Marriage Records for Mifflin County
Mifflin County marriage records are maintained at the courthouse in Lewistown by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. This central Pennsylvania county has marriage license records from 1885 to the present. Mifflin County does not have an online database for marriage records, so all searches must be done in person or by mail. Use this page to find out how to request and search for marriage records in Mifflin County.
Mifflin County Quick Facts
Mifflin County Clerk of Orphans' Court
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is the office that handles marriage records in Mifflin County. This office issues marriage licenses, records returned licenses after ceremonies, and provides certified copies of marriage certificates. The courthouse is at 20 North Wayne Street in Lewistown.
Both parties must appear at the office to apply for a new marriage license. You will need to bring a valid photo ID. Written requests for certified copies of existing marriage records are accepted by mail. Include the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and payment with your request.
The Mifflin County official website has general information about county departments and services.
You can reach the office by phone to ask about hours and procedures before you visit.
| Office |
Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court Mifflin County Courthouse 20 North Wayne Street Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: (717) 242-1449 |
|---|---|
| Fax | (717) 248-2503 |
| Prothonotary | (717) 248-8146 |
How to Find Marriage Records
Searching for marriage records in Mifflin County requires direct contact with the courthouse. There is no online database available for public searching. You can visit the office in person, call by phone, or send a written request by mail.
To request a marriage record by mail, send a letter to the Clerk of Orphans' Court at the address above. Your letter should include the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the marriage, and the place where the marriage took place if you know it. Include a check or money order for the copy fee. A certified copy costs $4.00 per document. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return.
In person, staff can search the office index by name. If you know the approximate year, that helps speed up the search. The office keeps an in-office index that covers all marriage license records from 1885 forward. Older records may take more time to locate.
Under Section 1301 of Title 23, Pennsylvania requires couples to obtain a marriage license before the ceremony. Mifflin County has followed this requirement since 1885.
Note: Mifflin County is one of six Pennsylvania counties whose marriage records were not microfilmed by FamilySearch, so online genealogy databases have limited coverage for this area.
Mifflin County Historical Marriage Records
Mifflin County was created in 1789 from parts of Cumberland and Northumberland counties. Marriage license records at the courthouse begin in 1885, which is when Pennsylvania law first required county-level marriage licensing. For marriages before that date, you will need to look at church records, family Bible entries, or other unofficial sources.
One important fact for researchers is that Mifflin County is not included in the FamilySearch database of Pennsylvania county marriages from 1885 to 1950. This means you cannot find Mifflin County marriage records in that widely used online collection. The county was one of six in the state that were never microfilmed for that project. The other five counties without coverage are Centre, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, and Union.
Because of this gap, the courthouse in Lewistown is the only reliable source for Mifflin County marriage records from 1885 onward. There are no online images or indexes available for these records. You must contact the courthouse directly for any search.
The Pennsylvania State Archives may hold some related records for the Mifflin County area, but marriage license dockets from this county were not included in their microfilm collection.
Marriage License Requirements
To get a marriage license in Mifflin County, both people must visit the Clerk of Orphans' Court office together. You each need a government-issued photo ID. Under Section 1303 of Title 23, there is a three-day waiting period after the license is issued before it becomes valid. The license then remains good for 60 days.
A license issued in Mifflin County can be used anywhere in Pennsylvania. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Mifflin County courthouse. The Clerk of Orphans' Court then records the marriage and files the license. This creates the official marriage record for Mifflin County.
Contact the office for the current license fee. You can call (717) 242-1449 to confirm fees and what forms of payment they accept. Divorce records in Mifflin County are maintained separately by the Prothonotary, which is a different office at the same courthouse.
Mifflin County Court Records
In addition to the courthouse, you can look for Mifflin County records through the Pennsylvania court system. The Unified Judicial System Portal provides access to some court records across the state.
Pennsylvania court record databases compile information from multiple county sources and can be a starting point for research into Mifflin County marriage records and related court filings.
Under Section 1307 of Title 23, the clerk is required to keep a register of all marriage licenses issued. This means every license that has passed through the Mifflin County office since 1885 should be on file. Birth records less than 100 years old in Mifflin County are restricted, but marriage records are generally open to the public.
The fee schedule and public access rules are available at the Mifflin County Clerk of Orphans' Court office. You can ask for a copy when you visit or call the office to have one sent to you.
State Vital Records
The Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains marriage certificates as part of its vital records program. These certificates cover marriages from 1906 to the present across all counties, including Mifflin County. A certificate from the state confirms that a marriage took place. It shows the names of both spouses, the date, and the county.
You can order a marriage certificate from the Division of Vital Records by mail at PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. The fee is $20 per certified copy. You can also order online through VitalChek. For the full marriage license with all details, you still need to go to the Mifflin County courthouse.
The CDC guide for Pennsylvania vital records lists where to write for different types of records. This is a good reference if you are not sure which office to contact. Under Section 1309 of Title 23, certain exceptions to the standard marriage license process may apply in special circumstances.
Note: If you need a marriage record from before 1885 in the Mifflin County area, check church records and the State Archives vital statistics collection for any surviving records from the 1852 to 1854 state registration period.
Nearby Counties
Mifflin County is in central Pennsylvania. If a marriage license was issued in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's office. Check where the license was applied for to find the right records.