Centre County Government

Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court

Marriage License Guidelines

Guidelines to be Followed In Regards to the Issuance of a Marriage License in Pennsylvania

1. Each applicant for a marriage license must appear in person before the Clerk of Orphans' Court in order to complete the application for a license.
2. There is a three day waiting period between the application for a marriage license and the issuance of the same, except in case of extraordinary circumstances when a Judge of the Orphans' Court may waive this requirement and authorize a license to be issued at any time before the third day following the making of the application.
3. If either applicant is under the age of eighteen years, the consent of a parent or guardian is required.
4. If either applicant is under the age of sixteen years, the consent of a parent or guardian is required and a Judge of the Orphans' Court shall decide that it is to the best interest of such applicant and shall authorize the clerk of the Orphans' Court to issue this license.
5. If either applicant has been previously married and that marriage was dissolved by divorce, a copy of the divorce decree must be presented at the time of application. If the previous marriage was dissolved by death, the date of death is required.
6. A marriage license is valid for a period of sixty days following its issuance.
7. A $50.00 fee is required at the time of application.
8. A form of photo identification is required at the time of application.
9. A marriage license issued anywhere in the Commonwealth of PA is only valid in the Commonwealth of PA. The marriage license cannot be used in other states.