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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Pennsylvania Marriage License If you're getting married in Pennsylvania, you must first apply for a marriage license. If you or your significant other is a foreign national, you must present a valid and unexpired passport at the time you apply for the license. If you and/or your significant other were married before, you will need to bring appropriate documentation to prove that you are no longer married. Under certain circumstances, a judge may waive the waiting period upon application. The information on this site should not be relied upon as an official source of information and should be independently verified. If either applicant is divorced, or divorce… If either party is under 16, parental consent is required, along with an order of approval from a judge of the Orphans Court. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. To apply for a marriage license in Pennsylvania, start by checking with the state government website to verify that you and your partner are eligible to be married. Doctor of Law, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Marriage licenses are issued at the county level in Pennsylvania. The bride and groom may not be legally married to any other individual at the time of application. No, it is not necessary to have the officiant with you. A marriage license may be obtained from the Clerk of Orphans' Court in any county in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania requires all engaged couples to meet certain requirements. About Marriage Records in Pennsylvania Marriage records are managed by the Register of Deeds in each county. Types of Marriage Licenses. In this case, 88% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. $60 fee, cash only Please take note: 1. ", "The step-by-step answers are what helped me. Marriage Licenses. Foreign nationals will need to present a current and unexpired passport. Yes, all couples will need to apply for and receive a marriage license before their wedding in order to be legally married in Pennsylvania. Records available: 1885 - present. All Rights Reserved. Philadelphia, PA 19107. Because your marriage license will not transfer from one state to another, you’ll need to have the required documents prepared when you go in person to apply for the license. A marriage license may be obtained from the Clerk of Orphans' Court in any county in Pennsylvania. ", "Well written and simplified for everyone to understand. ", "The article was precise in the info needed.". A Pennsylvania marriage license is valid for 60 days. Your local County Register of Wills will have more information on the license fee in your county, as well as the cost of any additional fees that you may need to pay to get your marriage license such as translation services and certified copies. All applicants will need to provide their social security number and a government issued photo ID for the marriage license in Pennsylvania to be issued. If one or both of the parties were married before proof must be provided of how the prior marriage was dissolved: Date of death or a copy of the final divorce decree Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. Any questions may be directed to 724-284-5354. Last Updated: August 6, 2020 Expiration Date of Marriage License: A marriage license is valid for 60 days from date it is issued. A marriage license issued in Westmoreland County may be used anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Marriage records were kept by the government in Pennsylvania starting in 1885 with a few kept before 1885. This article has been viewed 236,656 times. Criminal Court records are part of the PA Unified Judicial System. Both parties must possess a valid Social Security number. References I'm getting married in less than a month, and, "It gave me the knowledge of getting a marriage license that I never knew before. Driver’s license or photo identification that shows your date of birth 2. A marriage record or marriage certificate, which is received as legal proof of marriage after the ceremony, will be legally recognized in all states. This documentation could be an official divorce decree, annulment decree or death certificate. In Pennsylvania, the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court Division of county is responsible for maintaining the records of all marriages in the county where the marriage license was issued. Copy of Certificate of Marriage This certification is … Depending on the county, online access may be available. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The couple must also receive a marriage license from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which has its own requirements, before a marriage ceremony is performed. Telephone. Deeds. The ceremony need not be performed in the county in which the license was issued, but must be performed in the state of Pennsylvania. Since Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers (William Penn), no marriage ceremony is required. If this is not your first marriage and your previous marriage ended in divorce or annulment, you will also need to bring the official paperwork that shows the marriage was dissolved. This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Keep in mind that there may be an additional fee for this type of license. % of people told us that this article helped them. Does the wedding officiant need to be present for me to get my wedding license? Cash, certified check, or cashier's check. Marriage records cannot be certified unless, and until, the duplicate marriage certificate has been returned to this office by the officiant. Marriage License. 101 South Mercer St., Room 401 P.O. Excellent! Click on the Register of Wills/Orphan's Court Online Services link below and follow the prompts from the site. