Virginia Marriage Records are one of the official vital record categories of the state. Together with divorce, birth and death, they are maintained by the authorities at the Virginia Office of Vital Records located at Richmond, Virginia which goes under the Virginia Department of Health. The office houses over 7 million records detailing the information as a public service for the citizens of Virginia.

The period of marriage records is from 1853 to the present and comprises only those that occurred in Virginia. They are only available to immediate family members - mother, father, husband, wife, child, brother, sister and grandparent with valid ID. Aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, etc are not eligible for marriage records or any other vital records for that matter from the Vital Records Office. In that way, they are not considered public information until 50 years after the date of the event.

The fee for a certificate/search is $12.00. It is not refundable if the search is unsuccessful. The normal delivery time for a marriage record report is 1 to 2 weeks. They can also be obtained directly from the Circuit Court in which the event took place. To apply for a certified copy of marriage records, the following should be provided: full name of groom, full maiden name of bride, date and place of marriage and the Circuit Court which issued the Marriage License.

The Virginia Office of Vital Records offers 3 ways to obtain certified Marriage Records: mail, walk-in and express delivery. The turn-around time for the normal mail option is 5 to 10 business days. Same-day is possible for walk-in and it's the fastest way. Express service is through VitalChek Network and is delivered by carrier service only (UPS Carrier Service) for $49.25 but additional fees may apply.

The information in Virginia Marriage records is quite standard. It includes the personal particulars of the bride and groom, their parents and witnesses. The name of the officiant of the ceremony is normally stated. Date and place of the event and other associated documents such as marriage license and certificate are also attached. If there were multiple marriages, their records will all be produced.

If you're not eligible to retrieve the information from government sources of Virginia, a good alternative is the commercial record providers. They are readily found on the net but the trick is in finding the right one. If time is of the essence, you can shortcut your selection process by taking reference from review and specialist sites, also abundantly found on the net. If a particular provider is consistently recommended by these sites, it must be right.