Fayette County Marriage License Search
Fayette County marriage records are on file at the Register of Wills in Uniontown. The county was named after the Marquis de Lafayette and has roots going back to 1783. Fayette County holds marriage records from 1885 to the present, with some earlier records from the 1852 to 1854 period. You can search for records at the courthouse, by mail, or through online genealogy databases. This guide covers how to find marriage records, what they cost, and where to look for older records in Fayette County.
Fayette County Quick Facts
Fayette County Register of Wills
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court handles marriage licenses in Fayette County. The office is in the Fayette County Courthouse at 61 East Main Street in Uniontown. Both parties must visit the office in person to apply. Bring a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. If either person was married before, a certified divorce decree or death certificate is required.
Under Section 1301 of Title 23, a marriage license is required before any ceremony in Pennsylvania. Fayette County follows this rule. The Register of Wills also handles estate matters, adoptions, and guardianships. For marriage records specifically, call (724) 430-1206 to reach the marriage license section.
The Fayette County government website provides an overview of county services and departments.
The county website lists departments and contact information for Fayette County offices, including the Register of Wills.
| Office |
Fayette County Register of Wills Clerk of Orphans' Court 61 East Main Street Uniontown, PA 15401 Phone: (724) 430-1206 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | fayettecountypa.org |
Searching Fayette County Marriage Records
You can search for Fayette County marriage records at the courthouse in Uniontown. Visit the Register of Wills office and provide the names of both parties and the year of the marriage. The clerk will check the index and pull the record. Fayette County has a complete computerized marriage license index from 1885 to the present, which makes searches fast.
You can also request records by mail. Send a completed Application for Certified Marriage License to the Register of Wills at 61 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. Include a check for $10.00 made out to the Register of Wills. The application must have the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage. The office will mail back a certified copy if they find the record.
For court records, you can search through the Unified Judicial System Portal. This free tool covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties. For actual marriage record copies, go through the Fayette County Register of Wills.
The Fayette County court records page lets you search for public case information.
This portal covers court records and public documents in Fayette County.
Note: The computerized index in Fayette County covers all marriage records from 1885 onward, so staff can usually find a record quickly.
Fayette County Marriage Record Fees
Fayette County charges reasonable fees for marriage records. A certified copy of a marriage record costs $10.00 when requested by mail. The marriage license application fee is separate and may vary. Under Section 1303, there is a three-day waiting period after both parties apply. The license stays valid for 60 days under Section 1307.
Call the Register of Wills at (724) 430-1206 to confirm current fees before you visit. The office takes cash, checks, and money orders. Checks should be made out to the Register of Wills. The courthouse phone number is (724) 430-1479 for general questions about Fayette County services.
Fayette County Historical Marriage Records
Fayette County was formed on September 26, 1783, from Westmoreland County. The county has no known courthouse fires or major record losses. Marriage records begin in 1885, when Pennsylvania first required all counties to issue marriage licenses. Fayette County also has some records from 1852 to 1854, when the state briefly required counties to track vital events.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds an extensive collection of Fayette County marriage license dockets. These cover the years 1885 to 1916 across more than 60 volumes on microfilm. The films are numbered 10394 through 10419. You can view these at the State Archives at 1681 North Sixth Street in Harrisburg or through FamilySearch.
FamilySearch has indexed Fayette County marriage records from 1885 to 1950. The collection includes marriage license dockets on films 1318021 through 1318055. A Fayette County Genealogy Project also has an index of brides from 1885 to 1889. The Pennsylvania County Marriages 1885-1950 collection on FamilySearch is free to search. You can also check Ancestry.com's Pennsylvania Marriages 1852-1854 collection for earlier records.
Before 1885, church records are the main source for marriage information in Fayette County. Newspaper notices from the Uniontown area may also list marriages. The Fayette County Historical Society can point you to local church archives and other genealogy resources.
Note: Fayette County has one of the more extensive sets of microfilmed marriage records at the State Archives, covering more than 30 years in detail.
What Fayette County Marriage Records Show
A marriage record from Fayette County lists the full names of both parties. It shows their ages, addresses, and jobs. Parents' names and birthplaces are part of the record too. The application date, license issue date, and ceremony date are all noted. The name of the officiant appears on each record.
Under Section 1309, marriage license applications in Pennsylvania are public records. Anyone can ask to see them in Fayette County. You do not need to be a party to the marriage. This makes Fayette County marriage records useful for genealogy, legal research, and personal needs. Certified copies carry the county seal and are valid for banks, courts, and government agencies.
Legal Help in Fayette County
If you need legal help with a marriage matter in Fayette County, several options exist. Pennsylvania Legal Aid at palegalaid.net serves residents who meet income limits. The Pennsylvania Bar Association referral line at (800) 692-7375 can match you with a family law attorney in Fayette County.
The Pennsylvania State Archives is a strong resource for historical records. Since the archives hold extensive Fayette County microfilm, a visit to Harrisburg can be very productive for genealogy research. The Library of Congress guide to Pennsylvania vital records is another free resource.
Nearby Counties
Fayette County sits in southwestern Pennsylvania near the West Virginia and Maryland borders. If you are not sure which county holds the marriage record you need, check where the license was issued. Records stay with the county that granted the license.