- ULC Ordination Recognized: Not Generally
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 18 Years old
- Marriage License Waiting Period: None
- Marriage License Validity Period: 60 days
- Marriage License Return Period: 5 days
- Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding Kit, Letter of Good Standing
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Virginia
If you haven't yet become ordained with the Universal Life Church, that is the first step. Anyone willing can become a legal minister of the ULC, one of the world's largest religious organizations. Online ordination is fast, easy, and completely free. Once you have your minister license, you'll be eligible to officiate a wedding. To become a minister, start by clicking the button below!
How to Officiate a Wedding in Virginia
Contact the local County Clerk's office. Introduce yourself as a ULC minister, and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Rest assured that any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.
Please note: Virginia is the only state in the U.S. that consistently refuses to recognize ULC ordinations. We suggest you check with the clerk in your county for more information.
Select your county to view contact information for each office:
Accomack County
23316 Courthouse Ave
Accomac, VA 23301
(757) 787-5776
(757) 787-1849
Accomack County website »
Albemarle County
501 E Jefferson St #225
Charlottesville, VA
(434) 972-4083
Albemarle County website »
Alleghany County
266 West Main Street
Covington, VA 24426
(540) 965-1730
(540) 965-1732
Alleghany County website »
Amelia County
Courthouse on Church St
Amelia, VA 23002
(804) 561-2128
(804) 561-6364
Amelia County website »
Amherst County
113 Taylor St
Amherst, VA 24521
(434) 946-9321
(434) 946-9323
Amherst County website »
Appomattox County
297 Court St, Suite B
Appomattox, VA 24522
(434) 352-5275
Appomattox County website »
Arlington County
1425 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 6700
Arlington, VA
(703) 228-7010
Arlington County website »
Bath County
65 Courthouse Hill Road
Warm Springs, VA 24484
(540) 839-7226
(540) 839-7248
Bath County website »
Bedford County
123 East Main St, Suite 201
Bedford, VA 24523
(540) 586-7632
Bedford County website »
Bland County
612 Main St. Suite 104
Bland, VA 24315
(276) 688-4562
(276) 688-2438
Bland County website »
Botetourt County
1 W Main St Suite 120
Fincastle, VA
(540) 473-8274
(540) 473-8209
Botetourt County website »
Brunswick County
216 North Main Street
Lawrenceville, VA 23868
(434) 848-2215
(434) 848-4307
Brunswick County website »
Buckingham County
13061 W. James Anderson Hwy
Buckingham, VA 23921
(434) 969-4734
(434) 969-2043
Buckingham County website »
Charles City County
10780 Courthouse Road
Charles City, VA
(804) 652-2105
Charles City County website »
Charlotte County
125 David Bruce Avenue
Charlotte Court House, VA
(434) 542-5147
Charlotte County website »
Chesterfield County
9500 Courthouse Road
Chesterfield, VA 23832
(804) 748-1241
Chesterfield County website »
City of Alexandria
520 King Street, Room 307
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 746-4044
City of Alexandria website »
City of Bristol
497 Cumberland Street, Room 210
Bristol, VA
(276) 645-7321
City of Bristol website »
City of Buena Vista
2039 Sycamore Avenue
Buena Vista, VA 24416
(540) 261-8627
(540) 261-8625
City of Buena Vista website »
City of Charlottesville
315 E High St
Charlottesville, VA
(434) 970-3766
City of Charlottesville website »
City of Chesapeake
307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A
Chesapeake, VA 23322
(757) 382-3000
City of Chesapeake website »
City of Colonial Heights
201 James Avenue
Colonial Heights, VA
(804) 520-9364
City of Colonial Heights website »
City of Covington
333 W. Locust Street
Covington, VA 24426
(540) 965-6302
(540) 965-6303
City of Covington website »
