How to Search Fairfax County Marriage and Divorce Records
The Clerk of the Circuit Court handles both record types. Marriage licenses are issued through the Public Service Division on the first floor of the courthouse. Divorce cases are filed and kept in the Circuit Court civil files. To get a certified copy of a marriage license or a final divorce decree, you go to the clerk's records process.
Divorce case index data may also appear in the public court systems. The full case-search steps are on the Fairfax County court records page. For copy fees and clerk hours, see the Clerk of Court page.
Fairfax County Marriage License Requirements
Virginia keeps marriage licensing simple. There is no residency requirement, and a couple may get a license from any Virginia circuit court. There is no waiting period after issuance and no blood test. The license is valid for 60 calendar days, and the ceremony must take place in Virginia.
Both applicants must appear together in person. Each must be at least 18 years old under Virginia Code § 20-48. Bring a valid photo ID, a Social Security number for each applicant, and the full names of each applicant's parents, including full middle names as on birth certificates. The marriage license information page lists the full requirements.
Fairfax County does not provide Justice of the Peace services, but civil marriage celebrants are available by appointment at a location the couple chooses.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process is quick when you arrive prepared. An online pre-application can speed up the counter visit. Follow these steps.
- Complete the online marriage license pre-application if you choose to use it.
- Both applicants go together to the Public Service Division, Suite 116.
- Bring valid photo ID, each Social Security number, and parents' full names.
- Pay the $30 license fee by cash or Visa or MasterCard.
- Receive the license, valid for 60 days for a ceremony in Virginia.
If you use the pre-application, bring the confirmation document to the courthouse within 60 days.
Marriage License Application Fields
The pre-application collects the core identity details the clerk needs. The table below lists those fields and how they work.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant names | Text | Yes | Full legal names of both applicants. |
| Social Security numbers | Text | Yes | Number needed; the card is not required. |
| Parent full names | Text | Yes | Include full middle and maiden names where different. |
| Confirmation document | Output | If pre-applied | Bring to the courthouse within 60 days. |
| In-person appearance | Procedural | Yes | Both applicants together. |
Because both people must appear, the pre-application does not replace the in-person visit.
Marriage and Divorce Record Fees
Marriage fees are small and fixed. Divorce filing fees vary by case and by statute, so the clerk's current schedule controls those amounts. The table below shows the set marriage-related fees.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $30.00 |
| Certified marriage-license copy | $2.50 per copy |
| Credit card convenience fee | 4% |
Divorce filing fees are payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court by cash, cashier's check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted, and a separate sheriff service fee may apply.
Certified Marriage License Copies
The license must have been issued by Fairfax Circuit Court. Either spouse may request a certified copy in person with valid photo ID or by mail. The fee is $2.50 per copy. A mail request needs the form or a written request with the marriage date and both parties' full names, proper payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The clerk does not accept personal checks, and cash or credit cards are not accepted by mail. Copies are mailed within about two weeks. The marriage license copy page explains the rules.
Mailed requests go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, attention Marriage License Copies, at the courthouse address.
Restricted 1997 to 2001 Marriage Records
One local rule trips up many requesters. Marriage licenses issued from July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2001 are not available for general public inspection. Those licenses were not configured to prevent disclosure of Social Security numbers or control numbers.
Either spouse may still obtain copies with valid photo ID. Others need a court order, a subpoena, written authorization from either applicant, or a qualifying law-enforcement or child-support purpose. This limit comes from Virginia Code § 32.1-267.
Note: A Fairfax County marriage license from July 1997 through June 2001 is not open to the general public, so plan for the extra ID or authorization rules.
Divorce Residency and Separation Rules
Divorce is a Circuit Court case with real waiting periods. To get a Virginia divorce, at least one spouse must have been a Virginia resident for at least six months before filing. If there are no children, the parties must be separated at least six months and have a written property settlement agreement before filing. If there are children, the separation must be at least one year.
The venue and residency rule is set in Virginia Code § 20-97. The Fairfax divorce page lays out the process and the self-represented-litigant warnings.
The page also stresses that court personnel cannot give legal advice, even when a person files without a lawyer.
Filing a Divorce Complaint and Forms
A divorce begins with a Complaint filed in the Circuit Court Civil Intake Division. Several forms go with it. Self-represented litigants must follow the same procedures as attorneys.
- Divorce Complaint, filed in Civil Intake.
- VS-4 State Statistical Form from Civil Intake.
- Domestic Case Coversheet.
- Acceptance or Waiver of Service form (CC-1406).
- Addendum for Protected Identifying Information (CC-1426).
A resume-maiden-name fee may apply if requested. Custody and support matters often begin in the JDR Court rather than Circuit Court, so the district court page covers that side. Probate and estate records sit on the probate records page.
A completed divorce file holds more than the decree. It can include the complaint, the property settlement agreement, any publication affidavit when a spouse cannot be found, and the final order signed by the judge. Those papers are court records kept by the clerk. If a service member or a missing spouse is involved, extra forms and steps may apply, which is one more reason many people use the law library or a referral attorney before filing.
Self-Help and Lawyer Referral
Help is available, but it has limits. The Fairfax Public Law Library in Suite 115 has computers, legal databases, and staff who can point to resources. They cannot choose forms or give legal advice. For an attorney, the Fairfax Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service is reached at 703-246-3780.
Vital-record certificates can be a separate path from court files. A Circuit Court divorce file holds the pleadings and the final decree, while statewide vital records are kept by the state system. The broader access rules are on the public records page.