Find out how to get married in WV
If you're getting married in the state of West Virginia you must first apply for a wedding license at any in-state county clerk office. These offices are usually located at a county courthouse or within the court house complex. This document outlines the requirements you must adhere to in order to get a valid marriage license that can be used statewide. Let's begin…
The marriage license fee is $36.00 dollars. Accepted forms of payment are cash.
West Virginia residents must apply for a marriage license in the county in which one or both live. Two non West Virginia residents may apply in any county. Once a marriage license is obtained, either by residents or non-residents, it may be used anywhere in West Virginia. The license will be completed by the marriage celebrant and returned for filing to the county clerk that issued the license. Marriage licenses issued by another state must not be used for marriage in West Virginia. Likewise, marriage licenses issued by a county in West Virginia must not be used for marriage in another state.
As long as both parties to the marriage are 18 years of age or older, or otherwise emancipated from their parents, there is no waiting period before the license is issued. If one or both of the parties to the marriage are under 18 years of age, there is a 3 day waiting period before the license will be issued. The waiting period can be waived by a judge.
No, you can get married immediately after your marriage license is issued.
Your license will expire 60 days from the date it is issued. Once it expires, it can no longer be used to get married.
Unfortunately, you'll just have to get a brand new one as your expired one will no longer be recognized as valid by the state nor by the person who will be responsible for officiating your marriage.
You must be at least 18 years of age or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.
If either partner is under 18, parental consent forms must be signed. You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. A minor who is pregnant still requires parental consent.
No blood test or physical exam is required.
If you were previously married, the date of your divorce or the date of your spouse's death must be provided. Bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. If necessary, a copy of your divorce records or spouse's death certificate can be ordered from your local vital records office and mailed to you.
When you are married, you will receive a marriage certificate, which is a piece of paper proving that you are legally married. This document will serve as evidence of your marriage, which you'll need to complete the process of notifying several government agencies about your name change, as well as any non-government institutions that you do business with (ie, banks, employers, credit cards, memberships, etc).
There is an online marriage name change kit that you can use and complete before or after your marriage takes place. It's applicable for West Virginia or any other state in the union. Completing all the necessary name change documentation prior to your wedding is recommended in order to expedite the name change process.
A proxy marriage, also known as a "proxy wedding," is when one or both partners to be married are unable to physically attend the ceremony. The missing person, or persons, will have someone "stand in" for them and serve as their "proxy."
No, getting married by proxy is not allowed in West Virginia. There are actually only five states left that do allow marriage by proxy.
The term "common law marriage" refers to an informal marriage, based upon cohabitation and a mutual understanding by both partners, rather than getting married through a civil or religious ceremony. The latter, more common approach, would require an actual West Virginia marriage license.
No, common-law marriages are not allowed in West Virginia. This is unsurprising as only one-fifth of the country currently recognizes common law marriage.
First cousin marriages are not allowed. Second cousin, third cousin, etc., marriages are allowed.
No, same-sex marriages are not allowed or legally recognized in West Virginia, nor are they recognized on the federal level.
West Virginia has 55 offices where a marriage license can be acquired. Simply choose a location below to visit. Phone numbers as well as map and accompanying driving direction links are provided for every address.
