Susquehanna County PA Marriage Records
Susquehanna County marriage records are managed by the Clerk of Orphans' Court in Montrose. Formed in 1810, this county sits at the top of the Endless Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Clerk of Orphans' Court issues marriage licenses and keeps required marriage records for all of Susquehanna County. Records date back to 1885. Whether you need a copy of a marriage license for legal purposes or want to trace your family history, Montrose is where you start your search. This guide covers every step of the process.
Susquehanna County Quick Facts
Susquehanna County Marriage License Office
The Clerk of Orphans' Court in Susquehanna County handles all marriage license applications and maintains marriage records. Wendy Zapolski serves as the Register and Recorder and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office is located at the County Courthouse on 31 Lake Avenue in Montrose.
Marriage license applications can be started online through a secure page on the county website. However, after you submit the online form, both parties must visit the office in person to finish the process. Appointments are required for marriage license applications. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but marriage licenses are only available until 4:00 p.m. each day. Plan your visit with that cutoff in mind.
The Susquehanna County official website at susqco.com has information about the Clerk of Orphans' Court and other county offices.
Pennsylvania law under Section 1301 of Title 23 requires each county to maintain a record of all marriage licenses issued. Susquehanna County has kept these records since 1885.
| Office |
Clerk of Orphans' Court County Courthouse, 31 Lake Avenue PO Box 218 Montrose, PA 18801 Phone: (570) 278-4600 Ext. 4067 Fax: (570) 278-2963 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (licenses until 4:00 PM) |
| Website | susqco.com |
How to Get a Marriage License
Applying for a marriage license in Susquehanna County follows a two-step process. First, you can submit your application online through the county's secure page. Then, both parties must come to the courthouse in Montrose to sign the application and take the marriage license oath.
Both applicants must meet these requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Appear in person together at the office
- Provide a valid photo ID
- Provide Social Security numbers
- Bring a divorce decree or death certificate if previously married
After you apply, there is a three-day waiting period before the license is issued. The license is then valid for 60 days. You can use it anywhere in Pennsylvania. Under Section 1303 of Title 23, you may apply in any county in the state, so couples from other areas sometimes choose Susquehanna County for their application.
Note: Appointments are required for marriage license applications in Susquehanna County. Call (570) 278-4600 Ext. 4067 to schedule your visit.
Susquehanna County Marriage Fees
The marriage license application fee in Susquehanna County is $45.00. This fee can be paid by cash or credit card only. The office does not accept checks for marriage license fees. If you pay by credit card, a $2.00 service fee is added.
Other fees you may encounter at the Susquehanna County courthouse include charges for copies and certified documents. For documents the office prints, the cost is $0.50 per page. To have a copy stamp-certified, add $1.50 on top of the copy cost. If you need documents mailed back to you, include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request. Without one, the office adds a postage fee of $1.00 for every five pages.
All filing fees except the marriage license fee can be paid by cash, check, or credit card. Credit card payments carry a service fee of 2.5% or $2.00, whichever is greater. Checks should be made payable to "Orphans' Court Clerk." A returned check fee of $35.00 applies.
Searching Marriage Records in Montrose
Susquehanna County does not have a public online database for marriage records. To search for a marriage record, you need to visit the courthouse in person or submit a request by mail. Provide the full name of at least one spouse and the approximate year of the marriage.
The statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search court records by name or case number.
Marriage records in Susquehanna County are public records. Anyone can request to view or copy them. You do not have to be named on the license. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, these records are open to the public, though some personal details like Social Security numbers are redacted.
Note: The Register and Recorder office at (570) 278-4600 Ext. 4065, 4066, or 4067 can also help with land records and estate documents if your research goes beyond marriage records.
Historical Records in Susquehanna County
Susquehanna County has marriage records from 1885 to the present day. The county also holds birth and death records from 1893 to 1905. Earlier vital records were not kept at the county level in Pennsylvania. If you need records from before these dates, check church records, newspaper archives, or the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg.
The county was formed in 1810 and has a long history tied to the Endless Mountains region. Estate records and land documents go back to the county's formation. These can be useful for genealogy research when paired with marriage records. The Register and Recorder's office handles both types of records.
Susquehanna County accepts electronic recording through CSC eRecording Solutions and Simplifile for land documents. While marriage records are not available through these systems, the technology shows the county is working to make some records easier to access.
State Marriage Certificates
The Pennsylvania Department of Health issues marriage certificates as a separate option from county records. A state certificate confirms that a marriage took place and shows the names, date, and county. It does not include all the detail found in the original county record.
You can order a state marriage certificate online through VitalChek, by mail to the Division of Vital Records at PO Box 1528 in New Castle, PA 16103, or in person. The fee is about $20 per certified copy. The state has records for marriages from 1885 to the present.
For the full marriage record with all details, go to the Susquehanna County Clerk of Orphans' Court in Montrose. Under Section 1307 of Title 23, the issuing clerk must record all marriage licenses and keep them as part of the permanent public record.
After the Wedding Ceremony
Once your marriage ceremony takes place in Susquehanna County or elsewhere in Pennsylvania, the officiant must return the signed license to the clerk who issued it. Under Section 1309 of Title 23, the signed license must be returned within 10 days of the ceremony. The clerk then records it, and the marriage becomes part of the official record.
If you need a certified copy of your recorded marriage license from Susquehanna County, contact the Clerk of Orphans' Court. Certified copies carry the official seal and are accepted for legal purposes such as name changes, insurance claims, and immigration paperwork. The fee for a certified copy of a marriage license is $5.00 at the Susquehanna County courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Susquehanna County shares borders with several other Pennsylvania counties and with New York State to the north. If you are not sure where a marriage record is filed, check the county where the license was issued.