City of Danville
401 Patton St.
Danville, VA
(434) 799-5168
(434) 799-6502
City of Danville website »
City of Fairfax
4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 116
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 691-7320
City of Fairfax website »
City of Falls Church
400 N Washington St, Suite 101
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 248-5080
(703) 248-5225
City of Falls Church website »
City of Fredericksburg
701 Princess Anne St Ste 100
Fredericksburg, VA
(540) 372-1066
City of Fredericksburg website »
City of Galax
353 North Main Street, Suite 204
Galax, VA 24333
(276) 236-8731
(276) 236-2754
City of Galax website »
City of Hampton
237 N. King Street
Hampton, VA 23669
(757) 727-6105
(757) 728-3505
City of Hampton website »
City of Harrisonburg
409 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
(540) 432-7701
City of Harrisonburg website »
City of Hopewell
100 E. Broadway, Suite G05
Hopewell, VA 23860
(804) 541-2311
(804) 541-2438
City of Hopewell website »
City of Lexington
20 South Randolph Street, Suite 200
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 463-3631
(540) 463-4213
City of Lexington website »
City of Lynchburg
900 Church Street
Lynchburg, VA
(434) 455-3990
(434) 847-1536
City of Lynchburg website »
City of Manassas Park
1 Park Center Ct
Manassas Park, VA
(703) 335-8808
(703) 335-0053
City of Manassas Park website »
City of Martinsville
55 West Church Street, Room 205
Martinsville, VA 24114
(276) 403-5106
(276) 403-5232
City of Martinsville website »
City of Newport News
2400 Washington Ave., 9th Floor
Newport News, VA
(757) 926-8634
(757) 926-8599
City of Newport News website »
City of Norfolk
150 St. Pauls Boulevard, 7th Floor
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 664-4580
(757) 664-4290
City of Norfolk website »
City of Petersburg
7 Courthouse Avenue
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804) 733-2367
City of Petersburg website »
City of Poquoson
300 Ballard Street
Yorktown, VA 23690
(757) 890-3350
(757) 890-3364
City of Poquoson website »
City of Portsmouth
801 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 393-8000
City of Portsmouth website »
City of Radford
619 Second Street
Radford, VA 24141
(540) 731-3609
(540) 731-3692
City of Radford website »
City of Richmond
400 North Ninth Street
Richmond, VA
(804) 646-6505
(804) 646-6562
City of Richmond website »
City of Roanoke
315 W. Church Ave. S.W.
Roanoke, VA
(540) 853-2364
(540) 853-5826
City of Roanoke website »
City of Salem
2 East Calhoun Street
Salem, VA 24153
(540) 375-3067
(540) 375-4039
City of Salem website »
City of Staunton
113 E Beverley St
Staunton, VA 24401
(540) 332-3874
(540) 332-3970
City of Staunton website »
City of Virginia Beach
2425 Nimmo Parkway Bldg. 10-B 3rd Floor
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 385-8926
City of Virginia Beach website »
City of Waynesboro
250 S. Wayne Ave. Suite 202
Waynesboro, VA
(540) 942-6616
City of Waynesboro website »
City of Williamsburg
5201 Monticello Avenue, Suite 6
Williamsburg, VA
(757) 564-2242
City of Williamsburg website »
City of Winchester
5 North Kent Street
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 667-5770
(540) 667-6638
City of Winchester website »
Clarke County
102 N. Church Street
Berryville, VA 22611
(540) 955-5116
(540) 955-0284
Clarke County website »
Culpeper County
135 W. Cameron Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
(540) 727-3438
(540) 727-3475
Culpeper County website »
Cumberland County
1 Courthouse Circle
Cumberland, VA 23040
(804) 492-4442
(804) 492-4876
Cumberland County website »
Dickenson County
293 Clintwood Main Street
Clintwood, VA
(276) 926-1616
(276) 926-6465
Dickenson County website »
Dinwiddie County
14008 Boydton Plank Road
Dinwiddie, VA
(804) 469-4540
(804) 469-5386
Dinwiddie County website »
Essex County
305 Prince Street
Tappahannock, VA 22560
(804) 443-3541
(804) 445-1216
Essex County website »
Floyd County
100 East Main Street, Room 200
Floyd, VA 24091
(540) 745-9330
(540) 745-9303
Floyd County website »
Fluvanna County
72 Main Street, Suite A
Palmyra, VA 22963
(434) 591-1970
(434) 591-1971
Fluvanna County website »
Franklin County
275 South Main Street
Rocky Mount, VA 24151
