Juniata County Marriage License Records
Juniata County marriage records are managed by the Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Juniata County Courthouse in Mifflintown. This small, rural county in central Pennsylvania has marriage license dockets going back to 1885, plus early records from 1852 to 1853 and 1858 to 1863. Whether you need a certified copy of a recent marriage license or want to trace family roots through older records, this page covers where to look. Juniata County keeps its fees low and its process straightforward. The county seat is Mifflintown, where all marriage license matters are handled.
Juniata County Quick Facts
Juniata County Clerk of Orphans' Court
The Clerk of Orphans' Court in Juniata County handles all marriage license applications and record requests. The office is at 1 North Main Street in Mifflintown, PA 17059. You can reach them by phone at 717-436-7709.
Office hours run Monday through Friday. From June through September, Wednesday hours are 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The rest of the year, the office is open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays. Staff can look up marriage records, issue certified copies, and help with applications.
Certified copies of a marriage license cost $5.00. When picking up a copy in person, bring the exact amount. Mail requests are also accepted. Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1301, every marriage in Pennsylvania requires a license issued by the Clerk of Orphans' Court.
| Office |
Clerk of Orphans' Court 1 North Main Street Mifflintown, PA 17059 Phone: 717-436-7709 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Wednesday (June-Sept): 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Website | juniataco.org |
Juniata County Marriage Record Fees
Juniata County has some of the lowest marriage record fees in Pennsylvania. The fee schedule lists the following costs for marriage-related services.
The marriage license fee is $40.00. A certified copy of a marriage certificate costs $5.00. Military personnel can get a fee waiver for the waiting period at no cost. If you need a correction to an existing license, additional fees apply.
These fees are current as of the most recent posting on the Juniata County website. Always call the office at 717-436-7709 to verify rates before you visit.
Note: The office requires exact change for in-person payments for certified copies in Juniata County.
Marriage License Requirements
Both people must appear at the Clerk of Orphans' Court office in Mifflintown to apply for a license.
Pennsylvania law requires applicants to be at least 18 years old. Those aged 16 to 18 need written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Key requirements for a Juniata County marriage license include:
- Valid photo identification for both applicants
- Social Security numbers for both parties
- Proof of dissolution if previously married
- $40.00 license fee
Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1303, a three-day waiting period applies after the application. The license is then valid for 60 days.
There is no blood test requirement. Pennsylvania does not require residency in Juniata County. Cousin marriages are not allowed. Common law marriage is not available for unions after January 1, 2005. If either party was married before, you must bring proof that the prior marriage ended through divorce or death.
Quaker or self-uniting marriage licenses are available in Juniata County. If you want this type of license, tell the clerk before you start the application. Self-uniting licenses let the couple marry without an officiant.
Historical Marriage Records in Juniata County
Juniata County has an unusually rich set of early marriage records for a county its size. The State Archives guide for Juniata County lists several collections of marriage records on microfilm.
The earliest records include indexes to marriages from 1852 to 1853 and a registration of marriages from 1858 to 1863. These predate the 1885 requirement by decades. The State Archives holds these on Film 8354. The marriage license dockets from 1885 to 1957 span Films 8354 through 9160, covering 16 volumes.
FamilySearch has digitized many of these Juniata County records as part of the Pennsylvania County Marriages collection. The dockets from 1885 to 1911 are available online for free. These records show names, dates, and other details from the original license applications in Juniata County.
A screenshot of the Juniata County court records page is shown below.
This page lists contact details and directions for the Juniata County courthouse in Mifflintown.
Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1309, all marriage license applications are public records. Historical records in Juniata County follow this same standard. Anyone can request to view them for research or personal purposes.
How to Search Juniata County Records
To find a marriage record in Juniata County, start with the Clerk of Orphans' Court at the courthouse in Mifflintown. Provide the full names of both spouses and the approximate date of the marriage. Staff can search the dockets and provide copies.
For historical searches, check FamilySearch first. The digitized dockets cover 1885 to 1911 and are free with an account. The State Archives in Harrisburg has microfilm covering 1852 to 1957 for on-site research.
Pennsylvania residents can also access marriage records through the free Ancestry.com Pennsylvania portal. This covers the Pennsylvania County Marriages 1885 to 1950 collection and the Pennsylvania Marriages 1852 to 1854 collection, both of which include Juniata County records.
Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1307, a marriage license is only issued when there is no legal bar to the marriage. This means the records confirm that the clerk verified the couple met all legal requirements at the time they applied in Juniata County.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides court docket searches for Juniata County. While focused on court cases, it can help locate related legal proceedings.
The State Archives vital statistics page explains what county records are available on microfilm across Pennsylvania.
Note: Juniata County is a small county with limited staff. Allow extra time for mail requests and consider calling ahead before visiting in person.
Nearby Counties
Juniata County is a small county in central Pennsylvania. If the marriage record you need was not filed here, try the surrounding counties. The license is filed where the couple applied, not where the wedding took place.