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Just Said Yes June 2025

Officiant not from Virginia, need someone to officially sign the marriage certificate

Felicia, on February 7, 2025 at 2:44 AM Posted in Wedding Ceremony 1 9

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We have a family member performing our wedding. She lives and is ordained in West Virginia. Virginia laws are SUPER strict - she cannot officially sign our marriage certificate. Virginia does not recognize online ordinations. I recall someone, somewhere along the way, giving me a solution and I THINK it had something to do with getting someone else to sign off on the certificate after the fact - county clerk or sheriff or something like that? Can anyone help me remember - How do I officially get our marriage certificate signed since our officiant is not recognized by Virginia?

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9 Comments

Latest activity by Annajean, on February 13, 2025 at 1:03 PM

Master July 2019
Hannah Online · on February 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
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If your officiant is not authorized to validate the legal marriage, then you’ll likely have to go through the legal process in the courthouse or find someone who is legally allowed to perform marriage ceremonies in Virginia and have them there day of the ceremony and just do their legally obligated part and have your friend lead the bulk of the ceremony.
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Champion July 2019
Veronica · on February 7, 2025 at 2:22 PM
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I would think you'd need to have a separate wedding that is performed by an officiant who is legally able to perform weddings in the state of Virginia and then the ceremony you already have planned would just be symbolic.
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Master October 2023
Michael · on February 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
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It probably would be best to have dual officiants together in the ceremony and have the qualified one speak and hear enough of response from you and your fiance to sign the papers. Your family member could join in saying "we now declare you husband and wife." But she would do this on the basis of the qualified officiant.
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Just Said Yes June 2025
Felicia · on February 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
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Yeah, that is what I am thinking. I don't want to make any changes to the ceremony, and I believe we can have the signing taken care of after the ceremony. Thanks for your note.
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Just Said Yes June 2025
Felicia · on February 8, 2025 at 9:07 AM
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I appreciate that as an option, but we don't want to alter our ceremony in any way. I believe I can have the certificate signed by someone qualified in the state of Virginia after the fact. I'm hoping someone from Virginia can confirm this for me. Thanks for your note.
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Super March 2022
JA · on February 8, 2025 at 9:22 PM
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VA used to do one time civil ceremony authorizations. If I were you, I would see if they still do that!
Basically your family member would need to email their county marriage office and ask for the paperwork for this route and then they pay a bond that they will get back once the certificate is returned.
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Dedicated October 2025
Livingbestlyfe · on February 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM
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Yes county clerk can sign. They signed ours.
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Just Said Yes June 2025
Felicia · on February 13, 2025 at 6:12 AM
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I looked that up and found that the family member must reside in the county in order to be able to do that. So I am gonna give the Clerk a call this morning and see what my options are. Thank you for your note.
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