Providing Records of Previous Marriages to the Travis County Clerk

When getting married in Virginia, you will be asked to provide records of previous marriages to the Travis County Clerk. Divorce, annulment, and/or widow or widower status will need to be shown before you can get your new marriage license. If you have never been married before, this is no problem, but if you do have a past marriage, you will need the proper documentation of its dissolution.

To the Travis County Clerk, divorce is not an issue unless the divorce has not yet been finalized. While Virginia has no waiting period for remarriage following a divorce, you can not remarry during a separation period or while the divorce is being arbitrated. You will need to show proof of a final judgment in the case to get your new marriage license.

Since you will also need to bring witnesses to sign the marriage application, this is not a situation where you can just tick a box on the form and have it processed without a bit of notice. All cards will need to be on the table and no surprises, or the form may not be granted and you’ll have to try again for the marriage license. Clerks in Virginia have the right to refuse on forms to which they object, for any reason, including religious.

For most, presenting the Travis County Clerk divorce records in sufficient detail to get a marriage license should not be an issue. You can bring in a printed copy of the judgment. It is not required that it be a notarized copy, but if you have that it is best to bring it. They can be checked against public records databases if needed to verify dates and details. Once it is done, you will get your new marriage license the same day.