Lycoming County Marriage Record Lookup
Lycoming County marriage records are kept by the Register and Recorder and Clerk of Orphans' Court at the courthouse in Williamsport. The county has issued marriage licenses since 1885. Lycoming County is in north-central Pennsylvania along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. If you need to apply for a marriage license or search for an old record, this page will help you find what you need. Use the search tools below or contact the county office.
Lycoming County Quick Facts
Lycoming County Register and Recorder
The Register and Recorder and Clerk of Orphans' Court issues marriage licenses in Lycoming County. The office is on the first floor at 48 West Third Street in Williamsport. David Huffman serves as the Register of Wills. Appointments are required for marriage license applications. Call Dartha at 570-327-2260 to schedule yours.
The Lycoming County Register and Recorder website has information about services and office locations.
Both people who plan to marry must come to the office in person. Pennsylvania law under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1301 requires a marriage license for every marriage. The Lycoming County office is the only place to get one for marriages filed in this county.
| Office |
Register & Recorder / Clerk of Orphans' Court 48 W. Third Street, 1st Floor Williamsport, PA 17701 Phone: 570-327-2263 Appointments: 570-327-2260 (Dartha) Fax: 570-327-6790 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (except court-approved holidays) |
| Website | lyco.org |
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Call 570-327-2260 to set up an appointment at the Lycoming County courthouse. Both applicants must appear together. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, or resident alien card. Your Social Security number is required at application.
The license fee is $40.00. If you were married before, bring a certified divorce decree that includes the month, day, year, county, and state of the divorce. Widowed applicants need the date of death of their former spouse. Foreign divorce documents must have a certified English translation.
The three-day waiting period under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1303 starts on the day you apply. If you apply on a Monday, you can pick up the license on Thursday. After the waiting period, the license stays valid for 60 days anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Both applicants must be 18 or older. First cousin marriages are not allowed. Common-law marriages are only recognized in Pennsylvania if they were created before January 1, 2005. Self-uniting licenses, sometimes called Quaker licenses, are available if you inform the clerk before your application.
If neither applicant speaks English, an independent translator must attend the appointment. No blood test is needed. No witnesses are required. Proxy marriages are not allowed in Lycoming County.
Note: If you need a birth certificate as a secondary form of ID, bring it along with your photo ID to the Lycoming County office.
Searching Lycoming County Marriage Records
Lycoming County has marriage records from 1885 to the present. There is no online database for searching Lycoming County marriage records. You must visit the office in person or contact them by phone or mail. The in-office index allows staff to search by name and date.
The Lycoming County official website has general information about the county government.
To request a copy by mail, write to the Register and Recorder at 48 W. Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701. Include both names, the date of marriage if known, and payment for the copy fee. Call the office at 570-327-2263 to confirm the current fee before sending your request.
Marriage license applications become public records the moment they are filed under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1309. Anyone may ask to see them. You do not need to be a party named in the record.
Historical Marriage Records
Lycoming County has an important gap that sets it apart from many other Pennsylvania counties. The county was not included in the FamilySearch Pennsylvania County Marriages 1885-1950 database. Its marriage records were not microfilmed by the Family History Library. This means there are no digitized Lycoming County marriage records available through FamilySearch or similar online platforms.
Lycoming County is one of only six Pennsylvania counties not microfilmed. The others are Centre, Mifflin, Monroe, Pike, and Union. For any Lycoming County marriage records, you must go directly to the courthouse in Williamsport or contact the office by mail.
Lycoming County court records can also be found through third-party record databases.
Before 1885, marriages in Lycoming County did not require a license. Church records and newspaper notices from the Williamsport area are the best sources for earlier marriages. The Lycoming County Genealogical Society and the Lycoming County Historical Society both hold collections that may include extracted marriage records. The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg may also have some related materials.
The Prothonotary at 48 W. Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701 (phone: 570-327-2251) handles civil court records, including divorce records. Birth and death records from 1906 onward are held by the state, not the county.
Note: Because Lycoming County marriage records were never microfilmed, the courthouse is the only source for records from 1885 to the present.
What Lycoming County Marriage Records Include
A marriage record from Lycoming County lists the full names and addresses of both people. Ages, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers are included. Parents' names are recorded. The application also states whether either person was previously married and how any past marriage ended.
The returned marriage certificate adds the date and place of the ceremony, the name of the officiant, and witness information. Under 23 Pa.C.S. Section 1307, a license is issued with an original and a duplicate certificate. The completed certificate is filed with the Register and Recorder in Lycoming County and becomes a permanent public record.
Certified copies from the Lycoming County office carry an official seal and are accepted for legal purposes. You may need one to change your name, update government records, or handle property matters.
Legal Help in Lycoming County
Residents of Lycoming County who need legal help with marriage or family law matters have options. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal provides free access to court docket sheets. You can search by name or case number. Pennsylvania Legal Aid at palegalaid.net offers free legal help to those with low income.
The Pennsylvania Bar Association lawyer referral service at (800) 692-7375 can connect you with a family law attorney near Williamsport. The Lycoming County courthouse staff can answer procedural questions about marriage records but cannot give legal advice.
Nearby Counties
Lycoming County is in north-central Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River. If you are not sure which county handles your marriage license, check the address where you live before you apply.