Pennsylvania Wedding Laws
From the bustle of Philadelphia to the serenity of Lancaster County, there are plenty of exciting locales available to couples looking to tie the knot in Pennsylvania. Naturally, there are a number of important points that must be kept in mind in order to follow the proper protocol of marriage requirements in the Keystone State. The Universal Life Church Ministries has assembled this overview of Pennsylvania wedding laws in order to provide officiants and couples alike a clear understanding of the process.
How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Pennsylvania
- Min. Age of Minister:
- Age 18
- Residency:
- Not Required
- Document(s) Required:
- Varies by County
- Online Ordination Recognized:
- Yes
- Relevant Office of Registration:
- Office of the Clerk
- Latest Document(s) Submission Date Allowed:
- Varies by County
- Minister I.D. # Issued:
- No
The requirements for officiants in the state of Pennsylvania are quite similar to that of other states. PA recognizes religious, spiritual, secular, and civil officiants, as long as the individual has been given officiant status by a larger institution. Ministers who have been ordained by the Universal Life Church fall into the category of religious actors. This means they are legally allowed to conduct the ceremony regardless of their personal belief system, gender, and other factors.
One important point to note is that ministers in the state of Pennsylvania may be required to register with the Office of the Clerk. In order to learn more about what paperwork is needed for this process, check with the office issuing the marriage license to see what they need from a minister performing a wedding in their county. To ensure you have all of the necessary documentation, the Universal Life Church has put together a useful Classic Wedding Package that officiants in Pennsylvania can use to prove their status.
§ 1503
(a) General rule.--The following are authorized to solemnize marriages between persons that produce a marriage license issued under this part: (1) A justice, judge or magisterial district judge of this Commonwealth. (2) A former or retired justice, judge or magisterial district judge of this Commonwealth who is serving as a senior judge or senior magisterial district judge as provided or prescribed by law; or not serving as a senior judge or senior magisterial district judge but meets the following criteria: (i) has served as a magisterial district judge, judge or justice, whether or not continuously or on the same court, by election or appointment for an aggregate period equaling a full term of office; (ii) has not been defeated for reelection or retention; (iii) has not been convicted of, pleaded nolo contendere to or agreed to an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or other probation without verdict program relative to any misdemeanor or felony offense under the laws of this Commonwealth or an equivalent offense under the laws of the United States or one of its territories or possessions, another state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a foreign nation; (iv) has not resigned a judicial commission to avoid having charges filed or to avoid prosecution by Federal, State or local law enforcement agencies or by the Judicial Conduct Board; (v) has not been removed from office by the Court of Judicial Discipline; and (vi) is a resident of this Commonwealth. (3) An active or senior judge or full-time magistrate of the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania. (3.1) An active, retired or senior bankruptcy judge of the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania who is a resident of this Commonwealth. (4) An active, retired or senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit who is a resident of this Commonwealth. (5) A mayor of any city or borough of this Commonwealth. (5.1) A former mayor of a city or borough of this Commonwealth who: (i) has not been defeated for reelection; (ii) has not been convicted of, pleaded nolo contendere to or agreed to an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or other probation without verdict program relative to a misdemeanor or felony offense under the laws of this Commonwealth or an equivalent offense under the laws of the United States or any one of its possessions, another state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a foreign nation; (iii) has not resigned the position of mayor to avoid having charges filed or to avoid prosecution by Federal, State or local law enforcement agencies; (iv) has served as a mayor, whether continuously or not, by election for an aggregate of a full term in office; and (v) is a resident of this Commonwealth. (6) A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation. (b) Religious organizations.--Every religious society, religious institution or religious organization in this Commonwealth may join persons together in marriage when at least one of the persons is a member of the society, institution or organization, according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization. (c) Marriage license needed to officiate.--No person or religious organization qualified to perform marriages shall officiate at a marriage ceremony without the parties having obtained a marriage license issued under this part.
Getting Married in Pennsylvania
- Marriage By Proxy Allowed:
- No
- Minister Required to be Present:
- Yes
- Number of Witnesses Required:
- None
- Min. Age of Witnesses:
- N/A
- Couple's Consent Required:
- Yes
- Pronouncement Required:
- Yes
There are no major restrictions when it comes to how a couple plans or conducts a wedding ceremony in Pennsylvania. The only thing to note is that the state requires both members of the couple to be present and declare consent to the union before the officiant. The officiant must then pronounce the couple as wed. No additional witnesses are required to be present for this portion of the ceremony.
§ 1301
(a) General rule.--No person shall be joined in marriage in this Commonwealth until a marriage license has been obtained. (b) Place of marriage ceremony.--A license issued under this part shall authorize a marriage ceremony to be performed in any county of this Commonwealth. (c) Identity of applicants.--Prior to issuance of the license, the person issuing the license must be satisfied as to the identity of both of the applicants.
