                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PERSONS OTHER THAN MINISTERS WHO MAY PERFORM RITES (§ 20-25)

Upon petition filed with the clerk and payment of applicable clerk&#8217;s fees,
any circuit court judge may issue an order authorizing one or more persons
resident in the circuit in which the judge sits to celebrate the rites of
marriage in the Commonwealth. Any person so authorized shall, before acting,
enter into bond in the penalty of $500, with or without surety, as the court may
direct; however, upon a showing that the person would otherwise be qualified for
in forma pauperis status, the court may waive such bond. Any order made under
this section may be rescinded at any time. No oath 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 judge or justice of a court of record, any judge of a district court, any
retired judge or justice of the Commonwealth, any active, senior, or retired
federal judge 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) Attorney General of Virginia, (v) Virginia
member of the United States Senate or United States House of Representatives, or
(vi) clerk of a circuit court of the Commonwealth who is a resident of the
Commonwealth may celebrate the rites of marriage anywhere in the Commonwealth
without the necessity of bond or order of authorization.

HISTORY: Code 1919, § 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.