Marriages between persons belonging to any religious society which has no ordained minister, may be solemnized by the persons and in the manner prescribed by and practiced in any such society. One person chosen by the society shall be responsible for completing the certification of marriage in the same manner as a minister or other person authorized to perform marriages; such person chosen by the society for this purpose shall be required to execute a bond in the penalty of $500, with surety. 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.
Va. Code Ann. § 20-26
Marriage between members of religious society having no minister
Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case In re Kooiman (1998)
Most recently applied in In re Dhanoa (March 2013)
Code 1919, § 5081; 1968, c. 318; 1981, c. 295; 2016, c. 611.
Official source: Virginia Law Portal (LIS). Reproduced from public-domain Virginia statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.