Process for Obtaining a Pennsylvania Marriage License

Requirements for submitting an application for a Pennsylvania marriage license vary as each marriage license bureau in the State of Pennsylvania has its own rules.

To begin with, you will need to establish your identity and age, and this is mandatory in almost all the counties. For this, you will need to produce a driver’s license and Social Security number. Pennsylvania does not require you to be a resident of the state for any specified time period to qualify for a Pennsylvania marriage license, as is the case in many other states.

If you have been married previously, you must provide documentary proof of the dissolution of the most recent one. For this, you need to furnish the decree of divorce or annulment papers. If a woman has legally resumed her maiden name, she must produce the court document that recognizes this. If widowed, the surviving spouse must produce a certified copy of the death certificate of the deceased spouse.

Your Pennsylvania marriage license cannot be obtained by mail. You must appear with your would-be spouse in person at the designated office of the County Clerk or judge. Plus, when you sign the license application, you must have someone who will be your witness. Many couples get their maid of honor or best man to go along for this purpose.

The bride has to decide at this point what her married name will be. That will be the name that will be included on the marriage certificate.

The Pennsylvania marriage license fee is $80, and this is payable in cash only. There is no provision for exceptions or waivers to the license fee. No extensions are permitted nor refunds made once the license is issued. Also remember that the marriage license is valid for 60 days, and can be used only within the State of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania stipulates a waiting period of three days from the day the license is issued before it can be used. The state also requires no blood or other medical tests as a precondition for Pennsylvania marriage license eligibility.

Age Qualification for Pennsylvania Marriage License

The legal age for marriage in the State of Pennsylvania for both the bride and groom is 18. If you are less than 18 years of age, you may get married with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian. Applicants in this category must present their birth certificate plus an additional $5.00. If you are less than 16 years old, the parent or legal guardian’s written consent must be supported by the approval of a Judge of the Orphans Court.

What Types of Marriage Does the License Sanction?

The State of Pennsylvania does not recognize common law marriages, and it does not permit marriages between cousins, nor does it allow proxy marriages. Both the husband and the wife must be present for the marriage to be considered legal.

The Pennsylvania marriage license may be used for both religious and civil ceremonies. Marriage ceremonies may be performed by judges, justices of peace, county clerks or their deputies within the county of jurisdiction, or persons appointed to perform marriage ceremonies by a congregation having regular meetings in the state (i.e., ministers, pastors, priests, rabbis). They may also be performed by ordained ministers of any organized church, carrying on its work, and having congregations in this state, and are authorized by their church to do so.

In order to conduct local marriages, ministers must file their credentials with the county clerk. If you are planning a church (or other religious) ceremony, make sure that the ministering clergy is legally certified to perform marriages within the relevant county. If not, either switch ministers or get the person’s papers processed ahead of time.

After the ceremony, the presiding minister is usually required to complete the license and send it to the County Clerk for filing within a stipulated duration to issue a marriage certificate. Alternatively, the ministers may issue the marriage certificates themselves, giving the bridal couple their copies and sending one to the County Clerk.