Certified Copies

Marriages Performed in James City County

The certified copy can be obtained either in person, mail, or by online request. To obtain a copy in person, go to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office located on the first floor of the Courthouse. The fee for a certified copy of a marriage license is $2.50 per copy and will be made while you wait. Payment is by cash, cashier's check, personal check, money order payable to "Clerk of the Circuit Court," or credit card.

Copies by Mail

In order to obtain a copy by mail, the customer must prepare a written request providing the date of the marriage, the name of the groom and maiden name of the bride. A self-addressed, stamped envelope must be enclosed. The fee for a certified copy of a marriage license is $2.50. The method of payment can be cashier's check, personal check, or money order. The copy will be mailed within 2 weeks from receipt of the request.

Marriage Licenses are Available to the Public

Marriage licenses dating back to the 1854's are scanned, indexed and available on the public view stations in the Record Room for the City of Williamsburg and County of James City. Within the next few months the remaining marriage licenses on file, dating back to 1865, will be scanned, indexed and available to the public. The licenses have been scanned to make it easier for individuals doing research to locate information, and the scanning process helps protect the original copies, which are becoming brittle from age. The original copies are kept in the Clerk's Office and may be viewed with the assistance of a deputy clerk. The paper indexes are still available to the public.

Marriages Performed In Virginia

If the marriage occurred in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but you are unsure of which Circuit Court issued the marriage license, you can request a copy of your marriage license by contacting the Division of Vital Records in Richmond. They can be reached by phone at 804-662-6200 or by mail at:

Division of Vital Records
PO Box 1000
Richmond, VA 23219-1000.

You may also obtain a copy certified from your local Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for Virginia marriage license only.