How to get a marriage license in Philadelphia County — where to apply, the fee, the waiting period and how long it stays valid — plus the public record. 0 licenses were filed here in the last 30 days; the newest filing we hold is dated Oct 1, 2026.
We now focus on Texas. Philadelphia County records stay here, searchable and free, but are no longer updated daily — see Texas coverage →
In Pennsylvania, marriage licenses are issued by the Register of Wills (Marriage License Bureau). These are the state rules that apply in Philadelphia County; the office itself sets its hours, accepted ID and payment methods, so check with it before you go.
Checked September 2026 against Pennsylvania county Register of Wills offices. Rules and fees change — the issuing office has the final word. This is general information, not legal advice.
Counted from the filings we hold, by application date. The busiest full month in the past year was September 2026, with 1,107 filings.
| Month | Licenses filed |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | 34 |
| September 2026 | 1,107 |
| August 2026 | 1,084 |
| July 2026 | 951 |
| June 2026 | 880 |
| May 2026 | 941 |
| April 2026 | 968 |
| March 2026 | 938 |
| February 2026 | 735 |
| January 2026 | 602 |
| December 2025 | 785 |
| November 2025 | 677 |
| October 2025 | 1,084 |
A marriage license application filed with the Register of Wills (Marriage License Bureau) becomes part of the public record. The records we hold for Philadelphia County run from January 2025 to October 2026.
A filing means a wedding is happening now, not being planned: in our own data most couples marry within days of applying. Wedding professionals — photographers, florists, officiants, venues, DJs and planners — use the filings to see how many couples marry in Philadelphia County each month and when the busy season starts.
Set by each county — typically about $60 to $90. Confirm the current amount and accepted payment methods with the Register of Wills (Marriage License Bureau) before you go.
Three days between the application and the license being issued. An Orphans’ Court judge can waive it in extraordinary circumstances.
60 days from the date it is issued.
Any county’s Register of Wills or Marriage License Bureau — the license is valid anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Yes. Marriage license filings are public records kept by the Register of Wills (Marriage License Bureau). MarriageSignals holds 20,762 filings for Philadelphia County, including 0 from the last 30 days; the newest is dated Oct 1, 2026.
Getting married in Philadelphia County? These tools help couples plan.
The all-in-one wedding registry. Register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds. Free website, guest list manager, and checklist included.
Start Your Zola Registry — FreeRegister for anything on Amazon with free shipping and easy returns. Add items from any store with the universal registry button. Completion discount included.
Create Your Amazon RegistrySearch every filing, filter to your service area, and get new ones as they arrive. Seven days free.
Get access — first quarter 50% offCouples land here while they are getting their marriage license. A featured slot puts one business per category on Philadelphia County's pages — venue, photographer, officiant, planner, florist, DJ. Tell us who you are and we will reach out with pricing and what the slot includes. No commitment.