Virginia is one of the most straightforward states in the country to get legally married. There’s no waiting period, no blood test, no residency requirement, and no premarital counseling required. If you’re getting married anywhere in Virginia, including at a Loudoun County venue, the process to obtain the license is the same. Here’s exactly what to do.
The short version.
Both of you go in person to any Virginia Circuit Court Clerk’s office with a government-issued ID and the application fee, fill out a one-page application, and walk out with the license that day. It’s valid statewide for sixty days from the date of issue. After your wedding, the officiant signs and returns the license, and you receive a certified copy of the marriage record in the mail. That’s the whole process.
Where to apply in Loudoun County.
The Loudoun County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is located at 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. Office hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (confirm current hours on the Loudoun County website — they shift occasionally for staffing).
You don’t have to apply at the Loudoun office for a Loudoun wedding. A Virginia marriage license issued by any county is valid for a wedding anywhere in the state. If it’s easier for you to walk into the Arlington or Fairfax clerk’s office on a weekday lunch break, that license works just as well.
What to bring.
- Government-issued photo ID — driver’s license, passport, military ID, or state ID. Both of you.
- Your Social Security numbers — or documentation that you don’t have one if you’re not a U.S. citizen.
- The application fee — currently $30 in Loudoun, paid in cash, by check, or by card depending on the office. Confirm payment methods before you go.
- If either party has been married before — you’ll need the date the prior marriage ended (date of divorce decree or spouse’s death). You typically do not need to bring the documents themselves, but be prepared to state the date.
You will not need:
- A witness (Virginia requires no witnesses at the application stage)
- A blood test (Virginia has not required one since 1989)
- Pre-marital counseling certificates
- Proof of residency — Virginia does not have a residency requirement
Timing — when to apply.
The license is valid for sixty days from the date of issue. There is no waiting period; you can apply and get married the same day if you want. Most couples we work with apply two to four weeks before the wedding date.
The most common timing mistake is applying too early. If you apply ninety days before the wedding, your license expires before the ceremony. Two to four weeks out is the safest window.
Costs and what’s included.
The application fee in Loudoun is currently $30. That fee covers the issuance of the license itself. After the ceremony, when the officiant returns the signed license to the Clerk’s office, you’ll be mailed a certified copy of the marriage certificate at no additional cost. Additional certified copies (for name changes, for filing with insurance or HR, etc.) typically cost $2.50–$3 per copy — order at least three when you receive the first one. You’ll use more of them than you expect.
After the ceremony.
The officiant signs the license at the wedding and returns it to the issuing Clerk’s office. They have five days to do so under Virginia law, though most return it within two. Don’t leave this step to chance — confirm with your officiant the day before the wedding that they have the license, know where to return it, and have a plan to mail or hand-deliver it within the legal window.
Once the signed license is recorded by the clerk, you’re officially married. The certified copy mailed to you afterward is the document you’ll use to change names on Social Security cards, driver’s licenses, passports, and insurance accounts.
Common questions.
Can we apply online?
No. Virginia requires both parties to appear in person at the Clerk’s office. There’s no online application option in Loudoun or elsewhere in the state.
Do we need an appointment?
Walk-ins are accepted in Loudoun, but appointments are recommended during peak wedding season (May, June, September, October) when wait times can stretch. Call ahead.
Can we get a name change as part of the marriage license?
The license itself doesn’t change your name. After the wedding, you use the certified marriage certificate as your legal documentation to update your name with Social Security, the DMV, your passport, and other accounts. Either spouse can take the other’s name, hyphenate, or keep their own — there’s no required choice at the license stage.
What if we’re getting married by a friend or family member?
Virginia recognizes officiants who are ordained ministers, judges and former judges, and people designated as temporary officiants by the Virginia Circuit Court for a specific wedding. If a friend or family member wants to officiate, they should either become ordained through an online ministry (Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries are the most common) or apply to the Circuit Court for a one-time officiant designation. The court application costs about $35 and takes a few weeks to process, so plan ahead.
What if one of us isn’t a U.S. citizen?
Marriage in Virginia doesn’t require U.S. citizenship. You’ll need a foreign passport or other government-issued photo ID, and you’ll be asked to state whether you have a Social Security number (no requirement that you do).
A small note from a venue.
The marriage license is the single piece of the wedding most couples leave until the last possible week, which makes it the most-likely thing to go wrong on the day. Apply at the four-week mark, confirm your officiant has it the night before the ceremony, and ask one specific person (best man, maid of honor, the planner if you have one) to be responsible for making sure it gets handed back to the officiant after the signing.
If you’re planning a wedding with us at Zion Springs, our planning team handles the day-of license logistics as part of the coordination — one less thing to track during a weekend with a lot of moving pieces.