Marriage Records

HOW DO I ORDER MY MARRIAGE RECORD?

If Delaware County, PA is where you applied for your marriage license (not necessarily where you lived or where you were married), then you place an order with us online. Orders take about two (2) weeks to complete, so please contact the office if it is an emergency and you need your record immediately. Please select from one of the three options available below:

1. Plain copy $ 2.00
   These requests are currently processed online and sent to you via email. Plain copies are usually not for official use, and instead obtained for family histories or personal use. You will complete the online form, provide a credit card for your $2.00 payment, and in approximately seven business days, receive a PDF copy of your record via email from a member of our office.
   BUY PDF E-COPY MARRIAGE RECORD
2. Certified Copy $25.00
   These requests are currently processed online and sent to you via U.S. mail. Certified copies are usually used for in-state purposes, such as changing a name for Social Security Benefits. You will complete the online form, provide a credit card for your $25.00 payment, and we will process your request in approximately fourteen business days. At that time, we place your request in the U.S. mail. We cannot control delays associated with the U.S. mail, but eventually you should receive a paper, certified copy of your record document via the U.S. mail.
   BUY CERTIFIED MARRIAGE RECORD BY MAIL
3. Exemplified Copy $30.00
   These requests are currently processed online and sent to you via U.S. mail. Exemplified copies are typically used for foreign governments and immigration. You will complete the online form, provide a credit card for your $30.00 payment, and we will process your request in approximately fourteen business days. At that time, we place your request in the U.S. mail. We cannot control delays associated with the U.S. mail, but eventually you should receive a paper, exemplified copy of your record via the U.S. mail.
   BUY EXEMPLIFIED MARRIAGE RECORD BY MAIL

HOW CAN I CHECK TO SEE IF DELAWARE COUNTY, PA HAS MY MARRIAGE RECORD, OR TO CONFIRM THAT DELAWARE COUNTY, PA IS THE PLACE WHERE I APPLIED FOR MY MARRIAGE LICENSE BEFORE MY WEDDING?

You can check our Online Records Search: Marriage Licenses. The Register of Wills office now offers all members of the public the ability to search the existence of marriage records (but not images of documents, such as the actual license) anytime for free by proceeding to our portal, clicking the LOGIN AS GUEST button (no username/password is required), selecting Search Public Records option, selecting Marriage Names, and searching for your record. For a video walkthrough of how to use this service, please view the Searching for the Existence of Marriage Records Online video.

WHY WOULD I NEED A COPY OF A MARRIAGE RECORD?

There are a variety of reasons why an individual may need a copy of a marriage record. For example, the Social Security Administration typically requires a “certified” marriage record in order to complete a name change. It may be considered important to complete a name change prior to filing a joint income tax return with the Department of Treasury. Other reasons why you may need a copy of a Marriage Record include: collecting Social Security or pension benefits, for mortgage, adoption or passport purposes and any other situation where proof of marriage is required. It is recommended that before requesting a marriage record, you first determine the type of record which is appropriate for your needs.

WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IS CONTAINED ON A MARRIAGE RECORD?

Traditionally, each applicant's full name, age, residence, occupation, and place of birth are contained on marriage license applications. In addition, the name of each applicant's parents as well as their occupations and places of birth are part of each application. The Delaware County Marriage Records Department maintains all marriage records for licenses issued in Delaware County from 1885 to the present. All of these records are open to the public and available for viewing.

Looking for a Marriage Record from before 1950?
Please use these links to the Delaware County Archives:
MARRIAGE RECORDS 1852-1854
MARRIAGE RECORDS – 1885 – 1950