-central Virginia near the North Carolina border on the Dan River.
Virginia has no residency requirement for a marriage license. Anyone can apply in Halifax County regardless of where they live. Both applicants must appear in person together. The clerk will not process applications without both people present. Bring all required documents and both applicants to complete the process in a single visit.
Halifax County was formed in 1752 from Lunenburg County and is one of the larger counties in southern Virginia. The town of Halifax is the county seat. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (434) 476-6210 before your visit if you have questions about what to bring.
| Office | Halifax County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 10 E. Main Street Halifax, VA 24558 |
| Phone | (434) 476-6210 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who want to officiate at a wedding in Halifax County must first get authorization from the circuit court clerk. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed ministers, judges, and other authorized officiants do not need to do this. If your officiant lives outside Virginia, contact the clerk well ahead of your ceremony date to begin that process.
Marriage License Requirements in Halifax County
Both applicants must go to the clerk's office at the same time. Each person needs a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, U.S. passport, state ID card, or military ID all qualify. Expired IDs are not accepted. If you are unsure whether a specific document will work, call (434) 476-6210 before making the trip to Halifax.
You must give your Social Security number on the application. You do not need to bring the actual Social Security 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. Get this information together before you arrive. If a parent's name is not known to you, the clerk can help you address it on the form.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this as the minimum with no exceptions. Virginia's previous allowance for younger applicants with parental consent has been repealed. Your photo ID proves your age. A certified birth certificate can be used as backup 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 on the same day you visit.
Marriage License Fees in Halifax County
The marriage license fee is $30. Virginia Code § 20-15 sets this statewide. The $30 covers a $20 state license tax and $10 directed to the Virginia Department of Social Services for domestic violence services. The clerk collects this when you apply. Call (434) 476-6210 to confirm accepted payment methods before your visit.
The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date. Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, if no ceremony takes place within 60 days, the license expires. You cannot extend it, and the fee is not returned. If your wedding is delayed beyond the 60-day window, you must reapply and pay again. The ceremony must also take place within Virginia. A Halifax County license is not valid in North Carolina, which borders the county.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Halifax County clerk. The clerk records it and forwards a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records in Richmond. Certified copies are available from the clerk for $2.50 each once the record is filed.
Halifax County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Halifax County marriage records are available from two places. The Circuit Court Clerk at 10 E. Main Street in Halifax holds the county copies. Each copy costs $2.50. You can request in person or by mail. For mail requests, include both spouses' names, the marriage date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment.
The VDH Office of Vital Records in Richmond 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 faster 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 after the marriage. After that, records are public. Social Security numbers are always removed from copies regardless of the record's age.
The VDH FAQ page explains who can request records and how to submit requests for Halifax County or any Virginia jurisdiction.
The Halifax County Circuit Court clerk handles marriage licenses and maintains the official county marriage records.
Historical Halifax County Marriage Records
Virginia required statewide recording of marriages beginning in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Halifax County marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 on microfilm. These registers contain the marriage date and place, both parties' full names, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and the officiant's name. Researchers can borrow microfilm through interlibrary loan at no charge.
FamilySearch has digitized Virginia county marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 and made them free to search online. 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.
Halifax County was formed in 1752 from Lunenburg County, giving it a long record history in southern Virginia. Marriage bonds and pre-1853 records are held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website has contact information for the Halifax clerk's office for historical record inquiries.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Halifax. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court clerk regardless of where you live.