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. 1,107 licenses were filed here in the last 30 days; the newest filing we hold is dated Sep 21, 2026.
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 2025, with 1,222 filings.
| Month | Licenses filed |
|---|---|
| September 2026 · so far | 776 |
| August 2026 | 1,088 |
| July 2026 | 952 |
| June 2026 | 882 |
| May 2026 | 941 |
| April 2026 | 968 |
| March 2026 | 938 |
| February 2026 | 735 |
| January 2026 | 602 |
| December 2025 | 785 |
| November 2025 | 678 |
| October 2025 | 1,084 |
| September 2025 | 1,222 |
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 September 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 20,405 filings for Philadelphia County, including 1,107 from the last 30 days; the newest is dated Sep 21, 2026.
Getting married in Philadelphia County? These tools help couples plan.
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Start Your Zola Registry — FreeMarriage license filings in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — each one a dated public clerk record, with the date we last swept the county. Free, and no card.
Most counties we hold records for are not currently reporting. Check yours on the coverage page before you pay us anything.
Search every filing, filter to your service area, and get new ones as they arrive. Seven days free.
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