Marriage records in Centre County, Pennsylvania, can be accessed through several channels. CentrePACourt.us can help you find publicly available marriage record information for the county. You can also request records directly from the Centre County Clerk of the Orphans' Court, which issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records. In-person visits to the courthouse in Bellefonte, mail requests, and the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records are additional ways to obtain copies of marriage certificates and related documents.
Centre County Marriage Records Search
In Pennsylvania, marriage licenses are issued at the county level by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court (sometimes combined with the Register of Wills). In Centre County, marriage license applications and returns are filed with and maintained by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court division. The Centre County Records Management page confirms that marriage records are held locally by the appropriate county office.
The collection includes:
- Marriage license applications
- Issued marriage licenses
- Marriage certificates (returned and filed after the ceremony)
- Historical marriage records dating back to the county's early years
For older or historical records, the Centre County Library and Historical Museum's Pennsylvania Room may also hold indexed marriage data. Contact the Clerk of the Orphans' Court directly for record searches.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Centre County
Fees for marriage record services in Centre County are set by the Clerk of the Orphans' Court in accordance with Pennsylvania fee schedules. The following table reflects standard county-level fees for marriage-related records. Contact the office to confirm current amounts before submitting a request.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license application | $50.00 |
| Certified copy of marriage certificate | $10.00 |
| Each additional certified copy (same order) | $5.00 |
Pennsylvania does not charge a separate search fee at the county level for marriage records in most cases. Processing for in-person requests is typically same-day. Mail requests may take one to two weeks depending on volume. For marriage records from 1906 onward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records also maintains statewide records and can issue certified copies for an additional fee.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Centre County
There are three main ways to order a marriage certificate in Centre County:
Online
The Pennsylvania Department of Health offers an online vital records ordering system for marriage records from 1906 to the present through the state Vital Records portal. State-level orders typically involve a higher fee and longer processing time than ordering directly from the county. Centre County does not currently operate its own online marriage record ordering system.
In Person
Visit the Clerk of the Orphans' Court at the Centre County Courthouse during regular business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Certified copies are usually available the same day.
By Mail
To request a marriage certificate by mail, send the following to the Clerk of the Orphans' Court at the courthouse address above:
- A written request including the full names of both spouses and the approximate date of marriage
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID
- A check or money order for the applicable fee, payable to "Centre County Clerk of the Orphans' Court"
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
Allow one to two weeks for processing. If you are unsure which office holds the record you need, the Centre County Records Management page provides guidance on where to direct different types of record requests. You can also reach out through the county's Open Records Request process for additional public records inquiries. For court-related marriage filings or docket information, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas page may provide further direction.