West Virginia Marriage License: Cost and Requirements

License fee

$55 (W. Va. Code 59-1-10(c))

A $55 fee is set by state law, so it should be the same in every county. Kanawha County's page blocks automated checks and could not be verified.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Premarital course discount

$20 off, $35 with course

The fee drops to $35 ($20 off) with a certificate from a premarital course of at least 4 hours taken in the past 12 months (48-2-701). The course does not affect any wait, since there is none.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Waiting period

No waiting period

The waiting-period section was repealed in 2023 (HB3018), so there is no wait.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

How long the license is valid

60 days

The license is valid for 60 days from issuance.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Minimum age and parental consent

16 with consent; 18 without

16- and 17-year-olds can marry with their own and a parent's or guardian's written consent, but not to someone more than 4 years older. No one under 16 may marry.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

What to bring

Accepted proof of age: certified birth certificate, voter registration card, driver's license, parents' affidavit or other good evidence. The application also asks for Social Security numbers (48-2-104).

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Do both of you have to appear?

Yes

Both parties sign under oath before the clerk or another official who can give oaths. The statute title mentions mail applications, but the current text does not explain how they work.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Who can officiate

Only registered religious representatives and judges may officiate. The law makes no self-uniting option.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Out-of-state couples

There is no residency requirement; couples can apply in any county.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Who issues the license

County clerk (clerk of the county commission)

The county clerk (clerk of the county commission) issues licenses.

Source: code.wvlegislature.gov