First Name: Last Name: Pennsylvania Wedding Officiants

Marriage Laws United States Pennsylvania Wedding Officiants

How to Apply for a Marriage License in Pennsylvania

Erie Pennsylvania Area Courthouses

Northwest Pennsylvania Wilds Courthouses

Susquehanna Valley Pennsylvania Courthouses

Poconos & Northeast Pennsylvania Courthouses

Lehigh Valley & Philadelphia Courthouses

Central Pennsylvania & Dutch County Courthouses

Southwest Pennsylvania County Courthouses

Pittsburgh Pennsylvania County Courthouses

The following information is a summary of marriage license requirements under Pennsylvania law. Please read all of the information before you leave to apply for a marriage license application. If you have any questions please contact the Clerk of Orphans' Court office and they will be happy to answer your questions in more detail.

Marriage license Laws in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the Pennsylvania marriage laws before filling out the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania marriage license application.

The Marriage License Bureau is part of the Clerk of the Orhpans Court. The following are the legal requirements for obtaining a marriage license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Below is a list of marriage license offices in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The definition of Marriage in the Commonwealth of PA is as follows: "Marriage," A civil contract by which one man and one woman take each other for husband and wife." 23(Pa C.S.A.1102)

The legal age for marriage is 18 years old. Couples under 18 must have parental consent. Pennsylvania residency is not required. Couples need to apply for and sign the marriage license together.
It is suggested that you apply 2-4 weeks prior to the marriage date. The license is valid for 60 days and there is a three-day waiting period to obtain it.

No general health requirements or blood tests are required. If previously married, you must present a divorce decree and may be required to present a death certificate.

Some counties require knowledge of parents' residency, place of birth and occupations. All offices are open Monday through Friday.

Requirements vary as each county in Pennsylvania have their own marriage license fees. Please contact the appropriate Clerk of Orphans' Court office to verify current fees and regulations for obtaining a marriage license.

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Pennsylvania Marriage License Guidelines:

1. Each applicant for a marriage license must appear in person before the Clerk of Orphans' Court in order to complete the application for a license.


2. There is a three day waiting period between the application for a marriage license and the issuance of the same, except in case of extraordinary circumstances when a Judge of the Orphans' Court may waive this requirement and authorize a license to be issued at any time before the third day following the making of the application.
   
   You can request a waiver of the waiting period. This may be obtained by phone, in the office or by mail. Send a letter as early as possible addressed to the County Register, requesting a Waiver and your reason why. Your letter should contain both names, a telephone number, proof of your wedding date (a wedding invitation will work), and a return address so a letter of confirmation to be sent to you. There is an additional fee for this service.


3. If either applicant is under the age of eighteen years, the consent of a parent or guardian is required.


4. If either applicant is under the age of sixteen years, the consent of a parent or guardian is required and a Judge of the Clerk of Orphans' Court shall decide that it is to the best interest of such applicant and shall authorize the Clerk of Orphans' Court to issue this license.


5. If either applicant has been previously married and that marriage was dissolved by divorce, a copy of the divorce decree must be presented at the time of application. If the previous marriage was dissolved by death, the date of death is required.


6. You both will be asked for the following information: full name, address, social security number, date and place of birth, highest level of education, occupation, birth parent's names, addresses, place of birth and occupations.


7. A marriage license is valid for a period of sixty days following its issuance.


8. Fees for a marriage license varies by county, and is required at the time of application. Please check with your Clerk of Orphans' Court office for current marriage license fees.


9. A form of photo identification is required at the time of application.


10. A marriage license issued anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is only valid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The marriage license cannot be used in other states.


11. Pennsylvania has no provision for the registration of officiants to perform marriages. Selection of and arrangements for an Officiant to perform the marriage ceremony are the responsibility of the applicants. Applicants are advised that persons who have been ordained over the internet may not be persons permitted to perform marriages in Pennsylvania. A recent Court decision held that persons ordained over the Internet are not ministers as defined in the marriage law of Pennsylvania IF they do not regularly preach to a congregation that regularly meets at a place of worship. You are advised to consult an attorney concerning the legality of such marriages. Click here for policy concerning officiants of marriages.

Policy Statement:

Pennsylvania is one of 37 states that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Therefore, no Clerk of Orphans' Court in Pennsylvania will be issuing any marriage license to anyone except one man and one woman.

Since this is the law in Pennsylvania, all Clerks must uphold Pennsylvania Law.

Adopted: July 27, 2004

Six states currently allow same-sex couples to marry. In date order, those states are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia. New York also now recognizes gay marriages as of July 24, 2011.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage:

101 South Mercer St., Room 401
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16101
Phone: (724) 656-3100

In Pennsylvania copies of marriage records were required to be filed starting in 1885. Copies of these marriages may be obtained from the courthouse in the county where the marriage license was issued. There are three types of marriage records available. The first is a plain copy of the marriage record which is typically for family genealogy records or personal use. The second (one-seal) and third type (triple-seal) are for official purposes and used by the persons named in the records. Order Copies of Records Online

After 1906, all birth and death records are stored in the Vital Record Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

It is important that you verify all information with your Clerk of Orphans' Court before making any wedding or travel plans.

