Who Issues Chester County Marriage Licenses
The Register of Wills, who also serves as Clerk of the Orphans' Court, issues marriage licenses in Chester County. The officeholder is Michele Vaughn. Her Marriage License Department sits inside the Chester County Justice Center at 201 W. Market Street, Suite 2200, in West Chester. This is the same office that probates wills and grants letters for estates, so marriage and probate work share one counter. The authority to run this office and keep these records comes from Pennsylvania law.
The Register of Wills statute spells out the duties and powers of the office. You can read it on the legislature's site.
The Register of Wills statute, posted on the General Assembly site, frames the office that grants your license. See the Register of Wills statute for the legal basis of the office.
That law is the reason a county office, not a court clerk, hands you the license.
You will need two phone numbers. Call 610-344-6395 to book the marriage license appointment. The main office line is 610-344-6335. Both applicants apply in person, and the office does not take walk-ins for new licenses. For estate and will matters tied to the same office, see Chester County probate records through the Orphans' Court.
Chester County Marriage License Requirements
The rules are firm and set by state law. Both applicants must be at least 18. Both must appear together at the same appointment, with a narrow exception for active-duty military. Each person brings a photo ID that shows a current legal name and date of birth. The office may ask for more ID if something does not match. No blood test is required in Pennsylvania.
A Social Security number is part of the application. State law requires you to give it if you have one. You do not have to show the card itself. The number stays confidential and never appears in the public record. If an applicant has an SSN and refuses to give it, the office must deny the application.
Pennsylvania's marriage license rules are gathered in one chapter of the code. You can review them in full online.
The state marriage license statutes set the floor for every county, including Chester County. Read the Pennsylvania marriage license statutes for the controlling rules.
Those sections drive the ID, age, and disclosure rules the county applies at the counter.
Prior marriages add a step. If you were married before, give the date of the most recent divorce, annulment, or death of a spouse. If a divorce or annulment became final within the last six months, bring the certified final decree. Wednesday brings extended hours to 6 PM for licenses, but after 4:30 PM the office takes cards only, not cash. A Pennsylvania license can be used in any county in the state. It cannot be used out of state, and an out-of-state license cannot be used here.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Plan the timing first. You must apply at least three days before the wedding date and not more than 60 days before. A three-day waiting period runs before the license becomes valid, and the license stays good for 60 days from and including the day it is issued. Gather your ID and prior-marriage details before you book.
- Confirm both applicants are 18 or older and collect each photo ID, the Social Security number for anyone who has one, the date of any prior divorce, annulment, or spouse's death, and a certified decree if a divorce became final within six months.
- Schedule the appointment online or call 610-344-6395. New licenses are by appointment only.
- Appear together at Suite 2200 at the set time. Call ahead if you are running late, since more than 15 minutes late may force a reschedule.
- Pay the $75 fee by cash or card. A $1.69 processing fee is added for cards, and checks or money orders are not accepted.
- Wait the full three days for the license to take effect.
- Use the license within 60 days anywhere in Pennsylvania, then follow the officiant's instructions to return and record it after the ceremony.
Note: if you need to skip the three-day wait, the office can grant a waiver for $25, free for active-duty military, but you must request it in writing signed by both applicants at least two working days before you apply.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for a short list of items, and each one has a purpose. Some are required by law. Some only apply if you were married before. The inventory below shows what each applicant brings or provides at the appointment, so you can check your packet before you arrive at Suite 2200.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Yes | Must show current legal name and date of birth; the office may ask for more ID |
| Social Security number | Yes, if you have one | Required by state law; card not needed; kept confidential and never public |
| Prior marriage end date | If applicable | Date of most recent divorce, annulment, or death of a spouse |
| Certified final decree | If applicable | Bring it if a divorce or annulment became final within six months |
| Appointment confirmation | Yes | New licenses are by appointment only for both applicants together |
| Fee payment | Yes | $75 by cash or card; $1.69 card fee; no checks |
Both applicants fill out their own side, so each person should arrive with their own ID and numbers in hand.
Chester County Marriage Record Fees
Fees cover both the license and the records that come after it. The application itself is the largest charge. Copies and special certifications carry their own set prices. Payment for a license is cash or card only, with the small card fee added. The table lists the current charges at the Register of Wills office.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage application | $75 |
| Certified marriage record | $20 |
| Exemplification of marriage record | $40 |
| Certification of no marriage | $35 |
| Replacement marriage license | $20 |
| Non-resident marriage affidavit | $10 |
| Waiver of three-day waiting period | $25 |
An exemplification is an extra-certified copy used when a record must travel to another court or jurisdiction. A certification of no marriage proves the office found no marriage on file for a name.
How to Look Up Chester County Marriage Records
Marriage records sit with the Register of Wills, the same office that grants the license. The office runs a free public portal that lets you search Register of Wills and marriage license records by name, by case or license number, or by a date range. Older marriages are easier to find with a date range, since name spellings shift over time. The county marriage record stays the main source for proof of a wedding that happened here.
You can also order copies in person at Suite 2200 or by mail. A certified marriage record costs $20. If you need a copy to settle an estate, change a name, or claim a benefit, ask for the certified version, since a plain copy is not always accepted by other agencies. For the broader county records picture, see Chester County public records and the options each office offers.
How to Find Chester County Divorce Records
Divorce is a court case, not a license, so it follows a different path. A divorce is filed in the Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary keeps the civil and family dockets, including divorce filings, in Suite 1425. You can reach that office at 610-344-6300. Many divorce dockets can be searched through the statewide UJS portal or the county's ChescoPIN system, though sensitive family filings and confidential details are restricted from public view.
Pennsylvania's Divorce Code controls how a divorce works, from residency to grounds to the final decree. It lives at 23 Pa.C.S. Chapter 13. The code covers fault and no-fault grounds, waiting and consent rules, equitable distribution of property, and the way support and custody claims attach to a case. You can read it on the legislature's website.
The Pennsylvania Divorce Code sets the rules a Chester County judge applies to every divorce. Review the Pennsylvania Divorce Code for grounds, decrees, and property rules.
That chapter is the framework behind every divorce docket the Prothonotary keeps. For docket lookups and filing details, see the Prothonotary office and broader Chester County court records.
A divorce file can hold the complaint, the grounds, property and support orders, and the final decree. What shows online is limited. Financial affidavits, custody details, and information about minor children are kept out of public dockets. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the Prothonotary with the docket number and the names of the parties.
Confidential Family and Adoption Records
Not every family record is open. Pennsylvania treats adoption files as confidential, and the county keeps them sealed. Divorce dockets also hide sensitive items like Social Security numbers, financial accounts, and the names of minor children. The point is to protect families while still letting the public confirm that a case exists.
Adoption sits with the Orphans' Court side of the Register of Wills office, and its own statute controls how those records are handled. You can review the adoption provisions online.
The adoption provisions of the code explain why these files stay private even when other records are open. See the Pennsylvania adoption record provisions for the confidentiality rules.
Because of that law, adoption records are not part of the routine marriage or divorce searches above.
Certified Chester County Marriage and Divorce Copies
A certified copy is the version other offices trust. It carries a seal and a clerk's signature, and it proves the record is real. A plain printout does not. You need certified copies for things like name changes, estate work, immigration, and benefit claims. Marriage records are certified by the Register of Wills, while divorce decrees are certified by the Prothonotary.
Order in person, by mail, or by the method each office allows. For a marriage record, the fee is $20 per certified copy, and an exemplification runs $40 when a record must go to another court. For a divorce decree, ask the Prothonotary for the certified copy fee and bring the docket number. Mail requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the office can return the approved copy.