Application

In order to obtain a marriage license in Washington County, applicants must appear together at the Marriage License Bureau of the Washington County Register of Wills Office and complete an application for marriage license. Photo identification is required.

Duration of License

A marriage license issued in this county is valid for sixty days from the date of issue and is valid anywhere in Pennsylvania. After sixty (60) days, an issued marriage license is void and should be returned to the Marriage License Bureau for cancellation.

Prior Marriages

Applicants who have been previously married and divorced must furnish a certified copy of the decree in divorce dissolving the marriage. The certified copy of the decree in divorce must be furnished at the time the application for Marriage License is completed. A widow or widower must provide the date of death of their former spouse.

License Issued

Provided all the above-mentioned requirements have been complied with, a marriage license will be issued as follows:

• Monday: License issued on Thursday
• Tuesday: License issued on Friday
• Wednesday: License issued on Monday
• Thursday: License issued on Monday
• Friday: License issued on Monday

Waiver of 3-Day Waiting Period

The Orphans Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, may upon a petition, direct the extraordinary circumstances.

Required signed court order from judge. A fee of $40.00 will apply to waiver for non-military purposes, military waiver will be $25.00.

Hours

Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Except holidays

Fees

The fee for a Marriage License is:

• Application/Marriage License: $50.00
• Application/Self-Uniting Marriage License: $75.00
• Web Conference Zoom Meeting Request: $5.00
• Waiver of 3-day waiting period for non-military purposes: $40.00
• Waiver of 3-day waiting period for military purposes: $25.00
• Certified copy of marriage license: $10.00
• Reprint of marriage license: $50.00
• Failure to return duplicate within 10-days: $50.00

Preferred payment is by cash, we will accept check, but will hold license until check clears, so this might be long then 3-days. If you are getting married within 21-days or less than three weeks, it is NOT advisable to rely on the web conferencing and mailing of application and license back-and-forth, so please plan in advance. License is valid for 60-day from issuance date.

Officiant Must File Marriage Return

An official public record of the marriage will not exist if the officiant performing the marriage ceremony fails to return the duplicate Certificate of Marriage within ten days after the solemnization of the marriage, as required by law. The law requires all marriage records are available for public inspection.

Disclaimer of Liability

To be recognized as legal by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, marriages must be performed under a valid marriage license duly issued by a Clerk of Orphans’ Court must be officiated by one of the following individuals specifically recognized under Pennsylvania law as authorized to officiate, to wit.

Section 1503 - Persons Qualified to Solemnize Marriages

General rule - The following are authorized to solemnize marriages between persons that produce a marriage license issued under this part:

• An active or senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit who is a resident of this Commonwealth.
• An active or senior judge or full-time magistrate of the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.
• A former or retired justice, judge or district justice of this Commonwealth who is serving as a senior judge or a senior district justice as provided or prescribed by law.
• A justice, judge or district justice of this Commonwealth.
• A mayor of any city or borough of this Commonwealth.
• A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation.
• Religious organizations - Every religious society, religious institution or religious organization in this Commonwealth may join persons together in marriage when at least one of the persons is a member of the society, institution or organization, according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization. (Amish and Quakers if you are a member).
• Marriage license needed to officiate - No person or religious organization qualified to perform marriages shall officiate at a marriage ceremony without the parties having obtained a marriage license issued under this part. This office will not determine what is/is not a church and/or congregation.

Please be advised: If you choose to be married by someone other than officiants specifically listed and authorized by Pennsylvania law, the burden of proof regarding the legality (or lack thereof) of your marriage will be upon you – should future issues arise that require a determination of the marriage’s validity.

Marriage License

Completing a marriage license application in Washington County is a two-step process. The license is issued after a mandatory 3-day waiting period. Note: An application for a marriage license is NOT a marriage license. The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. You should apply for a marriage license from 2 to 3 weeks before the scheduled date of your marriage ceremony.

A marriage license issued in any Pennsylvania county can be used in any other Pennsylvania county.

Types of Marriage Licenses. There are 2 types of marriage licenses issued in Pennsylvania:

• A self-uniting marriage license.
• A traditional marriage license.

A self-uniting marriage license does not require an officiant to solemnize the marriage.

A traditional marriage license requires an officiant to solemnize the marriage as defined under Pennsylvania law Title 23, Section 1503 (see above). The Department of Court Records, Wills/Orphans’ Court Division is the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court for Washington County and will not determine what is or is not a church or a congregation. Please be advised: If you choose to be married by someone other than the officiants authorized by Pennsylvania law Title 23, Section 1503, the burden of proof regarding the legality of your marriage will be on you should future issues arise regarding the validity of the marriage.

The Application Process

Completing the Application

• There are 2 different ways to complete a marriage license application:
• Option 1: Both people getting married complete the Application in our office. Valid ID Required. Valid ID required and both people must be present at same time.
• Option 2: Both people getting married complete the application via web conference (Zoom) meeting. Valid ID required and both people must be present at same time.

3-Day Wait

• Once the couple has appeared in person either in our office or via web conference to submit their application and the 3-day waiting period required by Pennsylvania law has passed, the marriage license will be available to be picked up at the Register of Wills office.

Wedding

• Applicants then have 60-days from the issue date to get married anywhere in Pennsylvania.

Return of “Duplicate”

You are not “officially” married until the Register of Wills office receives and files the “Duplicate” section of your marriage license. It is your responsibility to ensure this portion of your marriage license is returned and processed within 10-days. Failure to do so will