Marriage records in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, are available through several channels. LuzerneCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, the original documents are maintained by the Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Luzerne County Courthouse. You can contact this office in person, send a request by mail, or use Pennsylvania's online tools to search for and order copies of marriage certificates.
Luzerne Marriage Records Search
In Pennsylvania, the issuance of marriage licenses and the maintenance of marriage records are handled by the Clerk of Orphans' Court — a separate division of the county's judicial system. In Luzerne County, this office operates at the Court of Common Pleas 11th Judicial District. The collection includes marriage licenses, returned marriage certificates, and historical records dating back to the 19th century.
Public court records of the county are available for viewing through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania's public records portal. For searching specific cases, you can also use the UJS Case Search. Please note: marriage licenses are Orphans' Court records, and not all of them are indexed in the general court database.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Luzerne
The fees for copies of marriage records in Pennsylvania are set at the county level in accordance with the general provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. and local court rules. Below is an approximate fee schedule for the Luzerne County Clerk of Orphans' Court. It is recommended to verify the exact amount directly with the office, as fees may be subject to review.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of marriage certificate | $10.00 |
| Each additional certified copy (in the same order) | $5.00 |
| Search fee | $10.00 |
Certified copies have legal validity and are suitable for official purposes — name changes, immigration procedures, benefit applications. The processing time for requests made in person is usually the same day or a few business days. Mail requests take longer — from one to three weeks depending on the office's workload.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Luzerne
You can order a copy of a marriage certificate in several ways.
In Person
Visit the Clerk of Orphans' Court at the Luzerne County Courthouse at 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre. Office hours are from 8:30 to 16:30 on weekdays. Bring with you:
- valid photo identification;
- payment in the form of a money order or check (confirm the possibility of cash or card payment).
An appointment is usually not required — the office operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
By Mail
Send a written request to the office's address. Include in your letter:
- Full names of both individuals who were married.
- Approximate date of marriage.
- Money order or check for the appropriate amount, made payable to "Clerk of Orphans' Court."
- A copy of your identification.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope.
Online
At the state level, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records also maintains marriage records. For older records or if you are unsure which county issued the license, it is worth contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Health — their Vital Records division accepts requests via mail form. Some records can also be ordered through third-party authorized services, but the most reliable way is a direct request to the county.
For additional information on accessing public records in the Pennsylvania judicial system, contact the PA Office of Open Records, which coordinates requests in accordance with the Right-to-Know Law. Local court rules of Luzerne County also contain provisions regarding access to documents maintained by the Clerk of Judicial Records.
If you only need a basic verification of marriage registration, not a certified copy, start with LuzerneCourt.us — this will save time before contacting the office.