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Making
it Official:
This will cost a total of $100 to the court house ($50 application
fee & $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.
Before you fill this out make sure you completed steps #1 through
#3 on the steps page.
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 to the court (no personal checks accepted)
made out to the "Superior Court of the Virgin Islands".
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 three months ahead of time. If you mail it in any sooner
than that then the court house may missplace it.
They
must be typed or in extremely ledgible neat print (no cursive).
Can be typed on our on line form.
It is also a good idea to enclose a letter stating when
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 completion 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).
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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
or Fed Express then use the address below. You can get tracking
and/or signature confirmation.
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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 court house then 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
(ie talking to a local sales clerk, ordering a burger, getting into
a taxi).
Also 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 a required 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 into 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.
STEP
FOUR: After your wedding return signed papers back to court house.
After your stop to the court house then you can get married!
After your ceremony your minister & 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 but you will have to wait a few weeks to
get your final paperwork in the mail.
Thank
you for making our island wedding dream
come true. We went from planning a wedding party
with 300 guests to the two of us on a tropical beach with an
iguana as our only guest!
Sam & Lisa Turner, NJ
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