Greene County Pennsylvania Marriage Records
Greene County marriage records are kept by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Greene County Courthouse in Waynesburg. Located in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania, Greene County was formed from Washington County in 1796. Marriage license records here go back to 1885, though some earlier records from Justices of the Peace date to 1841. This guide explains how to search Greene County marriage records, request certified copies, and find historical records through local and online sources. Whether you need a recent license or a record from the 1800s, this page shows you where to look.
Greene County Quick Facts
Greene County Register of Wills
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court in Greene County is the main office for marriage records. This office is in Room 100 of the Greene County Courthouse at 10 East High Street in Waynesburg. You can reach the office by phone at (724) 852-5283.
Staff at the Greene County Register of Wills can look up marriage records by name or date. They keep records from 1885 to the present. To get a certified copy, you need to provide the full names of both spouses and the approximate date of the marriage. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours.
Here is a screenshot of the Greene County Register of Wills page with more on their services.
The Greene County government website provides department contacts and service details for the Register of Wills office.
Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1301, a marriage license is required for all marriages in Pennsylvania. Greene County has followed this rule since 1885, when the state made license issuance mandatory at the county level.
| Office |
Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court Greene County Courthouse 10 East High Street, Room 100 Waynesburg, PA 15370 Phone: (724) 852-5283 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | greenecountypa.gov |
Searching Greene County Marriage Records
You can search for marriage records in Greene County in person, by mail, or online. Each method works for different situations. In-person visits are best when you need a certified copy quickly. Online searches are best for older records or genealogy work.
To search in person, go to the Register of Wills in the Greene County Courthouse at 10 East High Street in Waynesburg. Bring the names of both spouses and, if possible, the year of the marriage. Staff can search the dockets and provide copies. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office is also in the courthouse at (724) 852-5288 for related court records.
You can search through the Greene County Clerk of Courts website, which offers an online civil case search at greenecountypa.gov/CivilSearch.
Crystal Walters serves as the Clerk of Courts in Greene County. The office manages court dockets, marriage licenses, and estate matters. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Note: Some older paper files in Greene County have been lost over time. Attorneys checked out files that were never returned, and some records did not survive more than two hundred years of use.
Historical Marriage Records in Greene County
Greene County has a rich collection of historical marriage records. The county was incorporated on February 9, 1796, from Washington County. While formal marriage license dockets begin in 1885, earlier records exist from other sources.
The most notable early records are the Greene County Marriage Records of Justices of the Peace from 1841 to 1895. These records document marriages performed by local officials before the state required formal licenses. They can be found through FamilySearch.
Other historical Greene County marriage records include:
- Marriage License Dockets from 1885 to 1916
- Index to Marriage License Dockets from 1885 to 1976
- Marriage Records of Justices of the Peace from 1841 to 1895
- Greene County Marriages collection on FamilySearch
The Greene Connections courthouse guide notes that physical records at the Greene County Courthouse go back to 1796. The Orphans' Court has records in docket books and paper files. Not all paper files survived, but intact files may contain handwritten signatures, maps, and exhibits that are valuable for research.
The Greene County official website below provides links to all county departments.
Visit the Greene County website for the latest hours, contacts, and services at the courthouse in Waynesburg.
Greene County Marriage License Requirements
Applying for a marriage license in Greene County follows Pennsylvania state law. Both parties must appear at the Register of Wills office in Waynesburg. You must bring valid photo identification and know your Social Security number.
A three-day waiting period applies after you file the application, per 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1303. A court can waive this in certain cases. The license is then valid for 60 days and can be used in any of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
If either party was married before, you must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for a prior spouse. Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1307, the clerk issues the license only after confirming there is no legal bar to the marriage. Pennsylvania does not require residency in Greene County or a blood test.
The Prothonotary in Greene County also has birth and death records from 1893 to 1915. These can help verify identity or establish family connections when searching for marriage records in Greene County.
Greene County Court Records
Marriage records in Greene County are part of the broader set of court records held at the courthouse. The Prothonotary handles civil case filings and divorce records going back to 1816. The Register of Wills handles land, probate, and marriage records. Together, these offices hold a complete picture of family history in Greene County.
A screenshot of the Greene County court records page is shown below for reference.
This page lists the address, phone, and services of the Greene County Prothonotary and Register of Wills.
Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1309, marriage license applications are filed and docketed as public records. Anyone can request to view them in Greene County. Some files may be restricted if they involve minors or sealed court orders, but most marriage records are open to the public.
Note: Court records from 1797 to the present are held at the Greene County Courthouse. Some gaps exist in the earliest records due to age and handling.
Nearby Counties
Greene County sits in the far southwest corner of Pennsylvania. If the marriage you are looking for was not filed here, check the neighboring counties. Marriage licenses are filed where the couple applied, which may differ from where they lived or held the ceremony.