Obtain Centre County Marriage Records
Centre County marriage records are maintained by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte. The office stores all marriage license applications from 1885 forward. You can search for these records in person, by mail, or through online tools. Centre County is home to Penn State University and has a mix of college-town and rural communities. The Register of Wills office at 102 South Allegheny Street handles all marriage record requests for the county.
Centre County Quick Facts
Centre County Register of Wills
The Centre County Register of Wills issues all marriage licenses and keeps all marriage records for the county. The office is at 102 South Allegheny Street in Bellefonte. You can call at 814-355-6724 or fax at 814-355-6795. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
This office does more than handle marriages. It probates wills, administers estates, and stores old birth and death records from 1893 to 1905. The Centre County office has served residents since the county was formed in 1800. An online marriage records search is available through the county website, which is helpful for people in the State College area and beyond who want to check records from home.
You can access court docket sheets through the UJS Portal for related legal matters in Centre County.
| Office |
Centre County Register of Wills 102 South Allegheny Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 Phone: (814) 355-6724 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Fax | (814) 355-6795 |
How to Search Centre County Marriage Records
Centre County offers several ways to find marriage records. Choose the one that works best for your situation and location. Bellefonte is about 12 miles from State College, so many residents can reach the courthouse in a short drive.
For an in-person search, go to 102 South Allegheny Street in Bellefonte. Bring your photo ID and the names of the people on the marriage license. Staff can search by name and pull files from the records. You can get plain copies or certified copies with the official seal. Certified copies are needed for legal uses like name changes or property matters.
Under Section 1309 of Title 23, all marriage license applications are public records in Pennsylvania. This means anyone can request them in Centre County. You do not have to be a spouse named on the license. This makes it easy for family members, researchers, and others to access Centre County marriage records.
Mail requests should go to the Register of Wills at 102 South Allegheny Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Include the full names of both spouses, the approximate year, and a check or cash for the fee. The staff will search the files and send copies back to you. Call ahead to confirm the current fee amount.
Note: Centre County accepts cash only for marriage license fees, so plan accordingly if you visit in person.
Centre County Marriage License Application
Under Pennsylvania law, every couple must get a license before their ceremony. Centre County issues licenses at the Register of Wills office in Bellefonte. The fee is $50.00 and only cash is accepted.
Both applicants must come to the office together. You need to be 18 or older. Bring a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. Accepted IDs include a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card. If you were married before, show proof that the earlier marriage ended with a certified divorce decree or death certificate. The clerk will ask both people questions under oath as required by state law.
After the application is complete, the three-day waiting period begins. Once the wait passes, the licence is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in Pennsylvania. Many couples who attend Penn State apply for their license in Centre County even if the wedding is elsewhere in the state. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed certificate to the Centre County office for permanent filing.
- Both people appear in person at Bellefonte office
- Valid photo ID and Social Security number
- $50.00 in cash
- Proof of prior marriage dissolution if applicable
- Three-day wait before license is valid
Historical Marriage Records in Centre County
Centre County was formed from Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, and Northumberland Counties on February 1, 1800. The county seat is Bellefonte, which has held all records since the county's founding. There is no known history of courthouse disasters in Centre County, so the files are well kept from the earliest years.
Marriage records in Centre County begin in 1885 when Pennsylvania required county-issued licenses. Before 1885, marriages were often recorded only in church registers or published in local newspapers. The Prothonotary has divorce and court records dating all the way back to 1800. Land records from the Recorder of Deeds also start in 1800. These records can help with family research across more than two centuries in Centre County.
The Pennsylvania State Archives has some Centre County records on digitized microfilm. FamilySearch holds county marriage records from 1885 to 1950 that may include Centre County entries. The Ancestry.com Pennsylvania marriages collection for 1852 to 1854 is another starting point. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry for free through the State Archives portal.
The Library of Congress Pennsylvania vital records guide points to many more databases. Local historical societies in Centre County may also hold church records and newspaper archives that document pre-1885 marriages in the area.
What Centre County Marriage Records Include
A marriage record from Centre County contains detailed facts about both spouses and the ceremony. The license application lists full names, ages, dates of birth, current addresses, and Social Security numbers. Parents' names and birthplaces are part of the record. Prior marriage history is noted if either person was married before.
The returned certificate shows when and where the ceremony took place. It names the officiant or, for self-uniting licenses, the witnesses. Social Security numbers are typically redacted from public copies of Centre County marriage records. Most other details remain visible and accessible to anyone who requests them.
Certified copies carry the official seal and are accepted as legal proof. They are often needed for name changes, insurance claims, and benefits applications. Plain copies are fine for personal research or genealogy work in Centre County. The Register of Wills staff can advise on which type of copy best fits your needs.
Note: Centre County birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are available from the same office and may help with related family history research.
Nearby Counties
Centre County sits in the geographic center of Pennsylvania. Marriage records are filed where the license was issued. If you need a record from a neighboring county, contact that county's Register of Wills.