Jefferson County Marriage Records Search
Jefferson County marriage records are housed at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Brookville, the county seat. Records go back to 1885, with some earlier entries from 1852 to 1855. This page covers everything you need to know about finding, requesting, and understanding marriage records in Jefferson County. Home to both Brookville and Punxsutawney, Jefferson County has a long history and a solid collection of marriage license dockets. The Clerk of Orphans' Court handles all marriage license records, and the Jefferson County History Center provides extra resources for genealogy work.
Jefferson County Quick Facts
Jefferson County Courthouse Records
The Jefferson County Courthouse at 200 Main Street in Brookville is the central location for marriage records. The Clerk of Orphans' Court handles marriage licenses. The Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and Prothonotary are also in the courthouse for related records like deeds, wills, and divorce filings.
Court records in Jefferson County go back to 1832. Land records start in 1828, and probate records begin in 1830. The county was established in 1784, making it one of the older counties in western Pennsylvania. Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1301, all Pennsylvania marriages require a license from the Clerk of Orphans' Court.
The FamilySearch guide for Jefferson County notes that marriage records began in 1885, with some registrations from 1852 to 1855 during a short-lived state requirement. The county seat of Brookville holds all these records.
Below is a screenshot of the Jefferson County official website.
The Jefferson County website lists departments, services, and contact information for all offices at the courthouse.
| Office |
Jefferson County Courthouse 200 Main Street Brookville, PA 15825 Phone: (814) 849-1600 |
|---|---|
| Annex |
155 Jefferson Place Brookville, PA 15825 Phone: (814) 849-1610 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
How to Search Jefferson County Records
There are several ways to find marriage records in Jefferson County. Your choice depends on the age of the record and what you need it for.
For recent records, visit or call the Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Jefferson County Courthouse. You need the full names of both spouses and the year of the marriage. The office can search their dockets and provide certified copies. You can also send a mail request to 200 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825.
For historical records, the Jefferson County PA GenWeb vital records page is a good starting point. It lists the types of records available and their date ranges. Early dockets from 1885 to 1916 are on FamilySearch. The 1852 to 1855 marriage index is part of the International Genealogical Index.
A screenshot of the Jefferson County court records page is shown here.
This page provides directions for requesting marriage records from the Jefferson County courthouse.
Note: Statewide registration of births and deaths began in 1906 with general compliance by 1915. Marriage records, however, have been at the county level since 1885 in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County History Center
The Jefferson County History Center at 172-176 Main Street in Brookville is a valuable resource for genealogy research. The center has a research library and archives with a wide range of records.
The collection includes a wide range of materials:
- Surname and topical files with family histories
- Church and cemetery records from across the county
- Newspaper microfilms from six local papers
- Transcriptions of courthouse records including marriages
- Census microfilms from 1810 to 1930
The newspaper collection covers the Jeffersonian Democrat, Brookville American, Brookville Republican, Brockway Record, Reynoldsville Star, and Punxsutawney Spirit on microfilm. The center also holds manuscript collections, photographs, and artwork that provide context for family research in Jefferson County.
County histories, atlases, and maps from 1866 and 1878 help put marriage records in context. Census microfilms from 1810 to 1930 round out the collection. The center offers free access to Ancestry, FamilySearch, Newspapers.com, and other databases on public computers.
The Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society at 400 West Mahoning Street in Punxsutawney provides more resources for records in the eastern part of Jefferson County. Their phone number is (814) 938-2555.
Jefferson County Marriage License Process
To get a marriage license in Jefferson County, both parties must visit the Clerk of Orphans' Court in person. Bring valid photo ID, your Social Security number, and proof that any prior marriage has ended.
Pennsylvania requires a three-day wait after the application, per 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1303. A judge may waive this for emergencies. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days in any county in Pennsylvania, as stated in 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1307.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Jefferson County Clerk. The returned certificate and the original application are both filed as public records under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1309. Anyone can request to see these records.
The Jefferson County Courthouse Annex at 155 Jefferson Place also handles some record requests. Call (814) 849-1610 for details.
Historical Marriage Records in Jefferson County
Jefferson County has marriage records from two periods before continuous recording began. From 1852 to 1855, a state law briefly required counties to register marriages. These early Jefferson County records are in the International Genealogical Index and on FamilySearch. From 1885 onward, the Clerk of Orphans' Court kept continuous marriage license dockets.
The Jefferson County Locality Guide lists the courthouse and historical society as the main repositories for records. It recommends calling ahead for access policies, especially for older records or in-person visits.
The Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical Society at 232 Jefferson Street in Brookville has manuscript collections, photograph archives, and church records that can supplement courthouse marriage records. Their phone number is (814) 849-0077.
Birth records from 1893 to 1906, death records from 1893 to 1906, and marriage records from 1885 onward are at the Jefferson County Courthouse. Naturalization records from 1830 to 1940 are also available for researchers working on family history in Jefferson County.
Note: Always call the Jefferson County Courthouse ahead of your visit to confirm hours and access policies for older records.
Nearby Counties
Jefferson County borders several counties in western Pennsylvania. If a marriage license was not filed in Jefferson County, the couple may have applied in a nearby county. Check the county where the application was made.