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Marriage Laws United States Pennsylvania Wedding Officiants

How to Apply for a Marriage License in Pennsylvania

Marriage license Laws in the state of Pennsylvania, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the Pennsylvania marriage laws before filling out the Pennsylvania marriage license form.

Requirements vary as each marriage license bureau in Pennsylvania have their own requirements. If you have questions, please contact the appropriate clerk's office.

Allentown 
Beaver 
Bedford 
Bellefonte 
Bloomsburg 
Brookville 
Butler 
Carlisle 
Chambersburg 
Clarion 
Clearfield 
Coudersport 
Danville 
Doylestown 
Easton 
Ebensburg 
Emporium 
Erie 
Franklin 
Gettysburg 
Greensburg 
Harrisburg 
Hollidaysburg 
Honesdale 
Huntingdon 
Indiana 
Jim Thorpe 
Kittanning 
La Porte 
Lancaster 
Lebanon 
Lewisburg 
Lewistown 
Lock Haven 
McConnellsburg 
Meadville 
Media 
Mercer 
Middleburg 
Mifflintown 
Milford 
Montrose 
New Bloomfield 
Newcastle 
Norristown 
Philadelphia 
Pittsburgh 
Pottsville 
Reading 
Ridgway 
Scranton 
Smethport 
Somerset 
Stroudsburg 
Sunbury 
Tionesta 
Towanda 
Tunkhannock 
Uniontown 
Warren 
Washington 
Waynesburg 
Wellsboro 
West Chester 
Wilkes-Barre 
Williamsport 
York 

In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage license. This is the document in your state that allows you to officially tie the knot under the law. The rules for acquiring your marriage license varies from state to state, so you should check with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your local rules are.

You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least one month before your wedding ceremony. You'll traditionally need to send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents. You don't, however, want to apply for your marriage license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you don't get married within a few months.

When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, but you'll need to apply for the certificate together, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application.

And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.

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ID Requirement: Drivers License and Social Security number.

Residency Requirement: Do not have to be a resident of Pennsylvania.

If previously married: Applicants who have been previously married must provide the following information concerning the dissolution of the most recent marriage.

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• Divorces: Must present decree. If maiden name has been resumed, must present that document.

• Annulments: The same information as is required for divorces.

• Widowed: The date of death of the deceased spouse.

Application Requirement: Both parties to a marriage should appear in person to obtain the license.

Fees: $80 - Cash Only.

•  There are no exceptions or waivers to the license fee.

•  No extensions or refunds are made once the license is issued.

Waiting Period: 3 days. There is a three day waiting period from the day the license is issued until it can be used.

Blood Tests: No test.

Under 18: If under 18 years of age applicants may marry with consent of a parent or guardian. Applicants must present Birth Certificate plus an additional $5.00

•  If Under 16 years of age with the approval of a Judge of the Orphans Court, as well as parent or guardian.

Legal age for marriage in the State of Pennsylvania for both bride and groom is 18.

Marriage Ceremony: Marriage ceremonies may be performed by the following:
•  Judges

•  Justices of Peace

•  County Clerks or their Deputies within appointing county

•  Persons appointed to perform the ceremony by a congregation having regular meetings in the state (i.e., ministers, pastors, priests, rabbis).

Proxy Marriages: No. Both parties must be present.

Common Law Marriage: No.

Cousin Marriage: No.

Officiants: Ministers of any church organized, carrying on its work, and having congregations in this state may perform marriages in this state if authorized by their church to do so. Before performing marriages, ministers must file their credentials with the county clerk of the county in which they reside or in which the marriage is to be performed. Ministers must give the bride and groom a marriage certificate upon request. Also, the minister must send a marriage certificate to the county clerk who issued the marriage license within one month after the marriage.

Valid: License is valid for 60 days.
The license can only be used within the State of Pennsylvania.

It is important that you verify all information with your local marriage license office or county clerk before making any wedding or travel plans.

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com.  Please include the state and county information.

Marriage Laws - Questions & Answers is the way to find and share information. You can ask questions on U.S. Marriage Laws, get answers from real people.

