{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/20-27.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/20-27.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/20-27.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/20-27.html"}],"law_id":68541,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68541,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-27","catch_line":"Fee for celebrating marriage","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 5083; 1970, c. 362; 1975, c. 644; 1993, cc. 941, 966; 2006, c. 625; 2014, c. 529; 2020, c. 181.","full_text":"Any person authorized under \u00a7 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. Such person and parties may negotiate payment for any additional services agreed to by the celebrant and the parties. Additionally, such person shall be permitted to charge the parties travel expenses to and from the marriage site. If conveyance is by public transportation, reimbursement shall be at the actual cost thereof. If conveyance is by private transportation, reimbursement shall be at the rate specified in the current general appropriations act of the Commonwealth. In either event, the actual cost of the ceremony together with travel expenses shall be given to the parties at least three days prior to the marriage ceremony.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":248116,"text":"Any person authorized under \u00a7 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. Such person and parties may negotiate payment for any additional services agreed to by the celebrant and the parties. Additionally, such person shall be permitted to charge the parties travel expenses to and from the marriage site. If conveyance is by public transportation, reimbursement shall be at the actual cost thereof. If conveyance is by private transportation, reimbursement shall be at the rate specified in the current general appropriations act of the Commonwealth. In either event, the actual cost of the ceremony together with travel expenses shall be given to the parties at least three days prior to the marriage ceremony.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14353,"edition_id":1,"name":"Marriage Generally","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12711,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:51","permalink":{"id":178175,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14353,"identifier":"2","token":"20\/2","url":"\/20\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12711,"edition_id":1,"name":"Domestic Relations","identifier":"20","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":178075,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12711,"identifier":"20","token":"20","url":"\/20\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66582,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-13","catch_line":"License and solemnization required","url":"\/20-13\/","token":"20\/2\/20-13","metadata":false},{"id":86644,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-13.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-13.1\/","token":"20\/2\/20-13.1","metadata":false},{"id":71545,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-13.2","catch_line":"Marriage lawful regardless of sex, gender, or race of parties","url":"\/20-13.2\/","token":"20\/2\/20-13.2","metadata":false},{"id":55668,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-14","catch_line":"By whom license to be issued","url":"\/20-14\/","token":"20\/2\/20-14","metadata":false},{"id":83362,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-14.1","catch_line":"Duration of license; issuance of additional licenses","url":"\/20-14.1\/","token":"20\/2\/20-14.1","metadata":false},{"id":67609,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-14.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-14.2\/","token":"20\/2\/20-14.2","metadata":false},{"id":58474,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-15","catch_line":"Tax on license","url":"\/20-15\/","token":"20\/2\/20-15","metadata":false},{"id":63291,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-16","catch_line":"Issuance of marriage licenses and marriage certificates","url":"\/20-16\/","token":"20\/2\/20-16","metadata":false},{"id":84838,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-16.1","catch_line":"Clerk authorized to amend marriage records","url":"\/20-16.1\/","token":"20\/2\/20-16.1","metadata":false},{"id":69817,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-17","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-17\/","token":"20\/2\/20-17","metadata":false},{"id":80336,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-20","catch_line":"Clerk to file license and certificate; indexing names of parties; certified copies as evidence","url":"\/20-20\/","token":"20\/2\/20-20","metadata":false},{"id":60626,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-21","catch_line":"Clerk to furnish attorney for the Commonwealth list of licenses not returned by minister","url":"\/20-21\/","token":"20\/2\/20-21","metadata":false},{"id":78649,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-22","catch_line":"Attorney for the Commonwealth to ascertain before circuit court name of minister failing to return certificates","url":"\/20-22\/","token":"20\/2\/20-22","metadata":false},{"id":58372,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-23","catch_line":"Order authorizing ministers to perform ceremony","url":"\/20-23\/","token":"20\/2\/20-23","metadata":false},{"id":69426,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-24","catch_line":"Penalty for failure to certify record of marriage","url":"\/20-24\/","token":"20\/2\/20-24","metadata":false},{"id":79164,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-25","catch_line":"Persons other