Lancaster City Marriage Records

Lancaster marriage records are maintained by the Lancaster County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. Lancaster is the county seat, so the courthouse is right in the city. Residents of Lancaster can walk to the office on North Duke Street to apply for a marriage license, look up old records, or get certified copies. This page explains the full process for accessing marriage records in Lancaster, including current fees, office hours, and tips for searching historical files.

Lancaster County Marriage License Office

The Lancaster County Register of Wills office is in the new courthouse on North Duke Street. Since Lancaster is the county seat, this is where all marriage records for the city and the entire county are kept. The office sits on the second floor. Both in-person and online applications are accepted.

The courthouse has security screening at the entrance. If you bring a cell phone or smart watch, you must place it in a locker in the lobby. Plan ahead and leave electronic devices in your car if possible. Bring a valid photo ID to pass through security.

The office now accepts credit and debit cards for all fees. This is a change from past years when cash was the only option for marriage license applications in Lancaster.

How to Get a Marriage License in Lancaster

Both people must appear in person at the courthouse. You can fill out the application online ahead of time through the county website, which saves time at the office. The clerk will verify your identity and ask questions as part of the process.

Bring these items to your appointment:

• Valid photo ID for both applicants
• Social Security numbers
• Certified divorce decree if previously married (must be at least 30 days old)
• Date of death if a former spouse is deceased
• Payment of $75 for the license fee

Pennsylvania requires a three-day waiting period after you apply. Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1303, your license cannot be issued until three days have passed. The license is then valid for 60 days and can be used in any county in the state. Self-uniting licenses are available in Lancaster with advance notice to the office.

Here is a screenshot of the Lancaster County Register of Wills page where city residents can learn about marriage license services.

Foreign documents must be translated into English before the office can accept them. Internet ordinations are not accepted for officiants in Lancaster County due to a court decision specific to this jurisdiction.

Note: The marriage license application fee increased to $75 effective January 1, 2026, up from the previous rate of $40.

Lancaster Marriage Record Fees

Fees at the Lancaster County courthouse changed recently. The new fee schedule took effect in early 2026. Here are the current charges for marriage records in Lancaster.

The marriage license application costs $75. This is a significant increase from the old rate of $40. Certified copies of marriage certificates now cost $20 each, up from $10. The JCP fee for all filings in the office is $41.25 as of December 2025.

For older records that require a staff search, additional charges may apply if the exact date is not known. The office recommends calling the Marriage Hotline at (717) 295-3533 to ask about search fees before you visit. Online records are available from 1994 forward through the county system.

The Lancaster city website at cityoflancasterpa.com has general city information but does not process marriage records. All record requests go through the county office in the courthouse.

Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1301, every marriage in Pennsylvania requires a license. The fee covers the cost of processing the application, conducting the interview, and storing the record at the county level.

Historical Marriage Records in Lancaster

Lancaster County has marriage records going back to October 1885. There are also limited records from 1852 to 1855, when Pennsylvania briefly required statewide marriage registration. FamilySearch has digitized Lancaster County marriage license dockets from 1885 to 1906 and indexes from 1885 to 1936. These are free to search online.

The county also has estate records dating to 1750. Birth and death records for 1894 to 1906 are available at the courthouse. These older records can be useful for genealogy research when you need to place a marriage record in context with other family events.

Lancaster has a rich history as one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. It served as the capital of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1812 and was briefly the national capital for one day in 1777. This long history means there are many marriage records spanning several centuries in the area, though records before 1885 are mainly found in church archives.

The Pennsylvania State Archives has additional Lancaster County records on microfilm. These include church records, cemetery records, and other genealogical sources that supplement the civil marriage records at the courthouse.

Getting Copies of Lancaster Marriage Records

After a ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Lancaster County Register of Wills. Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1309, the clerk files the application and completed license as a permanent record. This is the document you request when you need a copy of a Lancaster marriage record.

You can get copies in person at the courthouse or by mail. Certified copies cost $20 each and carry the official county seal. These are accepted by courts, government agencies, and financial institutions. You can also request a plain copy for personal use at a lower cost.

Here is a view of the Lancaster County official website, which links to all county departments including the Register of Wills.

When requesting a copy by mail, include the full names of both spouses, the approximate date of marriage, and your return address. Send payment with your request. Call the office first at (717) 299-8243 to confirm the current fee and mailing address.

Note: Online records in the Lancaster County system go back to 1994, so if your marriage record is from before that year, you will need to contact the office directly for assistance.

Lancaster County Court Records

Marriage records are part of the broader court record system in Lancaster County. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal provides access to court case information for all 67 counties, including Lancaster. For basic case lookups, the portal is free to use. Below is a screenshot of the Lancaster County court records page.

Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1307, the clerk issues the license once all requirements are met. The record then becomes part of the permanent county archives. Lancaster County maintains these records carefully, with the oldest files dating back hundreds of years.

Lancaster County Marriage Records

Lancaster is the county seat of Lancaster County. All marriage records for the city and surrounding area are filed at the courthouse. For the complete county page with full details on fees, historical record coverage, and search options, visit the Lancaster County page.

View Lancaster County Marriage Records

Nearby Pennsylvania Cities

Other cities in the region have their own county offices that handle marriage records. Select a city to learn more.

View Major Pennsylvania Cities