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Pennsylvania Marriage Records

Marriage records in Pennsylvania are official documents verifying the legal union between two individuals in the state. These records, managed by the Orphans' Court or Register of Wills, are vital for tracking demographic data and significant life events. While marriage records are generally public under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, sensitive information like Social Security numbers may be redacted.

Marriage licenses and certificates are the main types of marriage records in Pennsylvania. A marriage license is required for a marriage to take place, while a marriage certificate, issued after the ceremony, serves as legal proof of the marriage. Certificates can be obtained in various forms, depending on their intended use, for personal, domestic, or international purposes.

To obtain a marriage license in Pennsylvania, couples must apply in person at a county clerk's office, provide identification, and pay a fee. Once the marriage is solemnized, the officiant returns the completed license to the county for recording, after which a marriage certificate can be issued.

Marriage records are accessible both online and offline. Some counties offer digital searches and online copies, while others require in-person visits or mailed requests. Fees and procedures for obtaining records vary by county. 

What are Marriage Records?

Pennsylvania marriage records are official documents certifying the legal union between two persons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These records serve as evidence that a marriage occurred between the persons named on the records in the state. Pennsylvania marriage records are vital records maintained by the clerks of the Orphans' Court or Register of Wills for tracking demographic information and other vital events.

Pennsylvania marriage records are public records, meaning they can be accessed by anyone. However, certain personal information, such as a Social Security number, may be redacted, while the rest of the information is open to the public according to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law. Individuals may request access to inspect or obtain copies of marriage records for reasons such as legal proceedings in a divorce case, establishing inheritance rights, changing a name, and applying for a passport or visa.

Marriage licenses and marriage certificates are examples of marriage records in Pennsylvania. Marriage licenses are official documentation required for a marriage to occur in the state, while marriage certificates are issued after the marriage as legal proof that two persons are married. Marriage certificates in Pennsylvania may be issued as a plain copy, one-seal copy, or a two-seal copy. A plain copy is not for official use and is typically meant for personal and family history purposes. The one-seal copy is meant for domestic uses, such as changing a name for Social Security benefits or a driver's license. The two-seal copy is typically used for immigration and international purposes.

The information in a Pennsylvania marriage record has changed over the years. Traditionally, it contained the couples' full names, ages, residential addresses, occupations, and places of birth. Since 1915, the names of the spouses' parents, locations of birth, and occupations have been included in marriage records in Pennsylvania.

Marriages in Pennsylvania

Marriage numbers in Pennsylvania have remained steady at around 70,000 over the last decade, except for 2020, when the state recorded 58,960 marriages. The low figure for 2020 could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the CDC, Pennsylvania had a marriage rate of 5.6 per 1,000 people in 2022, the highest since 2017. While marriage rates have been steady in recent years, divorce rates have declined in the same period. In 2017, the divorce rate was 2.6 per 1,000 residents. In 2020, the rate fell to 2.3. By 2020, the rate had dropped to 2.2.

To get married in Pennsylvania, you and your partner must apply for a marriage license at a county clerk's office or a local Register of Wills. Proxy marriages are not permitted in the state. Although you are not required to have the marriage ceremony in the county where you apply for the marriage license, the license is only valid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You and your spouse must be at least 18 before you may be issued a marriage license. However, if either party is 16 or 17 years old, parental consent and an original copy of the underage party's birth certificate are required. If either party is under 16, an order of approval from a judge of the Orphans Court is needed in addition to parental consent.

In preparation for a Pennsylvania marriage license application, you must gather the necessary items to complete the application. Such items include a valid Social Security number, government-issued photo I.D., and evidence that any prior marriages have legally ended via divorce, death, or annulment. A valid and unexpired passport is required if either party is a foreign national. Once you have the required items, you should consider applying for the marriage license 2-4 weeks before your planned marriage date.

To apply for a marriage license, visit the office of the clerk of Orphan's Court or the Register of Wills in your area. However, some county authorities allow applications for marriage licenses to be completed online via video conferencing. You can apply for a traditional marriage license or a self-uniting marriage license. A traditional marriage license requires a recognized officiant, such as a clergy member or judge, to legally perform the marriage ceremony. In contrast, a self-uniting marriage license allows the couple to solemnize their marriage without an officiant, but it requires the signatures of two witnesses to validate the union. Before submitting your application, you must pay the applicable fee, which ranges between $50 and $100, including county fees.

