Search Pennsylvania Marriage Records
Pennsylvania marriage records are maintained by each of the 67 county courthouses across the state. The Clerk of Orphans Court in each county issues and stores marriage licenses. Pennsylvania does not keep a central state database for marriage records. To find a marriage record in Pennsylvania, contact the county where the license was issued. This page covers how to locate, search, and request copies of marriage records in Pennsylvania. Both recent and historical Pennsylvania marriage records are available through county offices and online databases across the state.
Pennsylvania Marriage Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Pennsylvania Marriage Records
Marriage records in Pennsylvania are kept at the county level. The state does not hold them. Since September 30, 1885, the Clerk of Orphans Court at each county courthouse has issued marriage licenses and stored those records. Before that date, licenses were not required by law. Church records and old newspapers are the best sources for pre-1885 marriages in Pennsylvania. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1309, all marriage license applications must be filed and kept as public records. Anyone can request access to these marriage record documents at the county courthouse in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds digitized microfilm copies of marriage records for many counties throughout the state.
On-site researchers can view these Pennsylvania marriage records at the archives in Harrisburg. Staff does not search county records on your behalf. County marriage records appear in Record Group 47 on digitized microfilm. The archives also hold the Governor's Accounts from 1742 to 1763, which include early lists of marriages performed in Pennsylvania during that era. Record Group 14 contains marriage entries from 1885 to 1891 with semi-alphabetical listings for brides and grooms from various Pennsylvania counties.
The CDC Where to Write page for Pennsylvania provides a full list of all 67 county courthouse addresses where you can request marriage records.
Each county sets its own fees for copies. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit.
Search Pennsylvania Marriage Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal gives access to court records across all 67 counties.
You can search public docket sheets by name, case number, or other details on the UJS Portal. For marriage license searches, contact the county Register of Wills or Orphans Court office directly. The free PAeDocket mobile app lets you look up Pennsylvania court cases from your phone. Recent filings may not appear right away. Call the county office if your search turns up nothing.
Many Pennsylvania counties now run their own online search tools for marriage records. Some let you look up marriage licenses from 1885 to the present through web portals. Coverage and date ranges vary by county. Berks County offers online records from 2009, while Bradford County has marriage license records online from 1885 to present. You can also search in person at any Pennsylvania county courthouse during regular hours. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from morning to mid-afternoon.
Pennsylvania Marriage License Requirements
Pennsylvania law requires a marriage license before any ceremony. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1301, no marriage may take place without a license. Both parties must file a written application with the Clerk of Orphans Court. The application asks for full names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. Both people must show up in person at the county office to complete the Pennsylvania marriage license process.
A three-day wait applies in Pennsylvania. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1303, the license cannot be issued until three days after the application is filed. A court may waive this wait in cases of emergency or for active military. Once issued, the Pennsylvania marriage license stays valid for 60 days. The Bucks County marriage license requirements page gives a clear look at what most counties expect.
Most Pennsylvania counties follow the same basic rules. Fees range from $40 to $85 depending on the county.
To apply for a Pennsylvania marriage license, you need:
- Valid photo ID for both parties
- Social Security numbers for both people
- Certified divorce decree if you were married before
- Death certificate if a prior spouse passed away
- Parents' names, birthplaces, and jobs
Note: Blood tests and medical exams are no longer required for a marriage license in Pennsylvania.
Historical Pennsylvania Marriage Records
Pennsylvania has a deep history of marriage records. The earliest known records include marriage bonds for Philadelphia County from 1784 to 1786, now held in Record Group 27 at the State Archives. Between 1852 and 1854, Pennsylvania made its first attempt to record marriages at the county level. The Register of Wills in each county collected returns and sent them to the Department of State. This effort covered 49 of the 64 counties that existed at the time. These early Pennsylvania marriage records are now in the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania Marriages, 1852-1854 database.
Digital images of these records are free for Pennsylvania residents through the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania portal. You just need a free account and a Pennsylvania zip code to get started with these marriage records.
Regular marriage license recording in Pennsylvania began on September 30, 1885. From that date forward, the Clerk of Orphans Court at each county courthouse has issued and filed marriage licenses as required by law. The Library of Congress Pennsylvania genealogy guide covers available marriage record collections for researchers.
State marriage bonds from 1743 to 1790 are published in Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2. Fold3.com gives free access to the published Pennsylvania Archives spanning 138 volumes and 10 series. These hold marriage, baptism, military, tax, and land records from early Pennsylvania history. The State Library of Pennsylvania also offers the Harrisburg Newspaper Index with marriage notices from 1799 to 1827.
Free Marriage Record Resources in Pennsylvania
Several free tools exist for searching Pennsylvania marriage records. The State Library of Pennsylvania offers a vital records research guide with useful details on marriage records.
The guide explains how marriage licenses have worked since 1885 and where to find pre-1885 Pennsylvania marriage records. It also covers divorce records, which are kept in the Prothonotary's Office in each county.
The State Library LibGuide on marriage and divorce records has more research tips for Pennsylvania records.
Pennsylvania residents can access marriage records for free through the Ancestry.com Pennsylvania portal. This partnership between the State Archives and Ancestry.com gives free access to several collections. These include Pennsylvania Marriages 1852-1854, Pennsylvania Marriages 1852-1968, and Pennsylvania County Marriages 1885-1950. FamilySearch.org also holds Pennsylvania County Marriages from 1885 to 1950 with an index and digital images at no cost. Not all records are indexed yet, so browse the FamilySearch catalog for each county to see the full range of available Pennsylvania marriage records.
How to Get Copies of Pennsylvania Marriage Records
To get a copy of a marriage record in Pennsylvania, contact the Clerk of Orphans Court or Register of Wills in the county where the license was issued. The Pennsylvania State Archives vital statistics page explains which offices hold what types of records.
County marriage records typically include the license application, the register entry, affidavits, and the returned marriage certificate. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1307, each license is issued with an original and duplicate certificate. The officiant returns the completed duplicate to the county office within 10 days of the ceremony.
Fees for certified copies of Pennsylvania marriage records vary by county. Some charge as little as $2 per copy while others charge $25 or more. Most offices take cash, check, or money order. A few now accept credit cards. You can request copies in person, by mail, or through online portals in some counties. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1503, judges, mayors, ministers, priests, rabbis, and other clergy can perform marriages in Pennsylvania. After the ceremony, the officiant files the completed certificate with the county that issued the marriage license.
Note: Call the county office first to confirm current fees and processing times for Pennsylvania marriage records.
Are Pennsylvania Marriage Records Public
Yes. Marriage records are public in Pennsylvania. Under state law, marriage license applications are filed and docketed as public records right away. You do not need to be a party to the marriage. Anyone can visit a county courthouse and ask to see marriage records during regular hours in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania marriage license statutes under Title 23, Chapter 13 spell out the full legal rules for marriage records in the state.
Personal details like Social Security numbers do not appear on public copies of Pennsylvania marriage records. Adoption records filed in Orphans Court are sealed. But marriage records remain open to public review across all 67 counties. Birth records become public after 105 years in Pennsylvania and death records after 50 years, but marriage records have no such waiting period.
Browse Pennsylvania Marriage Records by County
Each county in Pennsylvania keeps its own marriage records at the county courthouse. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for marriage records in that area.
Marriage Records in Major Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of major cities get marriage licenses at their county courthouse. Pick a city below to learn about marriage records in that area of Pennsylvania.