Philadelphia Marriage Records Search
Philadelphia marriage records are kept at the county level by the Philadelphia County Register of Wills. As a consolidated city-county, Philadelphia handles its own marriage records through the Register of Wills office at City Hall. Residents can search for marriage licenses online for records from 1995 forward or visit the Marriage Record Department in person. The office holds marriage records going back to 1885, with older records at the Philadelphia City Archives. Start a search below to find Philadelphia marriage records quickly.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Where to Get Marriage Records
Philadelphia is both a city and a county. This means the city handles its own marriage records instead of a separate county office. The Philadelphia Register of Wills serves as the keeper of all marriage records in the city. The office is at City Hall in Center City, which is easy to reach by bus, subway, or regional rail.
The Marriage Record Department is on the fourth floor of City Hall. Staff there can look up any marriage license on file and make copies for you. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours. For same-day service, plan to arrive by 2:30 in the afternoon.
| Office | Philadelphia Register of Wills |
|---|---|
| Address | City Hall, Room 415 Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
| Phone | (215) 686-2234 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| rowonline@phila.gov |
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Security checks all visitors at the entrance to City Hall.
Note: The Marriage License Department where couples apply for new licenses is in Room 413, while the Marriage Record Department for copies of existing records is in Room 415.
Searching Philadelphia Marriage Records Online
The Register of Wills runs a free online marriage record search for licenses from 1995 to the present. You can search by last name of one or both parties. The system will show the marriage license number, both names, and the date of the license. This tool works well when you know at least one last name.
Philadelphia marriage records from before 1995 are not in the online system. You will need to contact the office by phone or mail to request a search of older records. A partial last name search is supported, so typing the first few letters can help when the exact spelling is unclear.
The Philadelphia City Archives website describes their holdings of historical marriage records from the city. You can learn more about what is on file through the City Archives page before making a trip in person.
The archives hold records that date back to 1860, well before the county system began in 1885. These older records can fill in gaps for genealogy research.
Getting Copies of Marriage Records
There are three ways to get copies of Philadelphia marriage records. You can visit the office in person, send a request by mail, or use the online search to identify the record first and then order a copy. Each method has its own steps and timing.
In person, go to Room 415 at City Hall. Give the clerk the names used on the license and the date of marriage. They will search their files and prepare a copy. Certified copies cost $25 each. If you need the copy the same day, there is an added fee of $45 for rush processing. Arrive by 2:30 to use this option.
By mail, write a letter with the full names of both parties as they were on the license and the date of marriage. Include a $15 research fee by money order payable to "City of Philadelphia" and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail it to the Marriage Record Department at City Hall, Room 415, Philadelphia, PA 19107. The office will send a request form if the record is found. You then send a second payment of $25 for a certified copy or $50 for an exemplified copy.
- Certified copy: $25
- Exemplified copy: $50 (for international use)
- Same-day processing: $45 added fee
- Mail research fee: $15
Exemplified copies carry extra seals and are meant for use outside the United States. Most people only need a standard certified copy for domestic purposes.
Note: Cash is accepted over the counter only. Mail requests must use money orders.
Historical Marriage Records in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has a long and rich history of marriage records. The city began recording marriages on July 1, 1860, when a law required the Board of Health to register them. These early records cover the period from 1860 to 1885 and are held at the Philadelphia City Archives at 548 Spring Garden Street. The Archives also hold marriage records from the Orphans' Court Division for the years 1886 to 1915.
Under Pennsylvania law (23 Pa.C.S. Section 1301), a marriage license is required for all marriages in the state. County-level marriage license records began across Pennsylvania in 1885. Philadelphia's Register of Wills has held these records from that year forward.
The Philadelphia Historical Commission helps preserve the city's heritage, including records related to civic life. Researchers looking for marriage records in Philadelphia often use both the Register of Wills and the City Archives to get a complete picture.
Pennsylvania state law under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1309 requires that marriage license applications and related documents be filed with the clerk who issued the license. In Philadelphia, that means all filed records stay at City Hall.
Applying for a Marriage License
Both people who plan to marry must visit the Marriage License Department at City Hall, Room 413, together. Walk-in visits are accepted until 3:15 in the afternoon. You can also schedule an appointment by emailing MLAppt@phila.gov. Each person must bring a valid photo ID and their Social Security card.
Pennsylvania requires a three-day waiting period between the application and the time the license becomes valid. The license then remains valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in the state. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the Marriage License Department within ten days.
The application creates a new marriage record in Philadelphia. Once the signed license comes back from the officiant, it becomes a permanent public record. Anyone can request a copy of that record from the Marriage Record Department.
The city of Philadelphia provides detailed instructions for the full marriage process on its marriage services page. This includes forms, steps, and answers to common questions about getting married in Philadelphia.
If either party was married before, a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse is required. The clerk will verify this during the application. Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1307, the clerk must confirm all legal requirements before issuing a marriage license in Philadelphia.
Marriage Records for Genealogy
Philadelphia marriage records are a key source for family history research. The city's records go back further than most Pennsylvania counties. Records from 1860 to 1885 are at the City Archives. Records from 1885 to 1915 have been digitized and are available through FamilySearch as index entries with images of the original documents.
The City Archives at 548 Spring Garden Street is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon. Researchers can visit in person to view records. The archives hold more than 20,000 cubic feet of historical city records including marriage applications, cemetery returns, and city directories.
Marriage records in Philadelphia typically include the full names of both parties, their ages, addresses, birthplaces, parents' names, and the name of the officiant. Older records may also note the occupations of the parties and their parents. These details make Philadelphia marriage records especially helpful for tracing family lines back through several generations.
The Pennsylvania State Archives also holds microfilm copies of some Philadelphia marriage records. The State Library of Pennsylvania has research guides that point to additional sources for marriage records across the state.
Note: For records between 1860 and 1885, contact the Philadelphia City Archives directly at 548 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
Philadelphia County Marriage Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, so the city and county share the same office for all marriage records. The Register of Wills at City Hall handles both marriage licenses and copies of existing records for all residents within the city limits. For more details on the county court system, fees, and related records, visit the full Philadelphia County page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities get their marriage records through their own county offices. Pick a city below to learn how marriage records work in that area.