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2023 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 20-25 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 20-25. Persons other than ministers who may perform rites.
Upon petition filed with the clerk and payment of applicable
clerk's fees, any circuit court judge may issue an order authorizing one or
more persons resident in the circuit in which the judge sits to
celebrate the rites of marriage in the Commonwealth. Any person so authorized
shall, before acting, enter into bond in the penalty of $500, with or without
surety, as the court may direct; however, upon a showing that
the person would otherwise be qualified for in forma pauperis status, the court
may waive such bond. Any order made under this section may be rescinded at
any time. No oath shall be required of a person authorized to celebrate the
rites of marriage, nor shall such person be considered an officer of the
Commonwealth by virtue of such authorization.
Any judge or justice of a court of record, any judge of a
district court, any retired judge or justice of the Commonwealth, any active,
senior, or retired federal judge or justice who is a resident of the
Commonwealth, and or any current (i) member of the General
Assembly, (ii) Governor of Virginia, (iii) Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and
or (iv) Attorney General of Virginia may celebrate the rites of marriage
anywhere in the Commonwealth without the necessity of bond or order of
authorization.
2. That the State Registrar shall amend the form furnished for a marriage license to include as the celebrant on such marriage license any person authorized by § 20-25 of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, to perform rites of marriage.