After applying, you must wait three days before the license may be issued. You may opt to have the license mailed or pick it up in person. Upon issuance, the license is valid for 60 days. The following categories of persons are authorized to solemnize marriages in Pennsylvania:

  • A judge, justice, or magisterial district judge of the commonwealth
  • A former judge, justice, or magisterial district judge of the commonwealth
  • A senior judge or full-time magistrate of the federal Western, Eastern, or Middle District Court of Pennsylvania
  • An active, retired, or senior judge of the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third Circuit who is a resident of the state
  • A mayor of any city or borough of the state
  • A minister, rabbi, or priest of any regularly established congregation or church

Common law marriage was abolished in Pennsylvania in January 2015. Hence, common law marriages established after that date are not recognized in the state. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also prohibits marriages between persons related by blood, such as first cousins or close relatives.

Pennsylvania Marriage Certificate

A Pennsylvania marriage certificate is an official document that serves as legal proof of a marriage between two individuals. It is available from the relevant county courthouse where the marriage license was obtained initially. On the marriage certificate, you can find the full names of the spouses, the location and date of the marriage, and the names of the witnesses.

To obtain a marriage certificate in Pennsylvania, couples must apply for a marriage license at the county courthouse. After the marriage ceremony, the officiant will return the completed marriage license to the county to be officially recorded. Once recorded, the marriage certificate may be issued.

How To Find and Access Pennsylvania Marriage Records

Since September 30, 1885, marriage licenses have been maintained by the Marriage License Clerks in the county courthouses of the counties issuing marriage licenses. For marriage records earlier than September 30, 1885, refer to church records and newspapers for more information. Pennsylvania courthouses place a significant importance on marriage records. These records are typically found in each county's Register of Wills office or Recorder of Deeds offices.

Finding and Accessing Pennsylvania Marriage Records Online

For instance, Chester County maintains an online index for marriage records between 1885 and 1930, the City of Philadelphia allows the public to search for marriage licenses online, and Allegheny County also permits online marriage license searches. The City of Philadelphia's historical land and vital records portal also has digital images of marriage records that the public may inspect. However, you must pay a subscription fee to use the portal's search feature.

In Delaware County, you can buy a PDF e-copy of a marriage record (plain copy) online for $2, a certified marriage record for $25, or an exemplified marriage record at $30. Also, Lancaster County allows for the public search of marriage records.

Certain online third-party sites allow users to search their databases for Pennsylvania marriage records. However, since there is no official partnership with such sites, it may be difficult to verify the accuracy of their records.

Finding and Accessing Pennsylvania Marriage Records Offline

Pennsylvania counties have slightly varying methods of accessing or obtaining marriage records offline. However, typically, you must visit the office or mail an application to the clerk of the orphan's court, Register of Wills, or Recorder of Deeds. For instance, in Montgomery County, to obtain a marriage record, mail a completed Marriage Record Request Form and a check or money order of $34 made payable to "Clerk of Orphans' Court" to:

Montgomery County

Register of Wills

Clerk of Orphans’ Court

TINA LAWSON, ESQ.

P.O. Box 311

Norristown, PA 19404-0311

To obtain a certified copy of your marriage license in Westmoreland County, call (724) 830-3196 or (724) 830-3177. There is a fee of $15 per certified copy payable by cash or credit or debit card. 

If the record you want is in Fayette County, send a completed Application for Certified Marriage License and a check of $10 to:

Register of Wills

61 East Main Street

Uniontown PA 15401

To obtain a certified copy of marriage license in Lehigh County, complete and submit an order form by regular mail to:

Marriage License Office

Clerk of Orphans' Court

Lehigh County Courthouse

455 West Hamilton Street

Room 123.5

Allentown, PA 18101-1614

 

Alternatively, visit the Marriage License Department (Room 123.5) at the Lehigh County Marriage License Office at 455 West Hamilton Street in person. A certified copy of the marriage license costs $10, plus $9.65 if it is sent to the requesting party by priority mail.

In Luzerne County, it costs $25 to obtain a certified marriage license from the Register of Wills. The fee may be paid by a cashier's check or money order. Send a completed certified marriage request form, the appropriate fee, and a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) to:

Register of Wills

200 North River Street

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

Note that there is a search fee of $30 if the date or approximate date of marriage is not known. You may contact the office of the Register of Wills at (570) 830-5166.

In the City of Philadelphia, you can obtain a marriage record by completing a marriage record application and mail it to:

Department of Records

City Archives

548 Spring Garden Street

Philadelphia, PA 19123

You must include a $10 money order, bank check, or business check made payable to "City of Philadelphia." Each additional certificate of the same record costs $10. The record requested may take up to four weeks to become available. 

 

References

Counties in Pennsylvania

List of Content

  1. What are Marriage Records?
    1. Marriages in Pennsylvania
      1. Pennsylvania Marriage Certificate
    2. How To Find and Access Pennsylvania Marriage Records
      1. Finding and Accessing Pennsylvania Marriage Records Online
      2. Finding and Accessing Pennsylvania Marriage Records Offline