Rep. Randy Forbes seeks one-time shot to perform nuptials

CHESAPEAKE

Randy Forbes serves many roles: husband, father, lawyer, United States congressman representing Virginia’s 4th District. For one day in June, he’ll add another: wedding officiant.

Forbes has applied for permission to perform a civil marriage ceremony under one of Virginia’s perhaps lesser-known laws. The state’s Circuit Court judges may grant such one-time authority to nonclergy who live in the jurisdiction, who aren’t felons, and who post a $500 bond.

With the authority comes permission to charge a fee of up to $50 plus travel expenses. Any resident judge, active or retired, also may perform weddings, and they don’t have to post bonds.

Such requests from lay people don’t happen often, Chesapeake Circuit Court Clerk Faye Mitchell said. Until this past year, those interested would send requests directly to the judges, she said. Now there is a formal application process – the form is available online at tinyurl.com/3pxfjko – with an $84 fee.

The bond, returned after the wedding, is to ensure the would-be officiants know the legal requirements for completing and filing marriage licenses, Mitchell said. “It just kind of weeds out all the not-so-serious people,” she said.

Virginia is indeed serious about its weddings: Performing one without a license or the court’s OK will land you a mandatory jail term of up to a year, plus a fine of up to $500. A Forbes spokesman in Washington said the congressman was asked to perform the marriage ceremony for a nephew.

Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-5221, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com