than ministers who may perform rites","url":"\/20-25\/","token":"20\/2\/20-25","metadata":false},{"id":66369,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-26","catch_line":"Marriage between members of religious society having no minister","url":"\/20-26\/","token":"20\/2\/20-26","metadata":false},{"id":68541,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-27","catch_line":"Fee for celebrating marriage","url":"\/20-27\/","token":"20\/2\/20-27","metadata":false},{"id":80371,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-28","catch_line":"Penalty for celebrating marriage without license","url":"\/20-28\/","token":"20\/2\/20-28","metadata":false},{"id":59731,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-29","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-29\/","token":"20\/2\/20-29","metadata":false},{"id":71366,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-30","catch_line":"Licenses of persons on federal reservations","url":"\/20-30\/","token":"20\/2\/20-30","metadata":false},{"id":76357,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-31","catch_line":"Belief of parties in lawful marriage validates certain defects","url":"\/20-31\/","token":"20\/2\/20-31","metadata":false},{"id":73616,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-31.1","catch_line":"When marriage legitimates children; issue of marriages prohibited by law, etc., legitimate","url":"\/20-31.1\/","token":"20\/2\/20-31.1","metadata":false},{"id":69033,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-32","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-32\/","token":"20\/2\/20-32","metadata":false},{"id":83541,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-33","catch_line":"Penalty for clerk issuing license contrary to law","url":"\/20-33\/","token":"20\/2\/20-33","metadata":false},{"id":66607,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-34","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-34\/","token":"20\/2\/20-34","metadata":false},{"id":81401,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-37","catch_line":"Validation of certain marriages when license issued by clerk of county court","url":"\/20-37\/","token":"20\/2\/20-37","metadata":false},{"id":83218,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-37.1","catch_line":"Validation of certain marriages solemnized outside of Commonwealth","url":"\/20-37.1\/","token":"20\/2\/20-37.1","metadata":false},{"id":72912,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-37.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-37.2\/","token":"20\/2\/20-37.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":66369,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-26","catch_line":"Marriage between members of religious society having no minister","url":"\/20-26\/","token":"20\/2\/20-26","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":80371,"structure_id":14353,"section_number":"20-28","catch_line":"Penalty for celebrating marriage without license","url":"\/20-28\/","token":"20\/2\/20-28","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-27\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 362; in 1975, chapter 644; in 1993, chapters 941 and 966; in 2006, chapter 625<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 529<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 181<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":79164,"section_number":"20-25","catch_line":"Persons other than ministers who may perform rites","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-25\/"}],"permalink":{"id":178245,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68541,"identifier":"20-27","token":"20\/2\/20-27","url":"\/20-27\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-27\/","token":"20\/2\/20-27","dublin_core":{"Title":"Fee for celebrating marriage","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-27","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Any person authorized under \u00a7 20-25<\/a> 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. Such person and parties may negotiate payment for any additional services agreed to by the celebrant and the parties. Additionally, such person shall be permitted to charge the parties travel expenses to and from the marriage site. If conveyance is by public transportation, reimbursement shall be at the actual cost thereof. If conveyance is by private transportation, reimbursement shall be at the rate specified in the current general appropriations act of the Commonwealth. In either event, the actual cost of the ceremony together with travel expenses shall be given to the parties at least three days prior to the marriage ceremony.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFEE FOR CELEBRATING MARRIAGE (\u00a7 20-27)\n\nAny person authorized under \u00a7 20-25 to celebrate the rites of marriage shall be\npermitted to charge the parties a fee for the ceremony not to exceed $75 for\neach ceremony. Such person and parties may negotiate payment for any additional\nservices agreed to by the celebrant and the parties. Additionally, such person\nshall be permitted to charge the parties travel expenses to and from the\nmarriage site. If conveyance is by public transportation, reimbursement shall be\nat the actual cost thereof. If conveyance is by private transportation,\nreimbursement shall be at the rate specified in the current general\nappropriations act of the Commonwealth. In either event, the actual cost of the\nceremony together with travel expenses shall be given to the parties at least\nthree days prior to the marriage ceremony.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 5083; 1970, c. 362; 1975, c. 644; 1993, cc. 941, 966;\n2006, c. 625; 2014, c. 529; 2020, c. 181.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}