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The ceremony need not be performed in the county in which the license was issued but must be performed in the state of Pennsylvania. The Marriage License Department is located at: 455 West Hamilton Street Room 123.5 Allentown, PA 18101-1614 If the previous marriage ended in a foreign country and the paperwork is not in English, you will need to provide an official translation as well. If one of the applicants does not speak English, a 3rd party translator who is at least 18 years old must be present at the time of the application. EFFECTIVE 12/07/2020: The Clerk of Courts Office is open to the public for marriage licenses, however, due to COVID - 19 social distancing practices, please call 717-261-3805 to schedule an appointment. Certified Copies of Marriage Licenses. A license issued by any Pennsylvania county can be used in any Pennsylvania county, however, the license is invalid outside of Pennsylvania. 4. In order to get married in Pennsylvania, you and your significant other must be at least 18 years-old with a government-issued photo ID as evidence of age, or follow the procedures for an underage marriage. An original copy of the underage bride’s or groom’s birth certificate is also required. You do not have to be from PA to get a license. Heal your gut! This means a certified copy of the final divorce decree or the official annulment papers. Naturalization Records. Thank you. Frustrated with stomach issues? EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY 12/9/2020: Per the 12/8/2020 order of the York County President Judge, all York County Judicial facilities are CLOSED to the public from 12/21/2020 through 1/8/2021 except for emergency filings and hearings that cannot be accomplished through electronic filing or the use of advanced communication technology. For example, Centre County charges $50 while Bucks County charges $60. Love the graphics! Yes, the Register of Wills will not issue the license until three days after you file the application. USEFUL LINKS Access public records (Marriages / Estate information) Application for a Marriage license Fee Schedule Orphans' Court Orphans' Court - Local Rules Confidential DOCUMENT Form. What this means is you two have 60 days to get married and have your marriage license officially recorded. Then, plan to apply at least 3 business days before your wedding, since most PA counties require a 72 hour waiting period. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Both applicants must appear in person with the following: 1. This article has been viewed 236,656 times. A marriage license issued in any Pennsylvania county can be used in any other Pennsylvania county. informative. If you do not have a social security card, then you will need to present two forms of ID - a driver's license and a birth certificate, for example. Box 1528 New Castle, PA … We now know exactly what to do and when to do it. Do you need a social security card to obtain a marriage license in Pennsylvania? Copy of Certificate of Marriage License. Make sure that you and your significant other meet the age requirements to get married in Pennsylvania. Because the licenses are issued at the county level, the cost depends on where you apply. Search Marriage Licenses. The marriage license can be used in any county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The marriage license office does not schedule or perform weddings; it is the responsibility of applicants to arrange for a statutorily authorized officiant to perform their wedding. For more tips from our Legal co-author, like how to be aware of special rules that may apply to your situation, read on! Copies of recent marriage certificates can be obtained from the marriage license clerk in the county courthouse where the marriage license was issued. Marriage Licenses Marriage Licenses. First cousins who are blood relatives are not eligible to get married under the laws of Pennsylvania. Before September 30, 1885 the issuing oflicenses was not obligatory, but was intended for those cases where the bannswere not published or the marriage in church was dispensed with. Next, bring the required documents, such as social security cards or court papers from any previous marriages, to the county courthouse or district judge’s office to submit your application. Application for the marriage license must have been made in Chester County, Pa from 1931 to the present. There is no residency requirement for a marriage license, however, this is a Pennsylvania marriage license and the marriage ceremony must take place within the Commonwealth. SinceSeptember 30, 1885, marriage licenses have been required in Pennsylvania andare maintained by the Marriage License Clerk in the county courthouse of the county issuing the license. Finally, pay the $80 fee and make sure to get married within 60 days. This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Anyone wishing to marry in Pennsylvania must obtain a Pennsylvania marriage license. Likewise, a license issued in any other county in Pennsylvania may be used in Westmoreland County. You may appear at either our Levittown or Doylestown offices and complete the application in person, if you do not wish to complete your application online. Marriage License Portal The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' has created an online service that allows for submitting an online Marriage Application. Approved. Minimum age to marry in Pennsylvania is 15. To find more information about a business license in your state choose the state below. Fee. Office of Vital Records. For detailed instructions on getting your marriage license, see: Instructions for obtaining a marriage license in Philadelphia FEES The fee for a marriage license varies from county to county. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 236,656 times. Social Security number (Social Security card is preferred, but if unavailable, please provide Social Security number in a written form) 3. ©2007-2013 City Applications, LLC. 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