{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/20-13.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/20-13.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/20-13.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/20-13.2.html"}],"law_id":353544,"edition_id":2,"section_id":353544,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-13.2","catch_line":"Marriage lawful regardless of sex, gender, or race of parties","history":"2024, cc. 21, 760.","full_text":"No person authorized by \u00a7 20-14 to issue a marriage license shall deny the issuance of such license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. Such lawful marriages shall be recognized in the Commonwealth regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the parties.\n\nReligious organizations and members of the clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1317125,"text":"No person authorized by \u00a7 20-14 to issue a marriage license shall deny the issuance of such license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. Such lawful marriages shall be recognized in the Commonwealth regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the parties.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1317126,"text":"Religious organizations and members of the clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":50625,"edition_id":2,"name":"Marriage Generally","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50619,"metadata":{"child_laws":29,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:16","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:49","permalink":{"id":1405177,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50625,"identifier":"2","token":"20\/2","url":"\/20\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50619,"edition_id":2,"name":"Domestic Relations","identifier":"20","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":56,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":329,"child_structures":36},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:30:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:49","permalink":{"id":1405077,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50619,"identifier":"20","token":"20","url":"\/20\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":353545,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-13","catch_line":"License and solemnization required","url":"\/20-13\/","token":"20\/2\/20-13","metadata":false},{"id":353543,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-13.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-13.1\/","token":"20\/2\/20-13.1","metadata":false},{"id":353544,"structure_id":50625,"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":353548,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-14","catch_line":"By whom license to be issued","url":"\/20-14\/","token":"20\/2\/20-14","metadata":false},{"id":353546,"structure_id":50625,"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":353547,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-14.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-14.2\/","token":"20\/2\/20-14.2","metadata":false},{"id":353590,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-15","catch_line":"Tax on license","url":"\/20-15\/","token":"20\/2\/20-15","metadata":false},{"id":353602,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-16","catch_line":"Issuance of marriage licenses and marriage certificates","url":"\/20-16\/","token":"20\/2\/20-16","metadata":false},{"id":353601,"structure_id":50625,"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":353613,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-17","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-17\/","token":"20\/2\/20-17","metadata":false},{"id":353632,"structure_id":50625,"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":353633,"structure_id":50625,"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":353634,"structure_id":50625,"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":353635,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-23","catch_line":"Order authorizing ministers to perform ceremony","url":"\/20-23\/","token":"20\/2\/20-23","metadata":false},{"id":353636,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-24","catch_line":"Penalty for failure to certify record of marriage","url":"\/20-24\/","token":"20\/2\/20-24","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"United States v. O'Shea","case_number":"No. 15-1245","citation":"610 F. App'x 285","date":"2015-07-27","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8694603\/united-states-v-oshea\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"Jacob Lynn Patterson v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1909123","citation":"62 Va. App. 488","date":"2013-11-05","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2641294\/jacob-lynn-patterson-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. BEALES, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"Doe v. Fairfax Cnty. Sch. Bd.","case_number":"1:18-cv-846 (LMB\/TCB)","citation":"384 F. Supp. 3d 598","date":"2019-05-29","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7336265\/doe-v-fairfax-cnty-sch-bd\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Leonie M. Brinkema, United States District Judge .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"},"3":{"name":"WTGD 105.1 FM v. SoundExchange, Inc.","case_number":"Civil Action No. 5:14cv00015","citation":"88 F. Supp. 3d 580","date":"2015-02-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7312125\/wtgd-1051-fm-v-soundexchange-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MEMORANDUM OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"},"4":{"name":"Joseph Alfonso Papol v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1765121","citation":"63 Va. App. 150","date":"2014-03-18","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2656977\/joseph-alfonso-papol-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. KELSEY, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Taylor v. Cardiology Clinic, Inc.","case_number":"Case No. 4:14-cv-00046","citation":"195 F. Supp. 3d 865","date":"2016-07-19","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7321104\/taylor-v-cardiology-clinic-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MEMORANDUM OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"},"6":{"name":"Tiziano M. Scarabelli, M.D. v. Kenneth Ellenbogen, M.D.","case_number":"0421222","citation":null,"date":"2023-05-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9396014\/tiziano-m-scarabelli-md-v-kenneth-ellenbogen-md\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"Doud v. Com.","case_number":"100285","citation":"717 S.E.2d 124","date":"2011-09-16","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058000\/doud-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 717 S.E.2d 124 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"John E. Nestler, M.D. v. Tiziano Scarabelli, M.D.","case_number":"0497222","citation":null,"date":"2023-05-02","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9396017\/john-e-nestler-md-v-tiziano-scarabelli-md\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Roop v. Whitt","case_number":"140836","citation":null,"date":"2015-02-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2782324\/roop-v-whitt\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: Lemons, C.J., Goodwyn, Millette, Mims, and .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":353637,"structure_id":50625,"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":353638,"structure_id":50625,"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":353639,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-27","catch_line":"Fee for celebrating marriage","url":"\/20-27\/","token":"20\/2\/20-27","metadata":false},{"id":353640,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-28","catch_line":"Penalty for celebrating marriage without license","url":"\/20-28\/","token":"20\/2\/20-28","metadata":false},{"id":353641,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-29","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-29\/","token":"20\/2\/20-29","metadata":false},{"id":353642,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-30","catch_line":"Licenses of persons on federal reservations","url":"\/20-30\/","token":"20\/2\/20-30","metadata":false},{"id":353644,"structure_id":50625,"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":353643,"structure_id":50625,"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":353645,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-32","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-32\/","token":"20\/2\/20-32","metadata":false},{"id":353646,"structure_id":50625,"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":353647,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-34","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-34\/","token":"20\/2\/20-34","metadata":false},{"id":353650,"structure_id":50625,"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":353648,"structure_id":50625,"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":353649,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-37.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-37.2\/","token":"20\/2\/20-37.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":353543,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-13.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-13.1\/","token":"20\/2\/20-13.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":353548,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-14","catch_line":"By whom license to be issued","url":"\/20-14\/","token":"20\/2\/20-14","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-13.2\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 2024. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?241+ful+CHAP0021\">21<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?241+ful+CHAP0760\">760<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":353548,"section_number":"20-14","catch_line":"By whom license to be issued","order_by":null,"url":"\/20-14\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1405187,"object_type":"law","relational_id":353544,"identifier":"20-13.2","token":"20\/2\/20-13.2","url":"\/20-13.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-13.2\/","token":"20\/2\/20-13.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Marriage lawful regardless of sex, gender, or race of parties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-13.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>No person authorized by \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"By whom license to be issued\" href=\"\/20-14\/\">20-14<\/a> to <span class=\"dictionary\">issue<\/span> a marriage license shall deny the issuance of such license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the basis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. Such lawful marriages shall be recognized in the Commonwealth regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the parties.<\/p><p>Religious organizations and members of the clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMARRIAGE LAWFUL REGARDLESS OF SEX, GENDER, OR RACE OF PARTIES (\u00a7 20-13.2)\n\nNo person authorized by \u00a7 20-14 to issue a marriage license shall deny the\nissuance of such license to two parties contemplating a lawful marriage on the\nbasis of the sex, gender, or race of such parties. Such lawful marriages shall\nbe recognized in the Commonwealth regardless of the sex, gender, or race of the\nparties.\n\nReligious organizations and members of the clergy acting in their religious\ncapacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.\n\nHISTORY: 2024, cc. 21, 760.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}