This will cost a total of $100 to the court house ($50 application
fee plus $50 licence fee).
Getting married in the US Virgin Islands is easy with minimal paperwork. You will not need a blood test or a physical. Make sure you have completed steps #1 through
#3 before you arrive at Magens Beach .
For the official court house paperwork follow these steps:
STEP
ONE - Download, fill out, and mail forms -along with $100 certified
check or money order made out to the "Superior Court of the Virgin Islands" - to the Court (no personal checks accepted).
Download the Marriage License and application forms and fill them
out (below). You
will need to have this paperwork in the court house at least 8 business
days before your wedding date. It is good to mail the paperwork
in one to two months ahead of time. If you mail it in any sooner
than that then the court house may misplace it.
Forms
must be typed or in extremely legible neat print (no cursive).
Can be typed on our on line form.
If you are divorced you need to send your most recent Certified
Divorce Decree in English (with a raised seal or stamped certified
copy) signed by the judge from the court in which you were divorced
(not just a notarized copy). Your divorce must be final and
dated thirty days prior to your wedding date if contested
or by default. No exceptions. If either spouse
is widowed, you will need a certified, stamped copy of
your spouse's death certificate. If you have questions regarding
the divorce decrees, call the court house.
After completing the forms, mail them along with a $100 certified check or money order made out to the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. If you are from Canada, make sure your money order is from a bank and not the post office or it will be sent back.
Send by Priority Mail - get tracking but not signature confirmation (no one will be there to sign and it will come back to you).
| Superior
Court of the Virgin Islands P.O. Box 70 St. Thomas, USVI 00804 |
If you are cutting it close to the date and want to send it Express Mail or Fed Ex then use the address below. You can get tracking and/or signature confirmation.
| Superior
Court of the Virgin Islands 5400 Veterans Drive St. Thomas, USVI 00802 |
STEP TWO: Call Court House for your ref#
A few days after you mail the forms to the court house, call them at 340-774-6680 (ext 6207 or ask for marriage licence department) to verify that your paperwork has arrived and that everything is in order.
To get better service always start your phone conversation with "good morning" or "good afternoon" - this is a local custom that you will find useful on St. Thomas before handling any business (i.e. talking to a local sales clerk, ordering a meal, getting into a taxi).
Ask them for the ref # for your marriage license - write this down as you will need it when you go to the court house when you get on island. If they have not assigned a ref # at the time of your call ask them when you should call them back for it.
Also verify if your wedding date falls on a government holiday or a Virgin Island holiday. If it does, ask for special instructions.
After the completed Marriage Licence and application is received via mail in the island courts, there is an eight-day waiting period before you are allowed to get married. This rule can be waived if you ask.
STEP THREE: On St. Thomas go to court house before wedding.
Once you arrive on St. Thomas, a quick trip to the courthouse is required to pick up your marriage license in person. You will need to bring your photo ID for your appearance before the Clerk of the Court (Driver's License or Passport). Have your ref# on hand. Both bride and groom are required to appear. Again, remember to say "good morning" or "good afternoon" before getting down to business.The courts are open:
8 to 5 Monday to Friday
Saturday 10am to noon.
Sunday 9:30am to 11am.
Holidays - varies - need to call to verify.
After your stop to the court house, then you can get married!
STEP FOUR: After your wedding, return signed papers back to court house.
After your ceremony your minister and witnesses will sign your papers. One of the signed papers needs to be returned to the court house. It is recommended that you go back to the court house after the ceremony to get your final paperwork. Your minister can do this for you for an extra $25 (cash only) but you will have to wait a few weeks to get your final paperwork in the mail.
Michelle and