Adams County Marriage Records

Adams County marriage records are held by the Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg. The office issues new marriage licenses and keeps copies of past records dating back to the 1850s. You can search for Adams County marriage records in person at the courthouse or by mail. Staff at the Gettysburg office help people find old and new records alike. Adams County is a small but well-organized county with strong record keeping. Whether you need a certified copy or want to trace your family history, the Clerk of Orphans' Court is the place to start your search.

Adams County Clerk of Orphans' Court

The Clerk of Orphans' Court handles all marriage license work in Adams County. This office is on the first floor of the courthouse at 117 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg. Kelly Ruff Lawver serves as the current Clerk. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Both people who plan to marry must come in together with valid photo ID. Cash or check is the only way to pay at this office. No credit or debit cards are taken.

The Adams County Register of Wills works with the Clerk of Orphans' Court to keep marriage records. Karen Heflin serves as Register of Wills. Her office is in Room 102 of the same building. Together, these two offices hold marriage records from 1885 to the present day in Adams County. They also keep some older records from the 1852 to 1855 period, when the state first tried to track marriages at the county level. Under Pennsylvania law, a marriage license is required before any ceremony can take place in Adams County or anywhere else in the state.

You can view the Adams County Register of Wills contact page for more on office staff and services.

The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court share the same courthouse building in downtown Gettysburg.

How to Search Adams County Marriage Records

There are a few ways to look up marriage records in Adams County. The most direct way is to visit the courthouse in Gettysburg. You can also send a request by mail. For older records, FamilySearch has digital images of Adams County marriage license dockets from 1885 to 1950. These are free to view online. The Adams County Historical Society at 111 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg also keeps marriage licence applications from 1885 to 1970, along with parish register transcripts from many local churches.

To search in person, go to Room 103 at the courthouse. Tell the clerk the full names of both people and the rough date of the marriage. A license number helps if you have one. The clerk will look through the records and pull up what you need. Older records in Adams County are sorted by the date the license was issued, not the date of the marriage itself. Indexes list names by first initial within each volume.

The Orphans' Court section of the Adams County Courts website may let you look up some records online after you create an account.

The court website shows details about how the Orphans' Court handles marriage and probate matters in Adams County.

To search by mail, download a Certified Marriage Records Request form from the Adams County Orphans' Court Documents Center. Fill it out with both names, the rough date, and the license number if known. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check for the right fees. Mail it to the Clerk of Orphans' Court at 117 Baltimore Street, Room 103, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

Note: The research fee is $4.00 per record searched, and Adams County requires a separate check for this amount.

Adams County Marriage License Fees

Adams County keeps its fees low for marriage records. A certified copy of a marriage record costs just $2.00. This is one of the lowest rates in the state. The marriage license application fee is $50.00. Court record copies cost $18.00 each. The office takes cash or check only. Plan ahead and bring the right form of payment when you visit Adams County.

• Marriage license application: $50.00
• Certified copy of marriage record: $2.00
• Court record copies: $18.00
• Research fee: $4.00 per record

Under Section 1303 of Title 23, there is a three-day waiting period from the date you apply for a license in Adams County. The clerk will tell you when to come back. Only one person needs to pick up the completed license. Once issued, the license is good for 60 days under Section 1307. If the 60 days pass without a ceremony, you must apply again and pay a new fee in Adams County.

Adams County Historical Marriage Records

Adams County has a deep store of historical marriage records. The earliest date back to 1852. Between 1852 and 1855, the state made its first try at tracking vital events at the county level. That effort did not last, but some Adams County marriage records survive from those years. The county began keeping marriage records for good in 1885. From that year on, the records are nearly complete.

FamilySearch holds digital copies of Adams County Marriage License Dockets from 1885 to 1950 in volumes 1 through 21. You can search these at FamilySearch.org for free. The Marriage Books 2 through 3, 5 through 11, and 13 through 15 cover the period from 1852 to 1855 and 1885 to 1931. The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg also has microfilm of Adams County marriage records.

The Adams County Historical Society holds marriage licence applications from 1885 to 1970. Their collection includes parish register transcripts from over 300 Lutheran churches and many non-Lutheran congregations in south-central Pennsylvania. A list of Adams County clergymen from 1800 to the present is on their website at achs-pa.org. These church records can fill gaps for marriages that took place before the state required county-level recording.

You can also learn more about Adams County marriage license requirements through this resource page.

This page outlines what you need to bring when applying for a marriage license in Adams County.

Note: Adams County records are arranged by license issue date, and indexes cross-reference by male and female names within each volume.

Adams County Public Marriage Records Access

Marriage records in Adams County are public. Under Section 1309 of Title 23, marriage records in Pennsylvania are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the marriage to ask for a copy. Anyone can request to see or get a copy of a marriage record in Adams County. Some details about minors may be left out of public copies, but the core facts are available to all.

Adams County was formed from York County on January 22, 1800. The county seat has always been Gettysburg. No courthouse fires or other disasters have harmed the marriage records here. That means Adams County has one of the more complete sets of historical marriage data in the state. The Prothonotary Office, also in the courthouse, has divorce and court records from 1800 if you need those too.

What Adams County Marriage Records Show

A marriage record from Adams County gives a lot of detail. Each record lists the names of both parties at the time they applied. It shows their ages, home addresses, and jobs. Parents' names and birthplaces are part of the record too. If either person was married before, the record notes how that marriage ended. The date of the application and the date of the actual ceremony are both listed. The name of the person who performed the ceremony is also on file.

Each license has a number made up of a letter and a number. This helps the clerk find it fast. If either party was under 18 at the time, the file includes consent forms from a parent or guardian. Certified divorce decrees are kept on file for anyone who was previously married. All of these facts make Adams County marriage records a rich source for both legal and family history work.

Note: To get a certified copy that is valid for legal use, request one from the Clerk of Orphans' Court in Adams County rather than from an online third-party site.

Legal Help in Adams County

If you need help with a marriage-related legal matter in Adams County, several resources are available. Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Adams County residents who meet income limits. Visit palegalaid.net to check if you qualify. The Pennsylvania Bar Association runs a lawyer referral line at (800) 692-7375. They can connect you with a family law attorney who works in Adams County.

The Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search court records across all Pennsylvania counties. You can look up cases by name or case number. Basic case data is free to view. For full documents, you still need to contact the Adams County courthouse. The Pennsylvania State Archives at phmc.pa.gov is another resource for older Adams County marriage records on microfilm.

Nearby Counties

Adams County sits in south-central Pennsylvania along the Maryland border. If you are not sure which county has the marriage record you need, check the address where the license was issued. Marriage records stay with the county that granted the license.

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