Pennsylvania Clerk's Office

Adams County
Gettysburg, PA
717.334.6781

Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA
412.350.4230

Armstrong County
Kittanning, PA
724.543.2500

Beaver County
Beaver, PA
724.728.5700

Bedford County
Bedford, PA
814.623.4833

Berks County
Reading, PA
610.478.6617

Blair County
Hollidaysburg, PA
814.693.3080

Bradford County
Towanda, PA
570.265.1703

Bucks County
Doylestown, PA
215.348.6257

Butler County
Butler, PA
724.284.5354

Cambria County
Ebensburg, PA
814.472.1440

Cameron County
Emporium, PA
814.486.3349

Carbon County
Jim Thorpe, PA
570.325.2261

Centre County
Bellefonte, PA
814.355.6724

Chester County
Westchester, PA
610.344.6335

Clarion County
Clarion, PA
814.226.4000

Clearfield County
Clearfield, PA
814.765.2641

Clinton County
Lock Haven, PA
570.893.4010

Columbia County
Bloomsburg, PA
570.389.5615

Crawford County
Meadville, PA
814.333.7442

Cumberland County
Carlisle, PA
717.240.6345

Dauphin County
Harrisburg, PA
717.257.1591

Delaware County
Media, PA
610.891.4400

Elk County
Ridgway, PA
814.776.5349

Erie County
Erie, PA
814.451.6264

Fayette County
Uniontown, PA
724.430.1206

Forest County
Tionesta, PA
814.755.3526

Franklin County
Chambersburg, PA
717.261.3805

Fulton County
Mc Connellsburg, PA
717.485.4212

Greene County
Waynesburg, PA
412.852.1171

Huntingdon County
Huntingdon, PA
814.643.2740

Indiana County
Indiana, PA
724.465.3860

Jefferson County
Brookville, PA
814.849.1610

Juniata County
Mifflintown, PA
717.436.7709

Lackawanna County
Scraton, PA
570.963.6702

Lancaster County
Lancaster, PA
717.299.8243

Lawrence County
Newcastle, PA
724.656.2440

Lebanon County
Lebanon, PA
717.228.4414

Lehigh County
Allentown, PA
610.782.3173

Luzerne County
Wilkes-Barre, PA
570.825.1668

Lycoming County
Williamsport, PA
570.327.2262

Mc Kean County
Smethport, PA
814.887.3260

Mercer County
Mercer, PA
724.662.3800

Mifflin County
Lewistown, PA
717.242.1449

Monroe County
Stroudsburg, PA
570.420.3400

Montgomery County
Norristown, PA
610.278.3000

Montour County
Danville, PA
570.271.3012

Northampton County
Easton, PA
610.559.3060

Northumberland County
Sunbury, PA
570.988.4143

Perry County
New Bloomfield, PA
717.582.2131

Philadelphia County
Philadelphia, PA
215.685.7681

Pike County
Milford, PA
570.296.7231

Potter County
Coudersport, PA
814.274.8370

Schuylkill County
Pottsville, PA
570.622.5570

Snyder County
Middleburg, PA
570.837.4226

Somerset County
Somerset, PA
814.445.2096

Sullivan County
La Porte, PA
570.946.7351

Susquehanna County
Montrose, PA
570.278.4600

Tioga County
Wellsboro, PA
570.724.9281

Union County
Lewisburg, PA
570.524.8761

Venango County
Franklin, PA
814.432.9577

Warren County
Warren, PA
814.723.7550

Washington County
Washington, PA
724.228.6806

Wayne County
Honesdale, PA
570.253.5970

Westmoreland County
Greensburg, PA
724.830.3177

Wyoming County
Tunkhannock, PA
570.836.3200

York County
York, PA
717.771.9615

To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com.  Please include the state and county information.

Marriage Laws - Questions & Answers is the way to find and share information. You can ask questions on U.S. Marriage Laws, get answers from real people.


Order Vital Records Online! certified copies of Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce certificates, for events which occurred within the state of Pennsylvania.


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