(540) 483-3065
Franklin County website »
Frederick County
5 North Kent Street
Winchester, VA
(540) 667-8623
(540) 545-8711
Frederick County website »
Giles County
120 N Main St
Pearisburg, VA 24134
(540) 921-1722
(540) 921-3825
Giles County website »
Gloucester County
6467 Main Street
Gloucester, VA 23061
(804) 693-4042
(804) 693-2186
Gloucester County website »
Goochland County
2938 River Road West
Goochland, VA 23063
(804) 556-5353
(804) 556-4962
Goochland County website »
Grayson County
129 Davis St, 3rd floor
Independence, VA
(276) 773-2231
(276) 773-3338
Grayson County website »
Greene County
22 Court Street
Stanardsville, VA
(434) 985-5208
(434) 985-6723
Greene County website »
Greensville County
337 South Main Street
Emporia, VA 23847
(434) 348-4215
(434) 348-4020
Greensville County website »
Henrico County
4301 E. Parham Road, Room 240
Henrico, VA 23228
(804) 501-4202
Henrico County website »
Henry County
3160 Kings Mountain Rd, Suite B
Martinsville, VA 24112
(276) 634-4880
Henry County website »
Highland County
165 W Main S
Monterey, VA 24465
(540) 468-2347
(540) 468-2047
Highland County website »
Isle of Wight County
17000 Josiah Parker Circle
Isle of Wight, VA 23397
(757) 365-6233
Isle of Wight County website »
James City County
5201 Monticello Avenue suite 6
Williamsburg, VA
(757) 564-2242
(757) 564-2329
James City County website »
King and Queen County
234 Allen's Circle
King and Queen C.H., VA 23085
(804) 785-5984
(804) 785-5698
King and Queen County website »
King George County
9483 Kings Highway, Suite 3
King George, VA 22485
(540) 775-3322
(540) 775-5466
King George County website »
King William County
351 Courthouse Lane, Suite 130
King William, VA 23086
(804) 769-4938
(804) 769-4991
King William County website »
Lancaster County
8265 Mary Ball Road
Lancaster, VA 22503
(804) 462-5611
(804) 462-9978
Lancaster County website »
Louisa County
100 West Main Street
Louisa, VA 23093
(540) 967-5312
(540) 967-2705
Louisa County website »
Lunenburg County
160 Courthouse Square
Lunenburg, VA
(434) 696-2132
(434) 696-3931
Lunenburg County website »
Mecklenburg County
393 Washington St
Boydton, VA 23917
(434) 738-6191
(434) 738-0761
Mecklenburg County website »
Middlesex County
73 Bowden St
Saluda, VA 23149
(804) 758-5317
(804) 758-8637
Middlesex County website »
Montgomery County
755 Roanoke Street
Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 382-5760
(540) 382-6937
Montgomery County website »
Northampton County
5229 The Hornes
Eastville, VA 23347
(757) 678-0465
(757) 678-5410
Northampton County website »
Northumberland County
220 Judicial Pl
Heathsville, VA 22473
(804) 580-3700
(804) 580-2261
Northumberland County website »
Nottoway County
328 W Courthouse Rd
Nottoway, VA 23955
(434) 645-9043
(434) 645-2201
Nottoway County website »
Orange County
110 N Madison Road, Suite 300
Orange, VA
(540) 672-4030
(540) 672-2939
Orange County website »
Page County
Page Circuit Court
116 S Court Street, Suite A
Luray, VA 22835
(540) 743-4142
Page County website »
Patrick County
101 West Blue Ridge Street
Stuart, VA 24171
(276) 694-7213
(276) 694-6943
Patrick County website »
Pittsylvania County
One North Main Street
Chatham, VA 24531
(434) 432-7887
(434) 432-7913
Pittsylvania County website »
Powhatan County
3880 Old Buckingham Road, Suite C
Powhatan, VA
(804) 598-5660
(804) 598-5608
Powhatan County website »
Prince Edward County
111 South Street, 2nd Floor
Farmville, VA
(434) 392-5145
(434) 392-3913
Prince Edward County website »
Prince George County
6601 Courts Drive
Prince George, VA 23875
(804) 733-2640
Prince George County website »
Prince William County
9311 Lee Avenue, 3rd Floor
Manassas, VA 90110
(703) 792-6029
(703) 342-0342
Prince William County website »
Pulaski County
45 Third Street NW, Suite 101
Pulaski, VA 24301
(540) 980-7825
(540) 980-7835
Pulaski County website »
Rappahannock County
238 Gay St
Washington, VA 22747
(540) 675-5350
(540) 675-5351
Rappahannock County website »
Richmond County
101 Court Circle
Warsaw, VA 22572
(804) 333-3781
(804) 333-5396
Richmond County website »
Rockbridge County
20 S Randolph St, Suite 101
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 463-2232
(540) 463-3850
Rockbridge County website »
Russell County
53 East Main Street