How to Get a Pennsylvania Marriage License
- Who Picks Up License:
- The Couple
- Where License is Valid:
- Any County in Pennsylvania
- Marriage License Pick-Up:
- In Person Only
- Cost of License:
- Varies by County
- Accepted I.D. Types:
- Photo ID and Proof of Social Security Number
- Proof of Divorce Required (If Applicable):
- Yes
- Blood Test Required:
- No
To obtain a marriage license in Pennsylvania, the couple must physically go to a county clerk’s office. Both applicants must be present and bring along paperwork or documentation verifying their identities, including a photo ID and confirmation of social security number. If either member of the couple has been married before, the county clerk might request that proper divorce paperwork be submitted to verify the former union has been legally dissolved. Though it is not legal to marry a relative, the clerk will not ask for a blood test from the applicants to verify this fact.
Currently, the cost of a marriage license in Pennsylvania varies. Depending on the county, the cost can be anywhere between $40 and $85.
§ 1302
(a) General rule--No marriage license shall be issued except upon written and verified application made by both of the parties intending to marry. (b) Contents.--The application shall contain the following: (1) The full name of the applicants. (2) The occupation, birthplace, residence and age of the applicants. An applicant intending to marry who is a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under Chapter 67 (relating to domestic and sexual violence victim address confidentiality) may use the substitute address designated by the Office of Victim Advocate pursuant to Chapter 67 as the address of their residence.(3) Whether the marriage contemplated is the first, second or other marriage of an applicant. (4) A statement that neither of the applicants is afflicted with transmissible disease. (5) The full name, residence, occupation and birthplace of the parents of each applicant, including the maiden name of the mother of each applicant. An applicant may use the substitute address designated by the Office of Victim Advocate pursuant to Chapter 67 for a parent's residence if: (i) the applicant is a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under Chapter 67 and the applicant resides with the applicant's parents; or (ii) the applicant's parent is a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under Chapter 67. (6) Any other facts necessary to determine whether a legal impediment to the proposed marriage exists.
Applying For a Marriage License in Pennsylvania
- ULC-Officiated Ceremony Type:
- Religious
- Mandatory Waiting Period:
- 3 Days
- License Valid For:
- 60 Days
- License Must Be Submitted:
- Within 10 Days of Ceremony
Upon receiving the marriage license, the couple is required by law in Pennsylvania to wait a period of three days before the ceremony can be conducted. However, the couple also must complete the paperwork and conduct the wedding within 60 days of the issuance of the license. Once the ceremony takes place, the countdown changes again and the minister must bring the completed paperwork to the correct office within 10 days of the wedding itself.
§ 1310
The marriage license shall not be valid for a longer period than 60 days from the date of issue and shall be in substantially the following form: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ss: No...... County of (name) To any person authorized by law to solemnize marriage: You are hereby authorized to join together in holy state of matrimony, according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, (name) and (name). Given under my hand and seal of the Court of Common Pleas of (name), at (city, borough or town), on (date). Signed .......................... (Official Title)
Pennsylvania Marriage Requirements
- Min. Age of Couple:
- Age 18
- Residency:
- Not Required
- Min. Distance of Kin Allowed:
- Second Cousins
- Marriage Equality:
- Yes
Pennsylvania has a few key points to understand when it comes to the legal requirements for couples looking to marry. Both same-sex and out-of-state couples are legally allowed to marry in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the state requires that members of the couple be at least 18 years of age in order for the wedding to be considered legally binding.
The state of Pennsylvania also forbids marriage between relatives who are closer in blood than second cousins. One outdated requirement suggests a license will not be issued to couples where one member admits to having a transmissible disease. Unless this has been kept a secret from the other half of the couple, this is not likely going to prevent the license from being issued.
§ 1302
(a) General rule.--No marriage license shall be issued except upon written and verified application made by both of the parties intending to marry. (b) Contents.--The application shall contain the following: (1) The full name of the applicants. (2) The occupation, birthplace, residence and age of the applicants. An applicant intending to marry who is a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under Chapter 67 (relating to domestic and sexual violence victim address confidentiality) may use the substitute address designated by the Office of Victim Advocate pursuant to Chapter 67 as the address of their residence.(3) Whether the marriage contemplated is the first, second or other marriage of an applicant. (4) A statement that neither of the applicants is afflicted with transmissible disease. (5) The full name, residence, occupation and birthplace of the parents of each applicant, including the maiden name of the mother of each applicant. An applicant may use the substitute address designated by the Office of Victim Advocate pursuant to Chapter 67 for a parent's residence if: (i) the applicant is a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under Chapter 67 and the applicant resides with the applicant's parents; or (ii) the applicant's parent is a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under Chapter 67. (6) Any other facts necessary to determine whether a legal impediment to the proposed marriage exists.
Finalizing the Union
- Officiant's Title on Marriage License:
- Minister
- Church/Ordaining Body:
- Universal Life Church Ministries
- Address of Church:
- Minister's Home Address
After the ceremony has come to a close, the officiant has 10 days to make sure that the marriage license is properly completed and returned to the county clerk where it was issued. To expedite the process, couples should look over the documents in advance and ensure that every line has been filled out in a legible and accurate manner.
§ 1504
(a) General rule.--The original marriage certificate shall be signed by the person solemnizing the marriage and given to the parties contracting the marriage. The duplicate certificate shall be signed by the person or by a member of the religious society, institution or organization solemnizing the marriage and returned for recording within ten days to the court which issued the license.