Obtain Blair County Marriage Records
Blair County marriage records are maintained at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg. The Prothonotary's Office handles marriage licenses and keeps copies of past marriage filings. Blair County sits in central Pennsylvania and has about 122,000 residents. Marriage records here go back to 1885. The county seat is Hollidaysburg, though the larger city of Altoona is also within Blair County. You can search for records in person at the courthouse or request copies by mail. This page covers how to find and get marriage records in Blair County.
Blair County Quick Facts
Blair County Courthouse Marriage Office
The Prothonotary's Office at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg handles marriage records. This office issues new marriage licenses and stores copies of all past records. The Orphans' Court division of the courthouse also plays a role in marriage and vital records. Blair County has kept marriage records from 1885 to the present. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are also on file at the Orphans' Court.
To apply for a new marriage license in Blair County, both parties must come to the courthouse together. Bring valid photo ID. You will need to provide your full names, ages, addresses, and Social Security numbers. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree or death certificate for your former spouse. Under Section 1301 of Title 23, every marriage in Pennsylvania requires a valid license.
Blair County court records are available through an online portal for public access.
This resource explains how to access Blair County court records, including marriage filings and case information from the Hollidaysburg courthouse.
| Office |
Blair County Prothonotary Blair County Courthouse Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 Phone: Contact courthouse for current number |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
| Records | Marriage records from 1885, Divorce records from 1846 |
Blair County Marriage License Rules
Pennsylvania law applies the same rules to Blair County as to every other county. A three-day waiting period begins when you file your application. The three days include the day of application. After that, you can pick up the license. Once the license is in your hands, it stays valid for 60 days. If the wedding does not happen in that time, you need to apply again.
No residency rule applies. You do not have to live in Blair County to get a license here. The license is good for use anywhere in Pennsylvania. After the ceremony, the officiant must complete the lower part of the license and file it with the Prothonotary within 10 days. That filing creates the official marriage record in Blair County.
Blair County marriage requirements are laid out on a reference page for applicants.
This page covers what to bring and the steps involved in getting a marriage license in Blair County.
Note: Blair County was formed from Huntingdon and Bedford counties in 1846, so early records from before that date may be found in those parent counties.
Search Blair County Marriage Records
To search for a marriage record in Blair County, visit the Prothonotary's Office at the courthouse in Hollidaysburg. Provide the full names of both people and the approximate date of the marriage. Staff will search the records for you. You can also send a written request by mail. Include the names, the date, and payment for any applicable fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can mail the results back to you.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search court records across all Pennsylvania counties for free. You can look up cases by name or case number. For certified copies, though, you need to go through the Blair County courthouse directly. Marriage records in Blair County are public under Section 1309 of Title 23. Anyone may ask for a copy.
Blair County Historical Marriage Records
Blair County was formed on February 26, 1846 from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford counties. The county seat is Hollidaysburg. Marriage records begin in 1885 when the state mandated county-level recording. Divorce records go back to 1846, the year the county was formed. Probate records and court records also start from 1846. Naturalization records date from 1848. No known courthouse disasters have affected the record collection in Blair County.
The Pennsylvania State Archives has microfilm of Blair County Marriage License Dockets from 1885 to 1916 in volumes 1 through 39. They also have a comprehensive Index to Marriage License Dockets covering 1885 to 1980. The index is broken into volumes by sex: volumes A through D for males, E through Q for males, R through Z for males, A through G for females, H through R for females, and S through Z for females. Microfilm rolls 8159 through 8180 cover these marriage records. You can view them at the State Archives facility at 1681 North Sixth Street in Harrisburg or request them through interlibrary loan.
FamilySearch.org has free digital images of Blair County marriage records from the 1885 to 1950 period. Search for "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950" and filter by Blair County. These records cover the period when systematic county marriage licensing began in Pennsylvania.
The Blair County Genealogical Society keeps additional marriage indexes. Their library holdings include detailed marriage records that can help researchers trace family connections in the Hollidaysburg and Altoona area. The Pennsylvania State Archives guide to Blair County records provides a full roll-by-roll listing of available microfilm at phmc.pa.gov.
Note: Transcriptions from volunteer sites may contain errors, so verify any findings against the original records at the Blair County courthouse or State Archives.
Legal Help in Blair County
If you need legal help related to marriage records or family matters in Blair County, several resources can assist you. Pennsylvania Legal Aid at palegalaid.net offers free legal help to those who qualify based on income. The Pennsylvania Bar Association referral line at (800) 692-7375 can connect you with a family law attorney who practices in Blair County.
Blair County is in central Pennsylvania, near Altoona and Hollidaysburg. For records that predate the county's formation in 1846, check with Huntingdon County and Bedford County. Those parent counties may hold earlier marriage-related records for families who lived in what is now Blair County. The State Library of Pennsylvania has a guide to marriage and divorce records at pa-gov.libguides.com that can help you find the right office for your search.
Nearby Counties
Blair County is in central Pennsylvania. It borders several counties. Make sure you check which county issued the license you need. Marriage records stay with the county where the license was granted.