How to Get a Marriage License in Philadelphia: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Pennsylvania as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Philadelphia, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Marriage License Department, Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court, City of Philadelphia, City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Room 413, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Booking

Walk-ins accepted Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m.; appointments not required for walk-ins. Request an interpreter at least 48 hours to one week ahead (the page states both).

Fee

$90 Regular licence $90; Quaker/self-uniting licence $100; corrections $25; replacement of a lost licence $10. No refunds after purchase.

Payment

Visa, Mastercard, or money order only. No cash or personal checks.

Who attends

Both applicants must appear in person. No one else needs to attend.

Valid for

Expires 60 days after issue. Valid in any Pennsylvania county, not in other states or countries. An unused licence must be returned; a new application and fee are then required.

Same day?

The licence becomes valid on the third day after application (waiting period before the ceremony).

Step by step

1. Apply. Apply in person at the Marriage License Department in City Hall. No online application is mentioned on the page.
2. Book or plan your visit. Walk-ins accepted Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m.; appointments not required for walk-ins. Request an interpreter at least 48 hours to one week ahead (the page states both).
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Both applicants must appear in person. No one else needs to attend. Visa, Mastercard, or money order only. No cash or personal checks.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Pennsylvania. Expires 60 days after issue. Valid in any Pennsylvania county, not in other states or countries. An unused licence must be returned; a new application and fee are then required.

What to bring

• Two forms of ID, one of which must be photo ID: driver's licence, state photo ID, international driver's licence, U.S. or international passport, military ID, or PHL City ID
• Second ID: proof of SSN or ITIN (Social Security card, IRS ITIN document, pay stub, W-2, or tax return); if no SSN or ITIN, a birth certificate (translated if needed) or another acceptable photo ID
• Prior marriages: widowed applicants need a certified death certificate; divorced applicants need the original divorce decree; non-English documents must be translated and certified
• Prior legal name change requires a certified court decree
• No residency requirement or minimum age is stated on the page

Good to know

• A regular licence requires an officiant qualified under 23 Pa. C.S. 1503; a registration or listing requirement is not stated on the page.
• Self-uniting (Quaker) licence: the couple officiates and two witnesses sign the licence.
• The officiant (or the couple, for a self-uniting licence) must return the signed licence to the Marriage License Department within 10 days.
• Additional certified copies: $15 each at time of application, $40 each later.

Your nikah and the license

The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Pennsylvania, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Philadelphia and our Pennsylvania nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Marriage License Department, Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court, City of Philadelphia website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Marriage License Department, Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court, City of Philadelphia: marriage license page. Contact: (215) 686-2233. This guide is general information, not legal advice.