Summary of West Virginia Laws.

The first step in the process of getting married is to go to the Courthouse and get a license.  This summary, provided by the Universal Life Church, will tell you how:

Getting Married in West Virginia

Marriage By Proxy Allowed:No
Minister Required to be Present:Yes
Number of Witnesses Required:None
Min. Age of Witnesses:N/A
Couple's Consent Required:Yes
Pronouncement Required:Yes

West Virginia allows couples plenty of leeway to design a wedding ceremony to their liking. The state has only a few broad requirements for a wedding ceremony to be binding.

Each partner must declare his or her consent to the marriage, such as, “I do.”

Each partner and the minister must be physically present for the duration of the ceremony. West Virginia does not require witnesses.

The minister must pronounce the couple’s consent.

West Virginia Marriage Requirements

Min. Age of Couple: Age 18 or Age 16 with Guardian Consent
Residency: Not Required
Min. Distance of Kin Allowed: Second Cousins
Marriage Equality: Yes

Couples from all around the world can get married in West Virginia, including same-sex couples; neither party is required to live in the state. However, out-of-state couples cannot be married here if their marriage would be unlawful in their home state.

No blood testing is required, but each partner must certify that they are not blood relatives, although marriage between second cousins or more distant relatives is permitted. A couple who is related by way of adoption may request that a court examine their adoption records to determine whether they can legally marry one another.

Each partner must be at least 18 years old, although minors who are at least 16 years of age may get married if they have a valid, written affidavit of consent from a parent or other legal guardian. In some circumstances, minors who are younger than 16 years old may get married, but this requires a court order from a circuit judge.

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Applying For a Marriage License in West Virginia

ULC-Officiated Ceremony Type: Religious
Mandatory Waiting Period: None
License Valid For: 60 Days
License Must Be Submitted: Within 6 Days of Ceremony

Couples in West Virginia receive their marriage license on the same day they apply for it, with one exception: If either partner is younger than 18 years old, the couple must wait at least three calendar days after applying before the clerk issues the license. The wedding ceremony make take place on the same day that the marriage license is issued or at any time within 60 days after the issue date. If no lawful wedding ceremony takes place within 60 days, the license becomes void.

West Virginia law permits the couple to choose either a civil or religious ceremony to solemnize their marriage. Couples should note that any ceremony conducted by Michael C. Sheridan,  a ULC minister, is considered a religious ceremony. The minister's legal authority to officiate the ceremony is derived from his or her ordination by Universal Life Church Ministries, a designated religious actor.

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How to Get a West Virginia Marriage License

Who Picks Up License: The Couple
Where License is Valid: Any County in West Virginia
Marriage License Pick-Up: In Person Only
Cost of License: $56.00
Accepted I.D. Types: Standard Government Issued
Proof of Divorce Required (If Applicable): No
Blood Test Required: No

A couple may apply for a marriage license in any West Virginia county. Both partners must appear in person at the office of their chosen county clerk. Each partner must present valid, government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license, voter ID, or birth certificate. Non-US citizens may provide a visa or other official immigration paperwork.

If either partner has previously been married, he or she will need to disclose the exact date on which the prior marriage ended as well as whether it was terminated by death or divorce. A copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is not ordinarily required.

The couple must pay a $56 application fee. The fee is reduced to $36 if the couple presents a certificate of completion from a premarital counseling course.