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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79164</law_id><section_number>20-25</section_number><catch_line>Persons other than ministers who may perform rites</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-69.19</reference><reference>17.1-275</reference><reference>19.2-37</reference><reference>20-24</reference><reference>20-27</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="20">Domestic Relations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Marriage Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon <span class="dictionary">petition</span> filed with the clerk and payment of applicable clerk&#x2019;s fees, any <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> <span class="dictionary">judge</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an <span class="dictionary">order</span> authorizing one or more persons resident in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">judge</span> sits to celebrate the rites of marriage in the Commonwealth. Any person so authorized shall, before acting, enter into <span class="dictionary">bond</span> in the <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> of $500, with or without <span class="dictionary">surety</span>, as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may direct; however, upon a showing that the person would otherwise be qualified for <span class="dictionary">in forma pauperis</span> status, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">waive</span> such <span class="dictionary">bond</span>. Any <span class="dictionary">order</span> made under this section may be rescinded at any time. No <span class="dictionary">oath</span> shall be required of a person authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage, nor shall such person be considered an officer of the Commonwealth by virtue of such authorization.
		Any <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or justice of a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of record, any <span class="dictionary">judge</span> of a district <span class="dictionary">court</span>, any retired <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or justice of the Commonwealth, any active, senior, or retired federal <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or justice who is a resident of the Commonwealth, or any current or former (i) member of the General Assembly, (ii) Governor of Virginia, (iii) Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, (iv) <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> of Virginia, (v) Virginia member of the United States Senate or United States House of Representatives, or (vi) clerk of a <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the Commonwealth who is a resident of the Commonwealth may celebrate the rites of marriage anywhere in the Commonwealth without the necessity of <span class="dictionary">bond</span> or <span class="dictionary">order</span> of authorization.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 5080; 1938, c. 152; 1981, c. 295; 1981, Sp. Sess., c. 15; 1983, c. 64; 1985, c. 195; 1987, c. 149; 2003, c. 228; 2004, cc. 612, 680; 2012, c. 802; 2016, c. 611; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 87; 2023, c. 789; 2024, cc. 412, 499.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
