Fairfax County exact answer
Who can perform a marriage ceremony for a license from Fairfax County?
This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.
Direct answer
In Fairfax County, the Clerk's office does not perform marriages and Fairfax County provides no "Justice of the Peace" service. The Court publishes a list of civil marriage celebrants who are available by appointment at a location of the couple's choosing; every celebrant must be authorized to perform weddings in Virginia under Va. Code §20-25, and the ceremony fee is capped at $75 plus travel expenses. Clergy affiliated with a church outside Virginia must obtain authorization from a Virginia circuit court before performing a ceremony. Several county government centers can be reserved for wedding ceremonies.
Published rule and conditions
- Officiant and ceremony rule
- The Clerk's office does not perform marriages and Fairfax County provides no "Justice of the Peace" service. The Court publishes a list of civil marriage celebrants who are available by appointment at a location of the couple's choosing; every celebrant must be authorized to perform weddings in Virginia under Va. Code §20-25, and the ceremony fee is capped at $75 plus travel expenses. Clergy affiliated with a church outside Virginia must obtain authorization from a Virginia circuit court before performing a ceremony. Several county government centers can be reserved for wedding ceremonies.Official requirement
Fairfax County does not provide "Justice of the Peace" services at the Courthouse. Civil Marriage Celebrants are available by appointment at the location of your choosing.
Issuing office
Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court, Public Service Division
Official sources for this answer
- Marriage License InformationFairfax Circuit Court, Office of the Clerk - checked July 30, 2026
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. There are no residency requirements to obtain a marriage license in Virginia. Couples may obtain a marriage license from any circuit court in Virginia. Once the license is issued, there is no waiting period and no blood test is required. The marriage license is valid for 60 calendar days and the marriage must take place in Virginia.
- Fairfax Circuit Court Civil Marriage CelebrantsFairfax Circuit Court, Office of the Clerk - checked July 30, 2026
Fairfax County does not provide "Justice of the Peace" services at the Courthouse. Civil Marriage Celebrants are available by appointment at the location of your choosing. All civil marriage celebrants must be authorized to perform weddings in Virginia per Code of Virginia § 20-25. Any person authorized under § 20-25 to celebrate the rites of marriage shall be permitted to charge the parties a fee for the ceremony not to exceed $75 for each ceremony.
- Fairfax County Government Centers Available for Marriage CeremoniesFairfax Circuit Court, Office of the Clerk - checked July 30, 2026
Wedding ceremonies are not required to take place in any "official" location. Ceremonies can be performed anywhere (with permission of the property owner), within the Commonwealth of Virginia. A marriage license is required prior to the ceremony and can be issued to the couple by any Circuit Court in Virginia.
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MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.
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