Getting a Marriage License in Dauphin County
Marriage licenses are handled by the Dauphin County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office is in the Dauphin County Courthouse at 101 Market Street, Room 103, Harrisburg, and the research names Jean Marfizo King, MBA, as the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The office maintains marriage licenses from 1885 to the present.
A Pennsylvania marriage license may be obtained from the Clerk of Orphans' Court in any Pennsylvania county. The ceremony does not need to occur in the issuing county, but it must be performed in Pennsylvania. Dauphin County's virtual process became an important local feature in March 2020, when the office became the first in Pennsylvania to implement virtual marriage licenses and probates.
The Register and Clerk of Orphans' Court page is an assigned source for Dauphin County marriage records.
This office is the marriage-license office, not the divorce filing office.
How to Apply for a Dauphin County Marriage License
The virtual marriage license process starts online. The license must be obtained at least three days before the ceremony, and the three-day waiting period does not start until the office prints the license after the video conference or in-person appointment. The license expires 60 days after that waiting period.
- E-file the application and follow the help text carefully because incomplete information or using n/a may cause rejection.
- Upload required documents, including identification and any divorce decree or Notice to Resume Prior Surname if applicable.
- Choose a video conference date and time.
- Make sure both applicants attend the video conference, either together or from separate locations.
- Allow the three-day waiting period to run after the office prints the license.
The county's virtual marriage license page is the assigned source for this application flow.
The video conference process is county-specific and should not be replaced with generic walk-in license copy.
Dauphin County Marriage Application Fields
The application fields come from the county's requirements and uploaded-document rules. Original foreign-language documents require the original plus a notarized translation. Social Security number is required under the county instructions for marriage licenses as of January 1, 1998.
| Field or Document | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant legal names | Yes | Enter complete information in the e-file application. |
| Social Security number | Yes | Required under the county's marriage-license instructions. |
| Photo identification | Yes | Driver's license, non-driver photo ID, or passport accepted. |
| Prior divorce decree | If applicable | Required when a prior marriage ended by divorce. |
| Notice to Resume Prior Surname | If applicable | Upload when relevant to the prior divorce record. |
| Foreign-language document translation | If applicable | Original document plus notarized translation required. |
Dauphin County Marriage and Divorce Fees
The confirmed marriage-license fee is $80 plus a $1.75 credit processor fee, and the credit-card charge appears as Gila LLC. Divorce filing fees belong to the Prothonotary fee schedule. The research noted examples from snippets, but the build should point users to the official 2026 Prothonotary fee page rather than hard-coding every divorce tier.
| Item | Amount or Source |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $80. |
| Marriage credit processor fee | $1.75, appearing as Gila LLC. |
| Certified marriage copy | Order through county online services or by mail using the county form. |
| Divorce filing | Use the official Prothonotary fee listing. |
| Certified divorce decree copy | Request from the Prothonotary for official copies, older records, or missing files. |
How to Look Up Dauphin County Marriage Records
Certified marriage copies can be ordered online by logging in as a guest, accepting the Online Services Disclaimer, choosing Search Public Record, searching by name or license number, clicking Certified Copy, and following the prompts. Certified copies may also be ordered by mail using the county form. Marriage licenses from 1885 to present are maintained locally and are a useful genealogy source.
The Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Cloud Search offers search and view access after registration. Document downloads cost $0.50 per page plus a $2 transaction surcharge, while a $25 monthly subscription allows free printing after registration and subscription setup.
The Cloud Search source is assigned to Dauphin County marriage and divorce records.
Cloud Search is strongest for Register and Orphans' Court records, not for divorce case files.
How to Find Dauphin County Divorce Records
Divorce is a civil and family Court of Common Pleas matter filed through the Prothonotary. Use the CountySuite civil search for divorce and custody categories, including Divorce Complaint, Divorce plus additional counts, Divorce with Custody, and Resume Prior Surname categories. The official fallback for certified copies and older or missing files is the Prothonotary's Office.
Divorce files may contain sensitive family information, custody details, protected addresses, or sealed documents. Public search results should be treated as an index or docket lead, not as a guarantee that all pleadings or orders are viewable online.
Getting Certified Marriage or Divorce Copies
For certified marriage records, use the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court online certified-copy flow or mail form. For certified divorce decrees, use the Prothonotary because the divorce file is a civil Common Pleas record. The Register office states that payment transactions must be completed by 4:00 p.m. and that the office does not accept cash.
Pennsylvania Vital Records and Local Court Files
Marriage and divorce record access in Dauphin County is centered on county court offices rather than a single state vital-record lookup. The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court holds marriage licenses. The Prothonotary holds divorce records. Historical local holdings also include birth and death records from 1893 to 1906 in the Register/Orphans' office, but modern birth and death certificates are separate from the marriage and divorce file paths.
Dauphin County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court
101 Market Street, Room 103
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-780-6500