Allegheny County Marriage License Records

Allegheny County marriage records are managed by the Department of Court Records in Pittsburgh. The Marriage License Bureau sits on the first floor of the City-County Building at 414 Grant Street. Allegheny County is the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, home to Pittsburgh and over 1.2 million people. The bureau issues new licenses and keeps copies of all past marriage records. You can search for records online for licenses from 1996 forward. Older records are available by mail or in person. This guide covers how to find and get marriage records in Allegheny County.

Allegheny County Marriage License Bureau

The Marriage License Bureau is part of the Allegheny County Department of Court Records. It is on the first floor of the City-County Building at 414 Grant Street in Pittsburgh. The phone number is (412) 350-4230. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You should arrive by 4:00 PM because the computer systems shut down after that. During the warmer months from May through September, the bureau is also open on Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Arrive by noon on Saturdays.

Both people must appear in person to apply for a new marriage license in Allegheny County. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or military ID. You also need to know your Social Security number. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree or death certificate. The application fee is $80.00. An extra $10 charge applies for each divorce decree on file. Allegheny County accepts cash, credit cards, and money orders for this fee. Under Section 1301 of Title 23, no marriage can take place in Pennsylvania without a valid license.

The Allegheny County Department of Court Records website provides details about how to request marriage records.

This page from the Allegheny County courts shows the steps for getting marriage and divorce records from the Department of Court Records in Pittsburgh.

Search Allegheny County Marriage Records Online

Allegheny County offers an online search tool for marriage licenses issued from January 1, 1996 forward. Visit dcr.alleghenycounty.us and click on Marriage License Search. You can look up records by the name of either party, the date of marriage, or the license number. The search is free, but ordering copies costs money. You need an email address and a credit or debit card to place an order. Records are mailed to you after you pay.

For marriage licenses issued before 1996, the online search tool does not work. You can still order copies online, but you must know the exact names and year of marriage. A search fee applies even if no record is found. This is an important detail to keep in mind when searching for older Allegheny County marriage records. Two types of copies are available. A plain copy costs $4.00 and works for personal or historical use. A triple-seal certified copy costs $10.00 and is valid for legal matters in or out of Pennsylvania.

The Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us also lets you search court records by name or case number across all Pennsylvania counties.

Allegheny County also provides access to public records through a separate portal.

The public records page lists contact details for the Marriage License Office and other Allegheny County offices that handle vital records.

Note: A search fee applies at Allegheny County even when no matching marriage record is found in their system.

Allegheny County Marriage License Rules

Pennsylvania law sets a three-day waiting period from the date you apply for a marriage license. This applies in Allegheny County just as it does in every other county. The three days include the day you apply. After that, you can pick up your license at the bureau in Pittsburgh. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within 60 days, the license expires. You would need to apply again and pay a new fee.

There is no residency rule for Pennsylvania marriage licenses. You do not have to live in Allegheny County or even in Pennsylvania to apply here. The license is valid for use anywhere in the state. After the ceremony, the officiant must fill out the lower part of the license and file it with the Marriage License Bureau within 10 days. This step is what creates the official marriage record in Allegheny County.

Allegheny County also offers self-uniting marriage licenses. Tell the clerk when you start your application if you want one. A self-uniting license does not require an officiant. The couple and two witnesses sign the license instead.

Allegheny County Historical Marriage Records

Allegheny County has marriage records going back to 1885 when the state began requiring county-level recording. The county also has some Pittsburgh city marriage records from 1870 to 1879. The Marriage License Dockets in volumes 1 through 70 cover the period from 1885 to 1905. An index to marriage licenses in volumes 1 through 14 covers 1885 to 1925. Additional records from 1937 to 1950 are available in series A through F and S through Z.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh holds microfilm of many early Allegheny County marriage records and indexes. Their Pennsylvania Department has a Marriage Notice Index covering 1786 to 1910, based on newspaper notices. They also have Minister's Returns for the City of Pittsburgh from February 1875 to June 1886. Staff at the library can search these records for you, but response times run 8 to 10 weeks due to high demand. Contact them at (412) 622-3114 or visit the library at 4400 Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh.

The Carnegie Library also offers research guides on family law and marriage resources for Allegheny County residents.

This guide from the Carnegie Library covers legal resources for family matters, including how to get marriage licenses in Allegheny County.

FamilySearch.org has free digital images of Allegheny County marriage license dockets and indexes. Search for "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950" and filter by Allegheny County. Records on FamilySearch are sorted by the date the license was issued, not the date of the ceremony. Some gaps exist in the 1906 to 1937 range. For records in those years, contact the Marriage License Bureau at the Allegheny County courthouse directly.

Note: The Carnegie Library has marriage dockets and indexes but does not hold actual marriage certificates for Allegheny County.

Allegheny County Marriage Records Access

Marriage records in Allegheny County are public documents. Under Section 1309 of Title 23, anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to be one of the people named in the record. This makes Allegheny County marriage records useful for genealogy, legal matters, and general research. Certified copies carry the full weight of the court and work for any legal purpose.

To get a copy by mail, send your request to the Department of Court Records, Marriage License Bureau, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Include the full names of both parties as they appeared on the application and the year of the marriage. Add payment by money order. In-person requests accept cash, credit cards, and money orders. The email address for the Marriage License Office is dcrml@alleghenycounty.us. You can also use the contact form on the Allegheny County website.

Cities in Allegheny County

Allegheny County contains Pittsburgh and many surrounding communities. All marriage licenses for the county are issued from the bureau in Pittsburgh. The Marriage License Bureau at 414 Grant Street serves everyone in Allegheny County.

Nearby Counties

Allegheny County is in southwestern Pennsylvania. Several counties border it. If you are not sure which county issued the license you need, check the address where the couple applied. The license stays on file with that county.

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