Dauphin County Marriage License Records
Dauphin County marriage records are kept at the Register of Wills office in Harrisburg. The county seat is also the state capital, which gives Dauphin County close ties to state-level archives. You can search for marriage records in person at the courthouse or through the county's public search system. Dauphin County holds marriage license records from 1885 to the present. Staff at the Register of Wills office can help you find both recent and older records. This guide covers how to search, what fees to expect, and where to look for historical marriage records in Dauphin County.
Dauphin County Quick Facts
Dauphin County Register of Wills
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court issues marriage licenses in Dauphin County. This office is in the Dauphin County Courthouse at 101 Market Street in Harrisburg. Both people who plan to marry must come to the office in person. You need a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for your former spouse.
Under Section 1301 of Title 23, no marriage in Pennsylvania may take place without a license. Dauphin County follows this rule strictly. The Register of Wills also keeps records of all marriage licenses issued in the county since 1885. Older records from the 1852 to 1854 period may also be on file, though those are rare and not complete.
Dauphin County offers a public search tool for looking up marriage records online. This lets you check if a record exists before you visit the courthouse. The online system covers recent decades of Dauphin County marriage records.
The Dauphin County court records page provides access to public case information and marriage records.
This page shows the court records portal where you can begin a search for Dauphin County marriage records and other public documents.
| Office |
Dauphin County Register of Wills Clerk of Orphans' Court 101 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone: (717) 780-6500 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | dauphincounty.gov |
Searching Dauphin County Marriage Records
You have several ways to look for marriage records in Dauphin County. The fastest is the online public search tool on the county website. This system lets you look up records by name. It works best for records from the last few decades. For older records, you may need to visit the courthouse in Harrisburg or write to the Register of Wills.
To search at the courthouse, go to the Register of Wills office. Give the clerk the full names of both people and the year they were married. A license number speeds up the search. The clerk will check the index and pull the record for you. Dauphin County staff are used to helping with record requests. Plan to arrive well before closing time if you want copies the same day.
You can also search through the Unified Judicial System Portal. This tool covers court records across all 67 counties. It is free to use for basic case data. For full marriage record copies, you still need to go through the Dauphin County Register of Wills.
To request records by mail, send a letter to the Register of Wills at 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate date, and your return address. Add a check for the search and copy fees. The office will mail back what they find.
Note: Mail requests may take two to four weeks to process, so plan ahead if you need a Dauphin County marriage record for a deadline.
Marriage License Fees in Dauphin County
Dauphin County charges a fee for marriage license applications. The cost is in line with other mid-size Pennsylvania counties. Certified copies of existing marriage records cost less than a new license. Under Section 1303, there is a three-day waiting period after you apply. The license then stays valid for 60 days.
Common fees in Dauphin County include:
- Marriage license application: $50 to $65
- Certified copy of marriage record: $5 to $10
- Search fee for office-conducted research: varies
- Additional certified copies: varies per page
Fees can change, so call the Register of Wills before you visit. The office takes cash, checks, and money orders. Some counties now take credit cards, but confirm with Dauphin County first. If you have low income, you may apply for a fee waiver through the court in Dauphin County.
Dauphin County Historical Marriage Records
Dauphin County has marriage records going back to 1885. That year marked the start of required marriage license recording across all Pennsylvania counties. The county also has some records from 1852 to 1854, when the state briefly required counties to track marriages. Those early records are not complete but can be useful for family history work.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds microfilm copies of many Dauphin County marriage records. Since the archives sit in the same city as the Dauphin County courthouse, this is handy for researchers. You can visit the State Archives at 1681 North Sixth Street in Harrisburg. Staff there can point you to the right reels for Dauphin County marriage records. The archives do not search records for you, but you can use their reading room during business hours.
FamilySearch also has digital images of Pennsylvania county marriages from 1885 to 1950. You can search the Pennsylvania County Marriages collection for free. This includes records from many counties. Check the catalog for Dauphin County coverage. The Ancestry.com Pennsylvania Marriages 1852-1854 collection is another resource. Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry for free through the State Archives partnership.
Note: Before 1885, marriage records in Dauphin County came mostly from church registers and newspaper notices, not the county government.
What Dauphin County Marriage Records Show
A marriage record from Dauphin County lists the full names of both parties. It shows their ages and home addresses at the time of the application. Jobs and birthplaces are part of the record too. Parents' names often appear on older records. The date of the application and the date of the ceremony are both noted. The name of the officiant is on file as well.
Under Section 1309, marriage license applications in Pennsylvania are public records. Anyone can ask to see them. You do not need to be a party to the marriage. Dauphin County follows this rule and allows public access to marriage records at the Register of Wills office.
If either party was under 18, the record includes a parental consent form. Prior divorce decrees are kept on file for anyone who was previously married. These details make Dauphin County marriage records useful for both legal and genealogy work. Certified copies carry the county seal and serve as proof of marriage for banks, courts, and government agencies.
Legal Help in Dauphin County
Several groups offer help with marriage and family law matters in Dauphin County. Pennsylvania Legal Aid at palegalaid.net serves low-income residents. The Pennsylvania Bar Association runs a referral line at (800) 692-7375. They can connect you with a family law attorney who works in Dauphin County.
The Pennsylvania State Archives at phmc.pa.gov is a strong resource for historical records. Since it is right in Harrisburg, it pairs well with a visit to the Dauphin County courthouse. The Library of Congress Pennsylvania guide also lists marriage record resources by county.
Nearby Counties
Dauphin County sits in south-central Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River. If you are not sure which county holds the marriage record you need, check where the license was issued. Marriage records stay with the county that granted the license.