The state of Virginia does not require couples to be residents of Virginia to marry there. However, marriage licenses issued in Virginia must be used within the state of Virginia. The following regulations also apply:   Legal status. Neither partner may be currently married to another person.  Family relationship. You and your partner may not be related to one another by blood or adoption. The state of Virginia does not allow marriages between ancestors and descendants (e.g., parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings, or aunts/uncles and their nieces/nephews. Step-siblings cannot marry. However, first cousins may marry.  Competence. Both partners must be mentally capable of choosing marriage. As of October 6, 2014, same-sex marriage is legal in Virginia. Virginia also recognizes same-sex marriages from other states and countries. The application process is the same as for heterosexual couples. You and your partner must be over age 18 to marry without parental consent. If you are 16 or 17, you must have parent or legal guardian approval.  Your parent or legal guardian can consent in person during the application process. The consent may usually also be given in notarized written form when it is sworn before a notary public. Special consent is possible when the female partner is under the age of 16 and is pregnant. If the female partner is under 16 and has been pregnant within the previous nine months, consent may be given if a physician documents the prior pregnancy. Parent or guardian consent is required in both cases. Consent must be given in the county or jurisdiction where the female partner lives in these cases. The various circuit courts require proof of identity and date of birth. Government-issued documents such as drivers' licenses, passports, Military IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards should be sufficient. Check with your specific Circuit Court for their requirements, as they may vary.  If you or your partner have been previously married, you should plan to provide proof that the previous marriage has ended. Virginia does not require blood tests to obtain a marriage license. If your divorce decree is in another language, you must provide a certified translation. A certified translation will be signed and dated by the translator and vouch that the document has been accurately and competently translated. You may apply for a marriage license in any circuit court in Virginia. You do not have to be married in the same county as the one where you apply. You can find the directory here. This will take you to a directory page that contains the clerk’s name, clerk’s office hours, and phone and address information.  Click on the “local website” link in the upper right corner to go to the individual court’s website. This local website will give you information about applying for a marriage license at that court, such as hours, fees, and identification requirements. For example, at the Arlington Circuit Court, marriage licenses are given M-F from 8AM-4PM. Marriage license fees are $30 and can be paid by cash or Visa/MasterCard (4% service charge applies). ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or Military ID is required. In some cases, such as those involving the marriage of a minor, Circuit Courts may require additional documentation or other steps. Call your Circuit Court clerk to make sure you know all the requirements before you go to apply. Some Circuit Courts do not maintain a website. Calling by phone is the best way to verify information. If you wish to change your legal surname once you are married, the easiest way to do this is to indicate the desired new name on your application for the marriage license. Once the marriage is legally completed, the name you provide on the marriage license application will become your legal surname.  Your surname will not automatically change when you marry. You do not have to change your surname to be legally married. You may choose to use the same surname for both partners. You may also choose a combined or hyphenated surname.

Summary:
Determine if you and your partner are eligible to marry one another. Confirm you are old enough to marry one another. Gather the necessary documents. Visit the directory of Virginia’s Individual Circuit Court homepages. Click on the county where you wish to apply for the marriage license. Call the Circuit Court where you wish to apply to verify their requirements. Decide on your surname.