Lebanon, VA 24266
(276) 889-8023
(276) 889-8003
Russell County website »
Scott County
202 West Jackson Street, Suite 102
Gate City, VA 24251
(276) 386-3801
(276) 386-2430
Scott County website »
Shenandoah County
112 South Main Street
Woodstock, VA
(540) 459-6150
(540) 459-6155
Shenandoah County website »
Smyth County
109 West Main Street, Suite 1081
Marion, VA 24354
(276) 782-4044
(276) 782-4045
Smyth County website »
Southampton County
22350 Main Street
Courtland, VA 23837
(757) 653-2200
(757) 653-0227
Southampton County website »
Spotsylvania County
9104 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22553
(540) 507-7010
(540) 582-2169
Spotsylvania County website »
Sussex County
15088 Courthouse Road
Sussex, VA 23884
(434) 246-1017
(434) 246-2203
Sussex County website »
Tazewell County
101 East Main Street, Suite 202
Tazewell, VA 24651
(276) 385-1222
(276) 988-7501
Tazewell County website »
Warren County
220 North Commerce Avenue, Suite 100
Front Royal, VA 22630
(540) 635-2435
(540) 636-3274
Warren County website »
Washington County
189 East Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210
(276) 676-6224
(276) 676-6218
Washington County website »
Westmoreland County
175 Polk Street
Montross, VA 22520
(804) 493-0108
(804) 493-0393
Westmoreland County website »
Wythe County
340 South Sixth Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
(276) 223-6050
(276) 223-6057
Wythe County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Virginia
If you have been lucky enough to get the go ahead from the county clerk to perform the marriage, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. We usually advise our ministers in Virginia to get a Classic Wedding Kit and a Letter of Good Standing. This will give you best chance at having your ordination recognized. Please let us know if you make any progress in that regard. Know that we are actively working to clarify the validity of Universal Life Church ordinations in Virginia.
How to Get a Virginia Marriage License
Licenses are issued by the County Clerk's office, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to understand how marriage licenses work in Virginia and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Virginia Beach marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Princess Anne County.
In the state of Virginia, the license is valid for 60 days. There is no waiting period between the time it is picked up, and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Lastly, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 5 days of the ceremony.
How to Perform a Wedding
Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
Finalizing the Marriage
After you perform the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license along with the couple. Your title is 'minister', the ceremony type is 'religious', and the denomination is 'non-denominational'. You will not be required to provide a license number, and witnesses are not required. You may also wish to give the couple a commemorative gift, like a marriage certificate to mark their special day. Last thing: make sure the signed license gets resubmitted to the marriage office before the deadline!
Virginia Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Virginia are primarily directed by Section 20-23 in Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Virginia, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
§ 20-23. Order authorizing ministers to perform ceremony.
When a minister of any religious denomination shall produce before the circuit court of any county or city in this Commonwealth, or before the judge of such court or before the clerk of such court at any time, proof of his ordination and of his being in regular communion with the religious society of which he is a reputed member, or proof that he is commissioned to pastoral ministry or holds a local minister's license and is serving as a regularly appointed pastor in his denomination, such court, or the judge thereof, or the clerk of such court at any time, may make an order authorizing such minister to celebrate the rites of matrimony in this Commonwealth. Any order made under this section may be rescinded at any time by the court or by the judge thereof.