Montgomery County Marriage License Records
Montgomery County marriage records are maintained by the Register of Wills at the courthouse in Norristown. This large suburban county near Philadelphia has an online marriage license search system covering records from the 1990s to the present. Older records date back to 1885 and are available in the office. Whether you need a new license, a certified copy, or want to search historical marriage records, Montgomery County offers several ways to access this information.
Montgomery County Quick Facts
Montgomery County Register of Wills
The Register of Wills handles all marriage records in Montgomery County. This office issues new marriage licenses, maintains the official record of all marriages, and provides certified copies. The office is located at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown.
Montgomery County offers a convenient option for marriage license applications. You can complete your application through a WEBEX video conference. Applicants may log in from different locations, which means both parties do not need to be in the same room. Walk-in applications are also accepted at the courthouse. Apply at least two weeks before your ceremony date to allow for processing.
The Montgomery County Register of Wills website has details about the application process and record requests.
Records in this office are open to the public. You can view original marriage licenses and request copies during business hours.
| Office |
Register of Wills Montgomery County Courthouse Norristown, PA 19404 Phone: (610) 278-3000 |
|---|---|
| Archives |
2010 Old Arch Road Norristown, PA 19401 Phone: (610) 278-3441 |
| PO Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311 |
Online Marriage License Search
Montgomery County has an online marriage license search system that covers records from the early 1990s to the present. You can search by applicant name, and the system supports partial name searches. For example, typing "Smith" will return results for Smith, Smithson, and Smithers. Date range searches are also available.
This online tool is free to use. It shows basic information about the marriage license. For certified copies, you will still need to contact the Register of Wills office. A certified copy costs $25.00.
The online system covers only the most recent decades. For records from 1885 to the early 1990s, you need to contact the office directly or visit in person. The office has bride and groom indexes that cover the full range of records from 1885 onward. Staff can search these indexes for you.
The marriage license search portal makes Montgomery County one of the more accessible counties in Pennsylvania for online marriage record research.
Note: Under Section 1301 of Title 23, all Pennsylvania marriages require a license issued by the clerk of the orphans' court in the county where either party resides.
Marriage License Fees
The total cost for a marriage license in Montgomery County is $85.00. This breaks down into several parts required by state law and county policy.
- Montgomery County fee: $39.50
- Pennsylvania Writ Tax: $0.50
- Act 151 Domestic Violence fund: $10.00
- Act 222 Children's Fund: $10.00
- Certified copy of the record: $25.00
The license is not valid until three days after the video conference or in-person appointment, as required by Section 1303 of Title 23. It stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. A license issued in Montgomery County can be used anywhere in Pennsylvania. Payment shows as pending until the application is accepted by the office.
If either applicant cannot speak English, an independent translator must join the video conference with a valid photo ID.
Historical Marriage Records
Montgomery County has a deep collection of historical records. Marriage records start in 1885 with bride and groom indexes. The county also has birth and death records from 1893 to 1915, delayed birth certificates from 1841 to 1966, and probate records from 1784 to 1987 in docket books. Records from 1988 forward are on computer.
For the 1852 to 1855 period, Montgomery County has birth, marriage, and death records from the brief statewide registration effort. These are available at the courthouse and through the Pennsylvania State Archives.
FamilySearch has several collections that include Montgomery County marriage records. The Pennsylvania County Marriages collection covers 1885 to 1950 with indexes and images. Other collections go back even further, including Pennsylvania Church Marriages from 1682 to 1976 and Pennsylvania Civil Marriages from 1677 to 1950. The Ancestry collection of Pennsylvania marriages from 1852 to 1854 also includes Montgomery County records.
The Montgomery County Archives Department at 2010 Old Arch Road in Norristown has extensive genealogy resources. Original records on microfilm are available at various county departments. Pre-1885 marriages can sometimes be found through church records, which are available by denomination through FamilySearch and other genealogy sites.
Note: Records from 1988 onward are stored digitally, while older records are in docket books and on microfilm at the Montgomery County Archives.
Requesting Montgomery County Marriage Records
You can request marriage records in person at the Register of Wills office or by mail. In person, staff can search the indexes and pull records while you wait. By mail, send your request to PO Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311. Include the names of both spouses, the approximate date of the marriage, and payment for the certified copy.
Under Section 1307 of Title 23, the clerk must keep a register of all marriage licenses issued. Montgomery County has complied with this requirement since 1885, giving researchers access to over a century of records.
Montgomery County court records are also available through various online databases. The Unified Judicial System Portal can be used to search for court filings across Pennsylvania counties.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health issues marriage certificates for $20 per copy, covering marriages from 1906 onward. Order by mail from the Division of Vital Records at PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. For the full marriage license document with all details, the Montgomery County Register of Wills is the source.
Additional Resources
The Library of Congress Pennsylvania genealogy guide lists archives and libraries where Montgomery County records may be found. The USGenWeb project also has a county marriage license search covering the early 1990s to the present. Newspaper marriage notices have been indexed for some periods as well.
For historical research involving Mahlon Van Booskirk, a Justice of the Peace who performed marriages in the area from 1812 to 1839, records are available through genealogy databases. These can fill in gaps for the pre-civil registration period in Montgomery County.
Under Section 1309 of Title 23, special provisions may apply in certain marriage license situations. Contact the Montgomery County Register of Wills for guidance on any unusual circumstances.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County includes many townships and boroughs. Marriage licenses issued in Montgomery County cover all communities within its borders. Below are some of the larger municipalities in the county.
Residents of Lower Merion, Norristown, Lansdale, Pottstown, and other Montgomery County communities all obtain their marriage licenses from the Register of Wills in Norristown.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County borders several other counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. If a marriage license was issued in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's office for records.