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com.  Please include the state and county information.

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Erie Area Courthouses:
Crawford County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 903 Diamond Park Meadville, PA 16335 814.333.7442 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $57.50 cash or money order.	Erie County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 140 W Sixth Street, Rm 123 Erie, PA 16501 814.451.6264 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.
Mercer County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 100 North Diamond Street Mercer, PA 16137 724.662.7548 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F Note: Pleas arrive by 4:00 p.m. $45 cash or money order.	Venango County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 1168 Liberty St, 1st Floor Franklin, PA 16323 814.432.9539 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F Note: Please arrive by 4:00 p.m. $40 cash only.
Northwest Wilds Courthouses:
Cameron County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 20 East Fifth Street Emporium, PA 15834 814.486.3349 ext. 3 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $40 cash only.	Clarion County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 421 Main St., Suite 24 Clarion, PA 16214 814.226.4000 ext. 2500 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $40 cash or check.
Clearfield County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 1 North Second Street, Suite #103 Clearfield, PA 16830 814.765.2641 ext. 8 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $25 cash or check.	Elk County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 240 Main St. Ridgeway, PA 15853 8l4.776.5349 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $35 cash or check.
Forest County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 526 Elm Street #2 Tionesta, PA 16353 814.755.3526 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $25 cash only.	Jefferson County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 200 Main Street Brookville, PA 15825 (814) 849-1610 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $45 cash or check.
McKean County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 500 Main Street Smethport, PA 16749 814.887.3263 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. / M - F $40 cash only.	Potter County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court One East Second Street, Room 23 Coudersport, PA 16915 814.274.9740 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $50 cash only.
Tioga County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 118 Main Street Wellsboro, PA 16091 570.724.9260 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $35 cash only.	Warren County Courthouse Register & Recorder of Court 204 4th Ave. Warren, PA 16365 814.728.3430 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $26 cash or check.
Susquehanna Valley Courthouses:
Centre County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 414 Holmes St., Suite #2 Willow Bank Office Building Bellefonte, PA 16823 814.355.6724 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / M - F $50 cash, check or money order.	Clinton County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 230 E Water Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 570.893.4010 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / M, T, Th, F; 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. / W $35 cash or check.
Columbia County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 35 W Main Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 570.389.5615 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $44 cash, check or money order.	Juniata County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 1 North Main Street Mifflintown, PA 17059 717.436.7709 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F; 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / W: June - Sept. $45 cash or check.
Lycoming County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 48 W. Third St. 1st floor Williamsport, PA 17701 570.327.2263 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / M - F $30 cash or check.	Mifflin County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 20 N. Wayne Street Lewistown, PA 17044 717.242.1449 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $50 cash only.
Montour County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 29 Mill Street Danville, PA 17821 570.271.3010 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $50 cash or check.	Northumberland County Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 201 Market Street Sunbury, PA 17801 570.988.4143 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $50 cash only.
Snyder County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 9 W. Market Street Middleburg, PA 17842 570.837.4202 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F $39 cash or check.	Union County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 103 S 2nd Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 570.524.8630 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F $40 cash only.
Poconos/Northeast PA Courthouses:
Bradford County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 301 Main St Towanda, PA 18848 570.265.1702 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $46 cash only.	Carbon County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 1 Hazard Square, 1st floor Jim Thorpe, PA 18229 570.325.2261 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F $50 cash or money order.
Lackawanna County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court Scranton Electric Building 507 Linden Street Suite 400 Scranton, PA 18503 570.963.6702 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $55 cash only.	Luzerne County Courthouse Register of Wills Penn Place Annex 20 N. Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 570.825.1668 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. closed 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. / M - F $50 cash only.
Monroe County Courthouse Register of Wills 7th & Monroe Streets Stroudsburg, PA 18360 570.517.3385 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F $40 cash only.	Pike County Courthouse Clerk of Orphans' Court 412 Broad Street Milford, PA 18337 570.296.7231 ext. 1210 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F $28 cash only.
Lehigh Valley/Philadelphia Courthouses:
Bucks County Government Center Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 55 E. Court Street 3rd Floor, Administration Building Doylestown, PA 18901 215.348.6271 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. / W 1st & 3rd each MO. $60 cash or money order.	Chester County Justice Center Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 201 W. Market Street Suite 2200 West Chester, PA 19380 610.344.6335 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M - F Note: Please arrive by 4:00 p.m. $75 cash only.
