Getting a Marriage License in Westmoreland County
Marriage licenses in Westmoreland County come from the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. Katie Pecarchik holds that elected office. It is the same office that probates wills and runs estate files, but it also handles marriage licenses, adoptions, and guardianships on the Orphans' Court side. There is no separate "marriage bureau" in the county. The county posts its rules and application details on the Westmoreland County marriage license page.
Both people who plan to marry take part in the application. Pennsylvania asks for a license before the ceremony. The state does not require a blood test. Applicants must meet age and consent rules, and minors face stricter limits. Bring valid photo identification when you apply. Because exact ID rules, timing, and fees can change, check the county page or call the office before you go.
The license is what lets a couple marry. It is not the marriage certificate. After the wedding, the officiant signs and returns the license so the office can record it. The recorded record is what later supports a certified copy.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process is short, but a little prep saves a second trip. Both applicants should plan to take part. Have your identification and key dates ready before you start. These are the general steps Westmoreland County follows.
- Start at the county marriage license page and read the current ID, age, and timing rules.
- Complete any county online pre-application if one is linked.
- Both applicants appear or complete the process as the county requires, and each provides identification.
- Provide the application details the office asks for, such as full names, dates of birth, and prior-marriage history.
- Pay the marriage license fee the office lists at the time you apply.
- Observe any Pennsylvania waiting period and the license validity window before the ceremony.
- After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the office for recording.
Pennsylvania also allows self-uniting licenses, where the couple marry without an officiant. Clergy, judges, magisterial district judges, mayors, and other authorized officiants can perform a ceremony. Same-sex marriage is recognized under federal constitutional law.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks each applicant for identity and history details. The county page is the source of the exact form, so the fields below describe the kind of information you should expect to give, not a fixed county form list. Confirm the current form with the Register of Wills office.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Yes | Each applicant gives full legal name as it reads on identification. |
| Date of Birth | Yes | Used to confirm age and consent rules. |
| Photo Identification | Yes | Valid government photo ID; confirm accepted types with the office. |
| Prior Marriages | Yes | Status of any earlier marriages and how they ended. |
| Fee Payment | Yes | License fee due at application; the office sets the amount. |
Note: the county marriage page is the controlling source for the current form and ID list, so confirm field details there before your visit.
Westmoreland County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees for a marriage license, a certified copy, and a divorce filing are set by the office that handles each one. The official sources reviewed did not post a single fixed dollar amount for these items, so the table points you to the right office to confirm rather than listing a number. Do not rely on a guessed amount when you mail a request or visit a counter.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | Set by the Register of Wills; confirm on the county marriage license page or by phone. |
| Certified marriage record copy | Set by the Register of Wills; confirm with the office. |
| Divorce filing | Set by the Prothonotary; call 724-830-3502 to confirm. |
| Certified divorce decree copy | Set by the Prothonotary; confirm per page plus certification. |
If a filing fee is a hardship, Pennsylvania lets a party ask for in forma pauperis relief, which can waive court filing costs for those who qualify.
How to Look Up Westmoreland County Marriage Records
Marriage records in Westmoreland County run through the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court. The county's record-information page states marriage records are available from 1885 to present, with incomplete records from 1852 to 1855. That long range matters for family and genealogy searches. A first and last name are required to search a record, and the person's domicile is useful but not required.
Start with the office's own pages. The Register of Wills genealogy page explains the estate, marriage, and Orphans' Court coverage, and the record information page lists the date ranges and search rules. For older marriage records, the office also handles genealogical requests. Contact the office before a visit, since marriage files sit with a different office than civil court files.
How to Find Westmoreland County Divorce Records
Divorce is a civil and family matter. In Westmoreland County, divorce cases are filed in the Court of Common Pleas through the Prothonotary, the elected civil clerk. Gina O'Barto holds that office. The Prothonotary keeps the civil docket, which can include divorce, custody, support, and protection-from-abuse filings. The office is at 2 N Main Street, Suite 501, Greensburg, and the phone is 724-830-3502.
To find a case, you can search the statewide court system or contact the office. The UJS Case Search tool lets you search by participant name or docket number; set the county to Westmoreland when the filter shows. Some Common Pleas civil cases do not display in full online, so a divorce file may need a direct request to the Prothonotary. A divorce decree can be public when it is not sealed, but custody, support, and abuse details may be redacted or restricted.
An old divorce can be harder to find than a recent one, since the online portal does not reach far back for every case type. For those, the Prothonotary can check the civil index by name. Bring the names of both spouses and an approximate year to speed the search. For broader case-search steps, the Westmoreland County court records page walks through the portal in more detail.
Getting Certified Copies
A certified copy carries an official seal and is what courts, agencies, and many businesses accept as proof. An uncertified printout or screen image is not the same thing. For a certified marriage record, request it from the Register of Wills. For a certified divorce decree, request it from the Prothonotary after the decree is entered.
Each office sets its own copy and certification charge, and processing time can vary with how the request arrives. Confirm the fee, accepted payment, and turnaround with the holding office before you mail or visit. Have the names and a record date or docket number ready so the staff can pull the right file.
Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Office
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is the local office of record for marriage licenses and recorded marriage records in Westmoreland County. The filing office sits on the third floor of the Courthouse Annex in downtown Greensburg. Post-1905 Pennsylvania birth and death certificates are handled through Pennsylvania Vital Records at the state level, not this county office, but marriages stay local back to 1885.
Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court
Third Floor, Courthouse Annex
2 N Main Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
724-830-3177
Note: the phone above reaches the Orphans' Court side; confirm the right line and hours with the office before you go in person.