Marriage Records in Somerset County

Somerset County marriage records are maintained at the courthouse in Somerset. Named after Somerset in the United Kingdom, this county in south-central Pennsylvania has roots going back to the Indian Purchase of 1768. Civil marriage license records begin in 1885, but the Somerset Historical Center has marriage records on microfilm reaching as far back as 1792. You can search records in person, by mail, or through online databases that cover parts of Somerset County's history.

Somerset County Courthouse Records

The Somerset County Courthouse at 111 East Union Street in Somerset is where marriage license records are filed and stored. Several offices at the courthouse handle different record types. The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court manages marriage licenses, along with birth and death records from 1885 and probate records from 1795. The Prothonotary handles divorce and court records.

Under Section 1301 of Title 23, every marriage in Pennsylvania requires a license. Somerset County follows all state requirements for issuing licenses. Both people must appear at the courthouse together to apply. Call ahead to confirm hours and find out what documents to bring with you.

The Somerset County official website has contact details for all county offices. The Register of Wills can be reached at (814) 445-1548, the Clerk of Courts at (814) 445-1435, and the Prothonotary at (814) 445-1428.

How to Find Somerset County Marriage Records

You can search for Somerset County marriage records in person at the courthouse in Somerset. Bring your ID and the names and dates you know. Staff at the Register of Wills can search by name or year. You can get plain copies for research or certified copies for legal use.

Under Section 1309 of Title 23, marriage license applications in Pennsylvania are public records. Anyone can request copies. You do not need to be a party to the license to search Somerset County records.

The UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us allows case searches by name across all Pennsylvania counties.

For mail requests, write to the Somerset County Courthouse at 111 East Union Street, Somerset, PA 15501. Include both spouses' names, the approximate date, and a check for the copy fee. The Register of Wills will search and mail the results.

Note: Somerset was part of Cumberland County until 1771, then Bedford County. For marriages in this area before 1795, check Bedford County records.

Somerset County Marriage License Rules

Both applicants must go to the Somerset County Courthouse to apply for a license. Each person needs a valid photo ID and a Social Security card. If either person was married before, a certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse is required. Both people must be at least 18 years old.

After you apply, there is a three-day waiting period before the license can be issued. Once issued, it is good for 60 days under Section 1307. You can use it anywhere in Pennsylvania. The officiant or witnesses must return the duplicate certificate to Somerset County within 10 days of the ceremony.

Self-uniting licenses do not require an officiant. They need two witnesses. The same waiting period and return rules apply in Somerset County.

Historical Marriage Records in Somerset County

Somerset County has an unusually deep collection of historical marriage records. The Somerset Historical Center holds marriage records on microfilm from 1792 to 1802 and from 1885 to 1968. These films come from the Somerset County Courthouse originals. The Historical Center also has birth records from 1893 to 1908 on microfilm, death records from 1852 to 1853 and 1893 to 1908, and delayed birth records from 1941 to 1965.

The Somerset Historical Center genealogy library is part of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County. Access is included with regular admission. HGSSC members get in free. The library has several thousand volumes, family files, tax records from 1796 to 1879, land records, military records, and newspapers on microfilm. Copies cost $0.25 standard and $0.50 from microfilm. A photo license costs $5.00 for unlimited digital shots. Research for hire is also available at varying fees.

Church records are another strong source for Somerset County. FamilySearch has a page for Somerset County church records that lists several congregations. The Presbyterian Church had its first known pastor in 1786 and its first building in Bedford in 1800. The Reformed Church met with Lutherans until 1848. The German Reformed Church in Centreville has baptism records from 1850 to 1883 and marriage records from 1873 to 1883. Lutheran and Reformed church records are especially strong in this part of Pennsylvania.

Note: The Somerset Historical Center does not allow food or drink in the library. Bags must be left in your vehicle or in storage lockers.

What Somerset County Marriage Records Show

A marriage record from Somerset County lists details about both applicants. The license application includes 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 officiant's name.

Older records from the 1792 to 1802 period contain less detail than modern files. The 1885 to 1968 microfilm at the Historical Center mirrors what the courthouse holds for those years. Social Security numbers appear on original files but are hidden on public copies from Somerset County.

• Full names of both spouses
• Date and place of the ceremony
• Parents' names and birthplaces
• Officiant or witness names
• Prior marriage status

Somerset County Genealogy Resources

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

The Somerset Historical Center is the strongest local resource. Beyond marriage records, it holds census data from 1790 to the 1920s, tax records, land records, and thousands of obituaries. The Recorder of Deeds at the courthouse has land records from 1795 and military discharge records from 1865. The Prothonotary has naturalization records from 1795 to 1955.

The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg may hold additional microfilm of Somerset County records. The Library of Congress guide to Pennsylvania vital records links to statewide databases that cover Somerset County.

Nearby Counties

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

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