Philadelphia County Marriage Records

Philadelphia County marriage records are held by the Register of Wills at City Hall in Philadelphia. As a consolidated city-county, Philadelphia is both the largest city and the most populous county in Pennsylvania. The Register of Wills has maintained marriage records since 1885. For records between 1860 and 1885, the Philadelphia City Archives is the correct office. You can search recent records online, visit in person, or send a request by mail. Staff at City Hall can help you locate marriage license records quickly.

Philadelphia County Register of Wills

The Register of Wills in Philadelphia County handles all marriage license records from 1885 to the present. The Marriage Record Department is located in Room 415 of City Hall. Staff issue new licenses, store old records, and provide copies. Both people must appear in person to apply for a new marriage license in Philadelphia County.

You can reach the Marriage Record Department at (215) 686-2234. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you need same-day service, arrive by 2:30 PM. No requests are accepted after 4:30 PM. Cash is the only payment accepted over the counter at the Philadelphia County office.

The Philadelphia Register of Wills website provides details about available services, fees, and office hours. You can also start your search using their online marriage license lookup tool, which covers records from 1995 forward.

Searching Philadelphia Marriage Records Online

Philadelphia County offers a free online marriage license search for records from 1995 to the present. You can search by last name, first name, or date range. Partial last name searches work too. For example, typing "Smi" will return results for Smith, Smithton, and similar names. Date range filtering is available for records from 2007 forward.

The search results show the marriage license number, both applicants' names, and the date of the license. Write down the license number. You will need it to request an official copy from the Philadelphia County Register of Wills. The online search itself is free.

Under Section 1309 of Title 23, marriage license applications are public records in Pennsylvania. Anyone can request a copy. You do not have to be named on the license to search or get copies from Philadelphia County.

The UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search by name or case number across all counties in the state.

Note: If a record does not appear in the online search, it may predate the digital system. Submit a written request to the Register of Wills for older Philadelphia County marriage records.

How to Get Philadelphia County Marriage Records

There are two main ways to get copies of marriage records from Philadelphia County. You can visit City Hall in person or send a request by mail. Each method has its own steps and fees. In-person visits allow you to get copies the same day. Mail requests take longer but work well if you live far from Philadelphia.

To visit in person, go to Room 415 at City Hall. Bring your ID and details about the marriage you need. Staff will search the Philadelphia County records and make copies while you wait. A certified copy costs $25. An exemplified copy, used for international purposes, costs $50. Same-day processing adds $45 to the fee.

For mail requests, write a letter that includes the names both people used on the license and the date of marriage. Include a $15 research fee as a money order payable to "City of Philadelphia." Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail it to Marriage Record Department, City Hall Room 415, Philadelphia, PA 19107. If the Philadelphia County staff finds the record, they will send back a request form. You then send a second payment of $25 for a certified copy or $50 for an exemplified copy. Expect to receive the record within 7 to 10 business days after that.

Philadelphia Marriage License Requirements

Under Section 1301 of Title 23, every marriage in Pennsylvania requires a license. Philadelphia County follows all state requirements. Both people must appear at City Hall in person. You need a valid photo ID and your Social Security card. If you were married before, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree or a death certificate for your former spouse.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Under Section 1303, there is a three-day waiting period after the application. The license is not valid until the third day. Once issued, it is good for 60 days under Section 1307 and can be used anywhere in Pennsylvania. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the duplicate certificate to the Philadelphia County office within 10 days.

Self-uniting licenses are also available in Philadelphia County. These require two witnesses instead of an officiant. The same rules about waiting periods and return deadlines apply.

Historical Marriage Records in Philadelphia

Philadelphia County has one of the longest records of any county in the state. Marriage registration here predates most other Pennsylvania counties by decades. The city and county merged in 1854, so all records since then fall under one jurisdiction. A law passed in 1860 required the Board of Health to register marriages, which means Philadelphia County has civil marriage records going back more than 160 years.

Records from 1860 to 1885 are held by the Philadelphia City Archives at 548 Spring Garden Street. For these older records, contact the Archives directly. Records from 1885 to the present are at the Register of Wills. The City Archives is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Mailed requests are processed in two to four weeks.

FamilySearch has digitized Philadelphia marriage license application packets from 1885 to 1915. These include applications, certificates, and guardian consents. A separate index covers 1885 to 1951, arranged by bride and groom names. These online collections are free to search with a FamilySearch account.

The Pennsylvania State Archives holds marriage bonds for Philadelphia County from 1784 to 1786, with digital images available. The 1852 to 1854 state marriage returns also include Philadelphia County entries and can be searched through Ancestry for free by Pennsylvania residents.

Note: Information in Philadelphia County marriage records varies by time period. Records from 1885 onward may include full names, birth dates, occupations, residences, parents' names, race, and officiant details.

Philadelphia County Genealogy Resources

Philadelphia County is well covered by online genealogy databases. The FamilySearch collection of Philadelphia marriage records from 1885 to 1915 includes digital images of the original application packets. Each packet may contain the license, application form, and a certificate. A second collection provides indexes from 1885 to 1951, with license numbers you can use to request the full record.

Ancestry has Pennsylvania marriage records from 1852 to 1854 and 1852 to 1968 that include Philadelphia County entries. Pennsylvania residents can access these for free through the State Archives partnership. The Library of Congress research guide links to several additional databases for Pennsylvania vital records research.

For in-person research, the Philadelphia City Archives at 548 Spring Garden Street holds the earliest civil marriage records. A subscription-based online search system provides access to some digitized images of historical records from Philadelphia County.

Cities in Philadelphia County

Philadelphia County is a consolidated city-county. All marriage license records are filed at the Register of Wills office at City Hall. The office serves every resident within the county borders.

Philadelphia is the only municipality in Philadelphia County. All marriage records are handled at the city-county level through the Register of Wills.

Nearby Counties

Philadelphia County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Marriage records are filed where the couple applied for the license. If you are not sure which county holds the record, check where the application was made.

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