Getting a Marriage License in Luzerne County
A marriage license in Luzerne County comes from the Register of Wills, which also serves as the Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office handles the application, takes the fee, and records the license once the ceremony is done. You can apply in person at 153 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre, where the office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plan to arrive by 3:30 p.m. if you want to file in the office that day. A second location, the Hazleton Annex at 40 North Church Street, takes applications on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You can also start the form online at landex.com/marriageapp with the county set to Luzerne, then finish in person.
Both applicants have to show up together when the license is issued. Each person must be at least 18, bring a government photo ID, and give a Social Security number. If either applicant was married before, the office needs proof that the prior marriage ended. That means the most recent divorce decree or a death certificate for a late spouse. The license carries a 3-day waiting period. After it is issued, you must wait three days before the ceremony, and the license stays valid for 60 days. It is good for a marriage in Pennsylvania only, so a license from this county will not work for a wedding in another state.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process moves fast when both people come prepared. Have your IDs and Social Security numbers ready, and bring any divorce or death paperwork before you go. The steps below walk through a typical application at the Register of Wills.
- Start the application online at landex.com/marriageapp with the county set to Luzerne, or fill it out at the office.
- Both applicants appear together at the Register of Wills with a government photo ID and Social Security numbers.
- Bring the most recent divorce decree or a death certificate if either of you was married before.
- Pay the $50.00 fee. Cash, money order, or cashier's check is taken in Wilkes-Barre; mail-in and Hazleton applications take money order or cashier's check only.
- Wait out the 3-day waiting period before the ceremony.
- Marry within 60 days and return the signed license for recording.
Note: A Luzerne County marriage license is valid for a ceremony in Pennsylvania only and cannot be used in another state.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks both people for the same set of details. Knowing the fields in advance makes the visit quick and helps you spot any paperwork you still need to gather. The table lists the main items the Register of Wills collects, whether each is required, and a short note on each.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Yes | Both applicants, as shown on the photo ID |
| Date of Birth | Yes | Both applicants must be at least 18 |
| Government Photo ID | Yes | Driver's license, state ID, or passport |
| Social Security Number | Yes | Required from each applicant |
| Prior Marriages | Yes | Most recent divorce decree or death certificate if applicable |
| Both Applicants Present | Yes | Both must appear together in person |
The license is issued in person, so neither party can send a stand-in. If one person cannot come, the office cannot process the form that day.
Luzerne County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees depend on the service you need. A license costs one flat amount paid when you apply. Certified copies of a marriage record cost more if you do not know the exact date, because the office has to run a search first. Divorce filing fees are set by the Prothonotary and vary with the type of case, so the office can quote the current charge when you file or request a copy. The table below covers the common marriage-related costs at the Register of Wills.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license (at application) | $50.00 |
| Certified marriage record copy | $25.00 |
| Marriage search (date unknown) | $30.00 |
| General record search fee | $20.00 |
Note: A certified marriage copy is $25.00 when you know the date, but a search runs $30.00 when the exact date is unknown.
How to Look Up Luzerne County Marriage Records
Marriage records in this county go back to 1885 and are held by the Register of Wills. To find one, you contact that office and request a copy of the license. The Register of Wills can confirm a marriage, issue a certified copy, or run a search if the date is not known. Most older marriage records are not posted online for open public viewing, so a phone call or visit is the usual route. You can also start a marriage license application through the county's portal at the Marriage Licenses page.
To pull a record you will need the names of both spouses and, ideally, the year. If you know the exact date, ask for a certified copy at the standard fee. If you only have a rough timeframe, the office can search for an added fee. The state vital records office does not keep these files. As the Pennsylvania Department of Health notes, marriage and divorce certificates are held at the county level, so the request always loops back to Luzerne County.
The county's Clerk of Orphans' Court page is a useful reference for marriage records and other matters the office handles. The image below comes from the state vital records page that points requests back to the county.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health spells out where marriage and divorce certificates are held, and it links the public back to the county that issued each record. See the state Marriage and Divorce certificates page for the official notice.
That state page makes the rule plain: for a Luzerne County marriage or divorce certificate, you go to the county office, not the Department of Health.
How to Find Luzerne County Divorce Records
Divorce records live with a different office than marriage records. In Luzerne County, divorces are filed with the Prothonotary, the clerk who keeps civil and family case files. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree, you contact the Prothonotary at 570-825-1745. Family documents are generally not posted online, so most requests are handled by phone, mail, or an in-person visit. The court's public docket system may show limited case information, but the full file and the certified decree come from the Prothonotary.
Pennsylvania divorce can take a few forms. A no-fault consent divorce is filed when both spouses agree. A separation-based no-fault divorce can move forward after a set period of living apart. A fault-based divorce is also possible in some cases. Along with ending the marriage, a divorce case can settle equitable distribution of property, alimony, child custody, and support. Those related matters may add documents to the case file.
Some parts of a divorce file may be sealed or limited, especially anything involving children or financial account details. When you request a record, the office can tell you what is open to the public and what is restricted. The county Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts page covers filing details and forms in more depth.
Getting Certified Copies
A certified copy carries an official seal and is accepted for legal use, such as changing a name, claiming a benefit, or settling an estate. A plain printout is not the same thing and may be rejected. For a certified marriage copy, the Register of Wills charges $25.00 when you supply the date, or runs a $30.00 search when the date is unknown. For a certified divorce decree, you order from the Prothonotary, which sets the copy fee at filing or request.
When you order, give as much detail as you can. Full names, the year, and the type of record all help the office find the file fast. Mail-in requests should include payment by money order or cashier's check made out to the correct office. For estate-related copies and probate matters, the Luzerne County probate records page explains how short certificates and related documents work.
Pennsylvania Vital Records Office
The Pennsylvania Department of Health runs the state vital records program, but it does not hold marriage or divorce certificates. Those records stay at the county level. The state office handles birth and death certificates and points the public to the proper county for any marriage or divorce request. For Luzerne County, that means the Register of Wills for marriage records and the Prothonotary for divorce decrees.
PA Department of Health, Vital Records
Marriage & divorce held at county level
Harrisburg, PA
Contact county office for copies
Because the state does not issue these copies, every marriage or divorce request runs through the county. That keeps the process local and tied to the office where the record was first filed.