How to Get a Marriage License in Richmond: Step by Step
Published October 17, 2026
If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Virginia as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Richmond, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.
At a glance
- Where
- Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, Marriage Licenses, John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North 9th Street, Richmond, VA 23219
- Booking
- Appointments are required; call (804) 646-6767. Licences are issued Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:15 PM.
- Fee
- $30 A certified copy of the licence is $2.50. Confirm with the clerk.
- Payment
- Cash or credit/debit card
- Who attends
- Both parties must be present with photo ID.
- Valid for
- 60 days from issue; after that a new licence and fee are needed, with no refund. Licences are issued regardless of residence as long as the marriage will take place in Virginia.
Step by step
- Apply. Both people attend in person with photo ID. Each person completes the Marriage Application Worksheet (linked on the page).
- Book or plan your visit. Appointments are required; call (804) 646-6767. Licences are issued Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:15 PM.
- Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
- Attend and pay. Both parties must be present with photo ID. Cash or credit/debit card
- Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Virginia. 60 days from issue; after that a new licence and fee are needed, with no refund. Licences are issued regardless of residence as long as the marriage will take place in Virginia.
What to bring
- Photo ID for both people
- If either person is divorced, the date of the final divorce decree
- Full first, middle and last names of both parents, including the mother's maiden name
- Minimum age 18
- No blood test required
Good to know
- The celebrant must return the executed licence to the Clerk's Office within five days of the ceremony.
- The office lists civil celebrants on request but does not perform ceremonies itself.
- The Clerk's Office can authorize ministers who meet Va. Code section 20-23; out-of-state ministers can be authorized for a one-time ceremony in Virginia. Call 804-646-6506 before visiting to confirm the process.
- The page does not state SSN rules or a waiting period.
Your nikah and the license
The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Virginia, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Richmond and our Virginia nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.
A few common questions
How much is a marriage license in Richmond?
Do I need an appointment in Richmond?
Can I get my license in one place and marry in another?
Do I need a marriage license for a nikah?
Planning a nikah in Richmond?
Tell us your date and we will help you find an imam, including one who can register the marriage if you want the legal side done the same day.
Details come from the Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, Marriage Licenses website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Clerk of the Richmond Circuit Court, Marriage Licenses: marriage license page. Contact: Marriage licence line (804) 646-6767; general (804) 646-6505; minister authorization (804) 646-6506. This guide is general information, not legal advice.