Pennsylvania Marriage License: Requirements, Cost, and How to Apply

To marry in Pennsylvania you need a Pennsylvania marriage license. You apply for it together at any county's Register of Wills or Orphans' Court, it costs around $85, it cannot be used until three days after you apply, and it stays valid for 60 days. A Pennsylvania license is good anywhere in the state, including here in Montgomery County.

We host weddings at The Museum at Hoppenville in Pennsburg, and the license question comes up on almost every tour. Here is the plain version, with a link to the official county page for the details that can change.

Who can get a marriage license in Pennsylvania

• Both of you must be at least 18 to apply on your own. Applicants under 18 need court approval.
• Neither of you can be currently married. If you were married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate for your most recent marriage.
• You cannot marry a first cousin or closer blood relative.
• There is no residency requirement. You do not have to live in Pennsylvania, or in the county where you apply, to get a license here.

What a marriage license costs in Pennsylvania

Fees are set at the county level, so the exact number varies a little. In Montgomery County the license is $85. A certified copy of the record, which you will want for name changes, is $25. Always confirm the current fee on the Montgomery County marriage license page before you go, since counties update these.

How to apply, step by step

1. Start the application. Most counties, including Montgomery, use an online application followed by a short video appointment. Walk-in appointments are also available.
2. Attend together. Both of you take part in the appointment, in person or by video, and each of you brings one government photo ID such as a passport or driver's license.
3. Receive the license and wait. Pennsylvania has a three-day waiting period, so the license is not valid until three days after your appointment.
4. Marry within 60 days, anywhere in the state.

The three-day wait and the 60-day window

Two dates rule the timeline. The license is not valid until three days after you apply, and it expires 60 days after it is issued. The practical takeaway: apply about two weeks before the wedding. That clears the waiting period without letting the license get anywhere near its expiration.

Where a Pennsylvania marriage license is valid

This is the question we hear most: do you have to get married in the county that issued your license? No. A Pennsylvania marriage license is valid anywhere in Pennsylvania, in any of the 67 counties. The one limit is the state line. A Pennsylvania license can only be used in Pennsylvania. For the county version, see our Montgomery County marriage license guide.

Two options most couples do not know about

Pennsylvania offers a self-uniting marriage license, which lets you marry each other with no officiant. It grew out of the state's Quaker tradition, and only a few states offer it. If you are weighing a simple civil ceremony against a small celebration, our guide to a courthouse wedding versus a small venue wedding lays out the trade-offs.

Do you need a blood test?

No. Pennsylvania does not require a blood test to get a marriage license. The Montgomery County application asks only for a photo ID from each of you, plus a divorce decree or death certificate if either of you was married before.

Getting married in Montgomery County

Once the license is handled, the fun part is deciding where to stand when you say the words. We are a three-venue estate on 24 acres in Pennsburg, in the northern end of Montgomery County. You are welcome to schedule a tour, read what couples say, or browse the venues.