Barbour County Clerk
8 North Main St
Philippi, WV 26416
304-457-2232
Berkeley County Clerks
100 West King St
Martinsburg, WV 25401
304-264-1927
Boone County Clerk
200 State St
Madison, WV 25130
304-369-7331
Braxton County Clerk
Sutton, WV
304-765-2833
Brooke County Clerk
P.O. Box 272
Wellsburg, WV 26070
304-737-3661
Cabell County Clerk
County Courthouse
Huntington, WV 25701
304-526-8631
Calhoun County Clerk
Grantsville, WV
304-354-6725
Clay County Clerk
P.O. Box 190
Clay, WV 25043
304-587-4259
Doddridge County Clerk
West Union, WV
304-873-2631
Fayette County Clerk
P.O. Box 569
Fayetteville, WV 25840
304-574-1200
Gilmer County Clerk
Glenville, WV
304-462-7641
Grant County Clerk
5 Highland Ave
Petersburg, WV 26847
304-257-4550
Greenbrier County Clerk
P.O. Box 506
Lewisburg, WV 24901
304-647-6602
Hampshire County Clerk
P.O. Box 806
Romney, WV 26757
304-822-5112
Hancock County Clerk
P.O. Box 367
New Cumberland, WV 26047
304-564-3311
Hardy County Clerk , County Clerk
P.O. Box 540
Moorefield, WV 26836
304-538-2929
Harrison County Clerk
301 West Main St
Clarksburg, WV 26301
304-624-8611
Jackson County Clerk
P.O. Box 800
Ripley, WV 25271
304-372-2011
Jefferson County Clerk
P.O. Box 208
Charles Town, WV 25414
304-728-3215
Kanawha County Clerk
409 Virginia St East
Charleston, WV 25301
304-357-0710
Lewis County Clerk
P.O. Box 87
Weston, WV 26452
304-269-8215
Lincoln County Recorder , Recording Department
8000 Court Ave
Hamlin, WV 25523
304-824-3336
Logan County Clerk
300 Stratton St, # 101
Logan, WV 25601
304-792-8600
Marion County Clerk
P.O. Box 1267
Fairmont, WV 26554
304-367-5440
Marshall County Clerk
P.O. Box 459
Moundsville, WV 26041
304-845-1220
Mason County Clerk
200 6th St, # 7
Point Pleasant, WV 25550
304-675-1997
McDowell County Clerk
90 Wyoming St, # 109
Welch, WV 24801
304-436-8544
Mercer County Clerk
1501 W Main St
Princeton, WV 24740
304-487-8339
Mineral County Clerk
150 Armstrong St
Keyser, WV 26726
304-788-3924
Mingo County Clerk
P.O. Box 1197
Williamson, WV 25661
304-235-0330
Monongalia County Clerk
243 High St, # 123
Morgantown, WV 26505
304-291-7230
Monroe County Clerk
350 Union
Union, WV 24983
304-772-3096
Morgan County Clerk
202 Fairfax St Suite 100
Berkeley, WV 25411
304-258-8547
Nicholas County Clerk
700 Main St
Summersville, WV 26651
304-872-7820
Ohio County , County Clerk
205 City/County Building
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-234-3656
Pendleton County Clerk
P.O. Box 89
Franklin, WV 26807
304-358-2505
Pleasants County Clerk
301 Court Lane Rm 101
St Marys, WV 26170
304-684-3542
Pocahontas County Clerk
900 C 10th Ave
Marlinton, WV 24954
304-799-4549
Preston County Clerk
101 W Main St, Rm 201
Kingwood, WV 26537
304-329-0070
Putnam County Clerk
P.O. Box 508
Winfield, WV 25213
304-586-0202
Raleigh County Clerk
215 Main St
Beckley, WV 25801
304-255-9123
Randolph County Clerk
P.O. Box 368
Elkins, WV 26241
304-636-0543
Ritchie County Clerk
115 Court House Rm 201
Harrisville, WV 26362
304-643-2164
Roane County Clerk
Spencer, WV
304-927-2860
Summers County Clerk
P.O. Box 97
Hinton, WV 25951
304-466-7104
Taylor County Clerk
214 West Main
Grafton, WV 26354
304-265-1401
Tucker County Clerk
Parsons, WV
304-478-2414
Tyler County Clerk
P.O. Box 66
Middlebourne, WV 26149
304-758-2102
Upshur County Clerk
4 W Main St,Rm 101
Buckhannon, WV 26201
304-472-1068
Wayne County Clerk
P.O. Box 248
Wayne, WV 25570
304-272-6369
Webster County Clerk
Webster Springs, WV
304-847-2508
Wetzel County
P.O. Box 156
New Martinsville, WV 26155
304-455-8224
Wirt County , Clerk Recorders
P.O. Box 53
Elizabeth, WV 26143
304-275-4271
Wood County Clerk
P.O. Box 1474
Parkersburg, WV 26102
304-424-1850
Wyoming County , Clerks Office
Box 309
Pineville, WV 24874
304-732-8000