How to Get Pennsylvania Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in Pennsylvania — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Register of Wills / Orphans' Court Clerk.
What this page covers: Pennsylvania vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Register of Wills / Orphans' Court Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Allegheny County | Divorces
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Choose "Civil / Family Division" to search for divorce records in Allegheny County.
Allegheny County | Marriages
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Marriage license search from the Allegheny County Department of Court Records.
Berks County Births | 1894-1906
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Berks County births between 1894 and 1906. Provided by the Register of Wills.
Berks County Deaths
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Browse or search the Berks County Register of Wills by name for deaths between 1852 & 1855 and between 1894 & 1906.
Berks County Marriages
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Browse or search the Berks County Register of Wills by name or volume & page for marriages recorded since 1885.
Chester County Deaths | 1893-1907
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Browse this Chester County database for deaths between 1893 and 1907.
Chester County Marriages & Divorces
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Chester County Register of Wills marriage licenses and Prothonotary divorce index. Requires registration and a signup fee.
Chester County | Births, Deaths, Marriages
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Chester County birth, death, and marriage record archives, including 1852-1855 and 1893-1906 vital records, delayed birth records 1857-1906, proof.
Dauphin County Divorces
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Use this Dauphin County service to search for divorces and other court records. Use the Suits Index to search between 1992 and October 31, 2001.
Delaware County | Divorces
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Delaware Court of Common Pleas civil case records, including divorces.
Divorces | Prothonotary Filings
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Use this INFOCON fee-based service to search for prothonotary filings in 31 Pennsylvania counties.
Lackawanna County Marriages | 1885-1891
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Browse this Rootsweb.com list of Lackawanna County marriage by Volume and name. Covers 1885 through 1891 and has limited record up to 1936.
Lackawanna County | Will Index 1902-1914
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List of Lackawanna County Wills by surname. Covers 1902 through 1914.
Lancaster County | Divorces
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Lancaster County Office of the Prothonotary family court records, including divorces and custody actions.
Lawrence County | Marriages & Obituaries
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Lawrence County marriages and obituaries recorded since 1880.
Marriages | Infocon
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Use the fee-based INFOCON County Access system to search for marriage licenses in Pennsylvania. Access requires registration and fees.
Montgomery County Marriages
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Montgomery County Register of Wills Office database of issued marriage licenses.
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Philadelphia County | Divorces
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Philadelphia First Judicial District court records, including family court and divorce cases.
Philadelphia Marriages
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Search the Register of Wills for City of Philadelphia for marriage records by name or license date.
Reading Births | 1876-1905
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Berks County Register of Wills name search for City of Reading births recorded between 1876 and 1905.
Reading Deaths | 1873-1905
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Browse or search the Berks County Register of Wills by name for City of Reading deaths recorded between 1873 and 1905.
Reading Marriages | 1876-1885
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Browse or search the Berks County, Pennsylvania Register of Wills by name for City of Reading marriages recorded between 1876 and 1885.
Schuykill County Divorces
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Search this Schuykill County Civil Court Case Lookup service for general cases, suits, judgments, divorces, abuse, ejectments, equity, and federal.
Schuylkill County Marriages
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Use this Schuylkill County wedding and marriage license index to search by groom or bride name.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get a birth certificate in Pennsylvania? ▼
Contact Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. Most states accept online orders through VitalChek or the state's own ordering system. You must be an eligible applicant (the person named, a parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative).
Where do I get a marriage license in Pennsylvania? ▼
Marriage licenses are issued by the Register of Wills / Orphans' Court Clerk. Both parties typically must appear in person. The license is valid for a limited period and must be used in Pennsylvania.
Where are divorce records in Pennsylvania? ▼
Divorce records are maintained by the court that granted the divorce. In Pennsylvania, that is typically the Court of Common Pleas in the county where the divorce was filed.
Can I order vital records online? ▼
Most states allow online ordering of certified vital records through VitalChek or a state-run portal. Fees and processing times vary. Some records may require a mail-in application.
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