Northumberland County Marriage License Records
Northumberland County marriage records are kept at the courthouse in Sunbury by the Register of Wills. Located in the Susquehanna Valley of central Pennsylvania, this county has continuous marriage records from 1885 to the present. Northumberland County also has historical church records and online indexes that can help with genealogy research. This page covers how to find, search, and request marriage records in Northumberland County.
Northumberland County Quick Facts
Northumberland County Courthouse
The Northumberland County Courthouse at 2 North Second Street in Sunbury is where marriage records are kept. The Register of Wills issues new marriage licenses and maintains the official record of all marriages in the county. The Court of Common Pleas handles other civil matters at the same location.
Both parties must visit the courthouse in person to apply for a new marriage license. You will need valid photo identification. Contact the Register of Wills office for the current license fee and to ask about any forms you need to fill out before your visit.
Northumberland County has no known history of courthouse disasters, which means records have been well preserved. The county has a deep history tied to Native American settlements and coal mining. Sunbury sits at the confluence of the north and west branches of the Susquehanna River, a scenic location that has served as the county seat since the county was formed.
| Office |
Register of Wills Northumberland County Courthouse 2 North Second Street Sunbury, PA 17801 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, business hours |
How to Search Marriage Records
You can search for Northumberland County marriage records in several ways. The courthouse in Sunbury is the most direct option. Staff at the Register of Wills can search their index by name. Provide the names of both spouses and the approximate year of the marriage.
For online research, the PAGenWeb project has marriage indexes for Northumberland County. These include both female and male surname indexes that can help you locate a record before contacting the courthouse. The indexes are free to access and cover various periods from 1852 onward.
Under Section 1301 of Title 23, Pennsylvania requires a marriage license before any ceremony. Northumberland County has issued licenses since 1885. All records since that date are on file at the courthouse.
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is one online option for searching court records in Northumberland County and across the state.
This portal covers recent court filings and can serve as a starting point for your research.
You can also submit a formal records request under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Marriage records are public records, and anyone can request copies. You do not need to be a party to the marriage.
Note: Pennsylvania residents can access Ancestry.com for free through a partnership between the PA State Archives and Ancestry, which can help with Northumberland County genealogy research.
Historical Northumberland County Records
Northumberland County was formed on March 21, 1772, from parts of Lancaster, Berks, Bedford, Cumberland, and Northampton counties. It is one of the older counties in the state. Civil marriage license records begin in 1885, but the area has historical records that go back much further.
The Sunbury Marriage Index at FamilySearch covers the 1852 to 1854 period when the state briefly required marriage registration. This is a valuable resource for that narrow window of time. The FamilySearch Pennsylvania County Marriages collection from 1885 to 1950 also includes Northumberland County records with both indexes and images.
Church records are an important source for pre-1885 marriages in Northumberland County. Several local congregations kept detailed registers:
- St. John's Lutheran Church records from 1874 to 1925
- Schwaben Creek Lutheran records from 1774 to 1846
- Stone Valley Lutheran and Reformed records from 1777 to 1854
- Trinity Evangelical Lutheran of Milton from 1819 to 1875
- Zion Evangelical Lutheran records from 1851 to 1892
These church records contain baptisms, marriages, and death entries. They are available through various genealogy databases and at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. The Ancestry Pennsylvania marriages collection from 1852 to 1854 may also have entries from the Northumberland County area.
Marriage License Requirements
Both people must appear at the Northumberland County Courthouse to apply for a marriage license. Each person needs a government-issued photo ID. Under Section 1303 of Title 23, there is a three-day waiting period after the license is issued. The license then remains valid for 60 days.
A license from Northumberland County can be used anywhere in Pennsylvania. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the courthouse in Sunbury. The Register of Wills records the marriage and files the license. This creates the permanent record.
Standard fees apply. Contact the courthouse to confirm the current license fee and what payment methods they accept.
Copies of Marriage Certificates
Certified copies of Northumberland County marriage records are available from the Register of Wills. You may need a certified copy to change your name, update your Social Security card, or prove a marriage for legal or financial reasons. Standard government copy fees apply.
Under Section 1307 of Title 23, the clerk must keep a register of every marriage license issued. All licenses processed through the Northumberland County office since 1885 are on file and available to the public.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health issues state marriage certificates for $20 per copy. These cover marriages from 1906 to the present across all counties. Order by mail from the Division of Vital Records at PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, or online through VitalChek. For the full license document, contact the Northumberland County Register of Wills.
Note: Many Northumberland County records have been digitized through the partnership between the PA State Archives and Ancestry.com, so check online databases before making a trip to Sunbury.
Court Records and Resources
The Unified Judicial System Portal lets you search court records across Pennsylvania, including Northumberland County filings. The Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas at 2 North Second Street in Sunbury handles civil matters that may be related to marriage records.
Online court record databases can help with preliminary research into Northumberland County public records.
The Library of Congress Pennsylvania genealogy guide is a good starting point for broader research. The State Archives vital statistics page details what microfilm records are available. The CDC guide for Pennsylvania vital records lists where to write for different types of records across the state.
Under Section 1309 of Title 23, certain exceptions to the standard marriage license process may apply. The Northumberland County Register of Wills can advise on any unusual situations.
Nearby Counties
Northumberland County is in central Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River. If you are not sure which county holds a particular marriage record, check where the license was issued. These nearby counties may have the record you are looking for.