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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.

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Don't wait until the last minute to locate an officiant for your wedding or vow renewal ceremony. Submit one form to local Pennsylvania officiants. You choose the best PA wedding officiant.

Pennsylvania Marriage License Guidelines:

1. All offices are open Monday through Friday.


2. 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.


3. 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.

   Military 3 day Waiver:

   In an emergency or where extraordinary circumstances exist, a Judge of the Orphans' Court Division, upon petition on a form supplied by the Clerk, may grant a waiver of the three-day waiting period.

   A military applicant on active duty upon short leave may obtain a waiver of the three-day waiting period upon petition made in person through the Orphans' Court Clerk to a Judge of the Orphans' Court Division. Some county judges will require a copy of military orders at the time of application. There is no fee for an active military waiver.



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


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


6. 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.


7. 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.


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


9. 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.


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


11. 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.


12. 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.

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.

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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