How to Get a Marriage License in Philadelphia County, PA: Courthouse Guide

Where You Apply

In Pennsylvania, marriage licenses aren't issued by a city — they're issued by the county, through the Register of Wills (Marriage License Bureau). For a Philadelphia wedding, that means Philadelphia County's Register of Wills is the office you'll deal with. But here's something worth knowing: you're not locked into applying in the county where you live or where you're getting married. You can apply through any county's Register of Wills or Marriage License Bureau in Pennsylvania, and the license itself is valid statewide. If a different county's office is more convenient for your schedule, you can use it instead.

Before you go anywhere, call or check with the Register of Wills directly to confirm the office's address, hours, appointment policy, and accepted payment methods. That information changes and varies by office, so don't rely on secondhand details — get it straight from the source before you show up.

Applying as a Couple

This is something you do together, as the two people entering the marriage. Bring whatever identification and documentation the office asks for — again, confirm the specifics with them ahead of time rather than assuming. Once your application is submitted, it doesn't turn into a usable license immediately.

The Three-Day Wait

Pennsylvania builds in a three-day waiting period between the day you apply and the day the license is actually issued. Plan your timeline with this in mind — if you're hoping to marry soon after applying, count the days first so you're not caught off guard.

There is an exception. An Orphans' Court judge has the authority to waive this waiting period, but only in extraordinary circumstances. This isn't something you should count on as a routine option — it's a narrow exception for genuinely unusual situations, decided case by case by the court. If you think your situation qualifies, that's a conversation to have with the court, not something the Register of Wills can grant on its own.

What It Costs

Fees for a marriage license are set individually by each county, and they typically fall somewhere between $60 and $90. Because the exact amount is set locally and can change, don't treat that range as a guarantee of what you'll pay. Confirm the current fee — and how they want it paid — with the Register of Wills before your appointment so you're not stuck figuring it out on the spot.

Using Your License

Once issued, your marriage license is valid for 60 days. That's the window during which your ceremony needs to happen — if you don't marry within those 60 days, the license expires and you'd need to go through the process again. Mark that date clearly once you have your license in hand.

One more thing worth knowing as you plan: Pennsylvania offers a self-uniting marriage license as an alternative to the standard one. A self-uniting license doesn't require an officiant to perform the ceremony — the two of you, along with your witnesses, can complete the marriage yourselves. If you're not planning to have an officiant, or you like the idea of a ceremony that's entirely in your own hands, ask the Register of Wills about this option when you apply. It's a real, recognized alternative, not a workaround — just a different type of license suited to a different kind of ceremony.

Philadelphia County marriage licenses, by the numbers

1,096 marriage licenses were filed in Philadelphia County in the last 30 days and 10,718 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-09-25. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Philadelphia County marriage license page.

State rules checked against [Pennsylvania county Register of Wills offices](https://www.chesco.org/435/Marriage-Licenses). Fees and procedures change — the Register of Wills (Marriage License Bureau) has the final word. General information, not legal advice.