Delaware County Government Center Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 201 W. Front Street Government Center Bldg. Media, PA 19063 610.891.4548 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M - F $60 cash only.	Lehigh County Courthouse Orphans' Court Division 455 W. Hamilton St., Rm. 123.5 Allentown, PA 18105 610.782.3173 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M - F Note: Please arrive by 4:00 p.m. $50 cash, credit or debit.
Montgomery County Marriage Bureau Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court One Montgomery Plaza 4th floor Norristown, PA 19404 610.278.3414 or 292.4965 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.	Northampton County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 669 Washington St. Government Center Easton, PA 18042 610.559.3094 or 95 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M - F $50 cash only.
Philadelphia Marriage License Bureau Register of Wills Broad & Market Streets City Hall Rm. 415 Philadelphia, PA 19107 215.686.2233 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M, T, Th, F; 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. / W $80 cash or money order.	Schuylkill County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 401 N 2nd Street 1st Flr. Pottsville, PA 17901 570.628.1382 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F $35 cash only.
Sullivan County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 245 Muncy Street LaPorte, PA 18626 570.946.7351 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M - F $35.50 cash only.	Susquehanna County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 105 Maple Street Montrose, PA 18801 570.278.4600 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F Note: Please arrive by 4:00 p.m. $31 cash only.
Wayne County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 925 Court St., 2nd flr. Annex Honesdale, PA 18431 570.253.5970 ext. 1220 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. / M - F $35 cash or check.	Wyoming County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 1 Courthouse Square Tunkhannock, PA 18657 570.996.2232 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M - F $40.50 cash only.
Central PA & Dutch County Courthouses:
Adams County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 117 Baltimore St., Rm. 103 Gettysburg, PA 17325 717.337.9806 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $60 cash or check.	Berks County Marriage Bureau Register of Wills 633 Court St., 2nd flr. Reading, PA 19601 610.478.6617 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / M - F $40 cash only.
Cumberland County Gov't Center Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 1 Courthouse Square, Rm. 102 Carlisle, PA 17013 717.240.6345 / 888.697.0371 x 6345 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.	Dauphin County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 101 Market St., 1st flr., Rm. 103 Harrisburg, PA 17101 717.780.6506 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $50 cash only.
Franklin County Courthouse Clerk of Orphan's Court Office 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 717.261.3805 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $55 cash only.	Lancaster County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 50 North Duke St., 2nd floor Lancaster, PA 17602 717.295.3533 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $40 cash only.
Lebanon County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 400 South Eighth St., Rm. 105 Lebanon, PA 17042 717.228.4415 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $70 cash only.	Perry County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 2 East Main Street New Bloomfield, PA 17068 717.582.2131 ext. 2237 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. / M - F $40.00 cash or check.
York County Judicial Center Clerk of Orphan's Court Marriage License Bureau 45 North George St., 2nd flr. York, PA 17401 717.771.9288 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. / M - F $50.00 cash only.
Southwest PA Courthouses:
Bedford County Courthouse Register of Wills 203 S Juliana Street Bedford, PA 15522 814.623.4833 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.	Blair County Courthouse Prothonotary Office 423 Allegheny St., # 144 Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 814.693.3080 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. / M - F $48 cash only.
Cambria County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 200 South Center Street Ebensburg, PA 15931 814.472.5440, ext. 243 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.	Fayette County Courthouse Register of Wills 61 East Main Street Uniontown, PA 15401 724.430.1206 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F closed 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Note: Please arrive by 3:45 p.m. $40 cash only.
Fulton County Courthousebr>Prothonotary Office 201 North Second Street McConnellsburg, PA 17233 717.485.4212 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.	Huntingdon County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 223 Penn Street Huntingdon, PA 16652 814.643.2740 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $30 cash only.
Indiana County Courthouse Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts 825 Philadelphia Street Indiana, PA 15701 724.465.3860 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $45 cash or check.	Somerset County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 111 East Union Street Suite 145 Somerset, PA 15501 814.445.1548 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $50 cash only.
Westmoreland County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 2 North Main Street, 3rd flr., Suite 301 Greensburg, PA 15601 724.830.3196 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.
Pittsburgh Area Courthouses:
Allegheny County-City Bldg. Marriage License Bureau, 1st flr. 414 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2741 412.350.4188 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $75 cash only.	Armstrong County Courthouse Clerk of Orphans Court 500 E Market Street Kittanning, PA 16201 724.548.3256 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. / M - F $66 cash only.
Beaver County Courthouse Register of Wills 810 Third St., 1st flr. Beaver, PA 15009 724.770.4548 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $60 cash only	Butler County Courthouse Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court Government Center, Level L 124 West Diamond St. Butler, PA 16001 724.285.4731 724-284-5379 marriage info. line 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. / M - F $45 cash only.
Lawrence County Gov't Center Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 430 Court Street New Castle, PA 16101 724.658.2541 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $51 cash only.	Wash. County Court of Common Pleas Register & Clerk of Orphans' Court 1 South Main Street Suite 1002 Washington, PA 15301 724.228.6775 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / M - F $40 cash only.

To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com.  Please include the state and county information.

Ask a Lawyer Online Now! 24 Lawyers Are Online. Ask a Question, Get an Answer ASAP.