Va. Code » Title 20. Domestic Relations » Chapter 2. Marriage Generally
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 20-14 (2026)

By whom license to be issued

✓ current as of May 2026
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Every license for a marriage shall be issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of a circuit court of any county or city. If from any cause neither the clerk nor his deputy is able to issue the license, it may be issued by the judge of the circuit court of such county, or city, who shall make return thereof to the clerk as soon as there may be one.

Code 1919, § 5072; 1924, p. 398; 1948, p. 107; 1968, c. 318; 1977, c. 102; 1995, c. 355.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1992–2026 · leading case: MacDougall v. Levick, 805 S.E.2d 775 (Va. 2017).
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MacDougall v. Levick, 805 S.E.2d 775 (Va. 2017). · cites it 3× “1 states: Every marriage license issued under § 20-14 shall constitute authority for a period of only sixty days from the date of issuance for the solemnization of a marriage of the licensees .”
Bostic v. Rainey, 970 F. Supp. 2d 456 (E.D. Va. 2014). · cites it 3× “Va.Code §§ 20-14, 20-33, 32.1-267(B) (2014)'.”
Bostic v. Schaefer, 760 F.3d 352 (4th Cir. 2014). “Va.Code Ann. §§ 20-14, 32.1-267. Although Schall and Townley did not seek a marriage license from Schaefer, the district court found that Bostic and London did so and that Schaefer denied their request because they are a same-sex couple.”
Richard S. Levick v. Deborah MacDougall, 782 S.E.2d 182 (Va. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “, Code § 20-14 ("Every license for a marriage shall be issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of a circuit court of any county or city.”
Gottlieb v. Crouch, 44 Va. Cir. 268 (Arlington Cir. Ct. 1998). · cites it 3× “Va. Code § 20-14. The parties are required to supply the information required under oath.”
MacDougall v. Levick, 87 Va. Cir. 160 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2013). · cites it 7× “Other Relevant Statutes Va. Code § 20-14 provides that: Every license for a marriage shall be issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of a circuit court of any county or city.”
Deborah MacDougall v. Richard S. Levick (Va. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “, Code § 20-14 (“Every license for a -9- D.”
Landes (W.D. Va. 2026). · cites it 2× “§§ 20-14 , 20-16).) The wedding officiant is charged with “certify[ing] to the facts of marriage” and with completing and returning the marriage certificates to the issuing clerk, who is then responsible for recording the certificates.”
Richard S. Levick v. Deborah MacDougall, 776 S.E.2d 456 (Va. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 3× “, Code § 20-14 ("Every license for a marriage shall be issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of a circuit court of any county or city.”
Deborah MacDougall v. Richard S. Levick (Va. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 3× “, Code § 20-14 (“Every license for a marriage shall be issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of a circuit court of any county or city.”
Deborah MacDougall v. Richard S. Levick (Va. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 3× “, Code § 20-14 (“Every license for a marriage shall be issued by the clerk or deputy clerk of a circuit court of any county or city.”
Davis v. Davis, 29 Va. Cir. 110 (Accomack Cir. Ct. 1992). · cites it 2× “Va. Code Ann. §§ 20-14 and 20-20. The statutory requirements regarding marriage procedure are mandatory rather than directory in Virginia.”
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