Snyder County Marriage License Records

Snyder County marriage records are held at the courthouse in Middleburg. The county was formed on March 2, 1855, from Union County and named for Governor Simon Snyder. Located in mid-central Pennsylvania, Snyder County has kept civil marriage license records since 1885. A compiled book of marriages from 1835 to 1899 also exists. You can search records at the courthouse in person or request copies by mail. Online databases cover some Snyder County marriages from as early as 1845.

Snyder County Courthouse Records

The Snyder County Courthouse in Middleburg is where all marriage license records are kept. The Clerk of Courts handles marriage licenses, along with birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 and divorce records from 1855. Both people must appear at the courthouse together to apply for a new license.

You can reach the Snyder County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts by email at prothonotary@snydercounty.org. Call ahead to check hours and confirm what documents to bring. Under Section 1301 of Title 23, no marriage in Pennsylvania may take place without a license. Snyder County follows all state requirements for issuing licenses and storing the completed records.

The Snyder County official website has contact information for all county offices, including the Register of Wills and the Prothonotary. The Register and Recorder handles probate and land records, while the Clerk of Courts manages marriage licenses in Snyder County.

How to Search Snyder County Marriage Records

You can search for Snyder County marriage records in person at the Middleburg courthouse. Bring your ID and whatever details you have about the marriage. Staff can look up records by name or approximate year. Plain copies work well for family history. Certified copies are needed for most legal purposes in Snyder County.

Under Section 1309 of Title 23, marriage license applications are public records. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be named on the license. This applies to all records held by the Snyder County Clerk of Courts.

The Pennsylvania UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search by name across all counties.

For mail requests, send your letter to the Snyder County Courthouse in Middleburg, PA 17842. Include both spouses' names, the approximate date of the marriage, and a check for the copy fee.

Note: Snyder County was carved from Union County in 1855. For marriages in this area before that date, check Union County records as well.

Snyder County Marriage License Rules

Both people must appear at the Snyder County Courthouse in Middleburg to apply for a marriage license. Each person needs a valid photo ID and a Social Security card. If either was married before, a certified divorce decree or death certificate is required. Both applicants must be at least 18.

Pennsylvania law requires a three-day waiting period after the application is filed. The license cannot be issued before the third day. Once issued, it stays valid for 60 days under Section 1307 and can be used anywhere in Pennsylvania. The officiant or witnesses must return the duplicate certificate to Snyder County within 10 days of the ceremony.

Self-uniting licenses are available in Snyder County. These need two witnesses but no officiant. The same rules for waiting periods and return deadlines apply.

Historical Marriage Records in Snyder County

Snyder County has well-preserved records and no history of a courthouse fire or disaster. Civil marriage licenses begin in 1885. The Clerk of Courts also holds birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 and divorce records going back to 1855, the year the county was formed. For marriages before 1885, church records and compiled lists are the main sources.

A notable resource is the compiled book of Snyder County marriages from 1835 to 1899 by George W. Wagenseller, published in 1899 by Wagenseller Publishing in Middleburgh. This 48-page document lists marriages in chronological order with bride and groom names, locations, and officiant names. It covers the transition from church-only records to civil recording and is available as a free PDF online.

The Ancestry Pennsylvania County Marriage Records collection includes Snyder County entries from 1845 to 1963. Snyder is one of only eight counties in this specific database. Records show names, marriage place, gender, race, age, birth date, parents' names, and certificate number. The original data comes from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

The FamilySearch Pennsylvania County Marriages collection covers 1885 to 1950 for many counties and may include Snyder County entries. The 1852 to 1854 state marriage returns also include Snyder County and can be searched through Ancestry for free by Pennsylvania residents.

Note: The Susquehanna University Library in Selinsgrove holds local census records that can help place Snyder County families in the right township and time period.

What Snyder County Marriage Records Show

Marriage records from Snyder County include key details about both people. The license application lists full names, ages, dates of birth, and residences. Parents' names and birthplaces are included. The returned certificate shows the date and place of the ceremony and the name of the officiant or witnesses.

The Wagenseller compilation from 1835 to 1899 includes officiant names, which can help identify church affiliations for early families. Modern Snyder County records tend to include more fields than older entries. Social Security numbers appear on original files but are hidden on public copies.

Snyder County Marriage Genealogy Research

Researchers working in Snyder County have several tools available. The Ancestry collection of Pennsylvania County Marriage Records from 1845 to 1963 is a standout resource. It is one of only eight counties in this particular database. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds digitized microfilm that can be viewed in person in Harrisburg.

FamilySearch also provides a death index for Snyder County covering 1893 to 1905. While not a marriage record, this index can help confirm dates and family connections. The Library of Congress guide to Pennsylvania vital records links to several databases that include Snyder County entries.

For in-person research, the Snyder County Courthouse in Middleburg is the primary source. The Susquehanna University Library offers local census records. Church records are also important for pre-1885 research in this part of Pennsylvania.

Nearby Counties

Snyder County is in the central part of Pennsylvania. Marriage records are filed where the couple applied for the license. If you are unsure which county holds the record you need, check where the application was made.

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