{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/20-20.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/20-20.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/20-20.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/20-20.html"}],"law_id":353632,"edition_id":2,"section_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","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 5074, 5076; 1928, p. 315; 1938, p. 152; 1968, c. 318.","full_text":"The clerk to whom the license and certificate are returned, shall file and preserve the original in his office, and make an index of the names of both of the parties married.\n\nWhen the certificates of such person celebrating such marriage are returned to the clerk, and recorded as provided in this section and \u00a7 32.1-267, copies of the same properly certified by the clerk lawfully having the custody thereof or properly certified by the State Registrar of Vital Records shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein set forth in all courts of this Commonwealth.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1317518,"text":"The clerk to whom the license and certificate are returned, shall file and preserve the original in his office, and make an index of the names of both of the parties married.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1317519,"text":"When the certificates of such person celebrating such marriage are returned to the clerk, and recorded as provided in this section and \u00a7 32.1-267, copies of the same properly certified by the clerk lawfully having the custody thereof or properly certified by the State Registrar of Vital Records shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein set forth in all courts of this Commonwealth.","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":353613,"structure_id":50625,"section_number":"20-17","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/20-17\/","token":"20\/2\/20-17","metadata":false},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/20-20\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 1968, chapter 318.<\/p>","references":[{"id":350001,"section_number":"17.1-233","catch_line":"What to be recorded in marriage register","order_by":null,"url":"\/17.1-233\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":359358,"section_number":"32.1-267","catch_line":"Records of marriages; duties of officer issuing marriage license and person officiating at ceremony; blocking of social security number","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-267\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1405219,"object_type":"law","relational_id":353632,"identifier":"20-20","token":"20\/2\/20-20","url":"\/20-20\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/20-20\/","token":"20\/2\/20-20","dublin_core":{"Title":"Clerk to file license and certificate; indexing names of parties; certified copies as evidence","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 20-20","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The clerk to whom the license and certificate are returned, shall file and preserve the original in his office, and make an index of the names of both of the parties married.<\/p><p>When the certificates of such person celebrating such marriage are returned to the clerk, and recorded as provided in this section and \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Records of marriages; duties of officer issuing marriage license and person officiating at ceremony; blocking of social security number\" href=\"\/32.1-267\/\">32.1-267<\/a>, copies of the same properly certified by the clerk lawfully having the <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span> thereof or properly certified by the State Registrar of Vital Records shall be prima facie <span class=\"dictionary\">evidence<\/span> of the <span class=\"dictionary\">facts<\/span> therein set forth in all <span class=\"dictionary\">courts<\/span> of this Commonwealth.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCLERK TO FILE LICENSE AND CERTIFICATE; INDEXING NAMES OF PARTIES; CERTIFIED\nCOPIES AS EVIDENCE (\u00a7 20-20)\n\nThe clerk to whom the license and certificate are returned, shall file and\npreserve the original in his office, and make an index of the names of both of\nthe parties married.\n\nWhen the certificates of such person celebrating such marriage are returned to\nthe clerk, and recorded as provided in this section and \u00a7 32.1-267, copies of\nthe same properly certified by the clerk lawfully having the custody thereof or\nproperly certified by the State Registrar of Vital Records shall be prima facie\nevidence of the facts therein set forth in all courts of this Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7\u00a7 5074, 5076; 1928, p. 315; 1938, p. 152; 1968, c. 318.","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"}}