Highland County Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Highland County are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at 165 W. Main Street in Monterey. Both applicants must appear in person together, bring valid photo ID, and pay the $30 fee.
Highland County Overview
Highland County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Highland 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 deputy clerk. The Highland County clerk's office is at 165 W. Main Street in Monterey, the county seat, in western Virginia in the Allegheny Highlands near the West Virginia border.
Virginia has no residency requirement for a marriage license. You can apply in Highland County regardless of where you live. Both applicants must go to the clerk's office together in person. No proxy is allowed. The clerk processes applications the same day. Plan to bring both people and all documents in a single visit.
Highland County is known informally as "Virginia's Little Switzerland" for its elevated mountain terrain and is the least populous county in the state. The town of Monterey is very small. If you are traveling from a distance to get your license there, call ahead at (540) 468-2447 to confirm hours and any closures. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Highland County was formed in 1847 from Bath and Pendleton counties (Pendleton County is now part of West Virginia).
| Office | Highland County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 165 W. Main Street Monterey, VA 24465 |
| Phone | (540) 468-2447 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Virginia Courts | vacourts.gov |
Out-of-state ministers who want to officiate at a wedding in Highland County must first get authorization from the circuit court clerk. They must post a $500 bond and take an oath of office. Virginia-licensed officiants are already authorized. Given the county's proximity to West Virginia, out-of-state officiants are not unusual. Contact the clerk well before your ceremony date to complete the authorization process.
Marriage License Requirements in Highland County
Both applicants must appear at 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, or military ID all work. Expired IDs are not accepted. If you have a question about whether a specific document qualifies, call (540) 468-2447 before making the drive to Monterey.
You must provide your Social Security number on the application. You do not need the card itself. 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. Gather all of this before you arrive. If a parent's name is unknown to you, the clerk can tell you how to handle it on the form.
Both applicants must be at least 18. Virginia Code § 20-48 sets this minimum with no exceptions. Virginia repealed previous allowances for younger applicants with parental consent. Your photo ID establishes your age. Bring a certified birth certificate as backup if there could be 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 come in.
Marriage License Fees in Highland 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 when you apply. Call (540) 468-2447 to confirm accepted payment methods before your visit.
The license is valid for 60 days. Under Virginia Code § 20-14.1, the license expires if no ceremony occurs within that window. There is no extension available, and the fee is not refunded. If your wedding is delayed past 60 days, you must reapply and pay again. The ceremony must also take place in Virginia. A Highland County license is not valid in West Virginia, which borders the county.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Highland County clerk. The clerk records it and sends a copy to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Vital Records. Certified copies are then available from the clerk for $2.50 each.
Highland County Marriage Records and Certified Copies
Certified copies of Highland County marriage records are available from two sources. The Circuit Court Clerk at 165 W. Main Street in Monterey 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 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 become public. Social Security numbers are always redacted from copies regardless of the record's age.
The VDH FAQ page covers eligibility and how to request records from Highland County or any Virginia jurisdiction.
The Virginia Department of Health maintains Highland County marriage records as part of the statewide vital records system.
Historical Highland County Marriage Records
Virginia required statewide recording of marriages beginning in 1853. The Library of Virginia holds Highland County marriage registers from 1853 to 1935 on microfilm. These registers contain the date and place of marriage, both parties' names, ages, birthplaces, parents' names, occupations, and the officiant. 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 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.
Highland County was formed in 1847 from Bath and Pendleton counties. Because Pendleton County is now in West Virginia, some historical research may span state lines. Marriage bonds and pre-1853 records are held at the Library of Virginia. The Virginia Judicial System website has contact details for the Highland clerk's office for historical inquiries.
Nearby Counties
These Virginia counties are near Highland. You may apply at any Virginia circuit court clerk regardless of where you live.