How to Get a Marriage License in Pittsburgh: 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 Pittsburgh, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Marriage License Section, City-County Building, 1st Floor, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Booking

Hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with no applications processed after 4:00 PM. Saturdays 9 AM to 4 PM (April to September only); Wednesdays 8:30 AM to 7 PM (October to March only). Closed county holidays.

Fee

$90 An extra $10 is added for each prior divorce decree. Fee as listed on the county page read in October 2026; confirm with the office.

Payment

Cash or credit card (a second county page also lists money orders)

Who attends

Both applicants, in person or by video conference.

Valid for

60 days from the date of issue; it can be used in any Pennsylvania county

Same day?

No. Pennsylvania has a three-day waiting period after the application is processed. The license can be picked up by either applicant, a friend or relative, or mailed on request.

Step by step

1. Apply. File the application online (a valid email address is needed) or in person. Both applicants then take part in an interview, in person or by video conference, with photo ID. The application is not the license itself.
2. Book or plan your visit. Hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with no applications processed after 4:00 PM. Saturdays 9 AM to 4 PM (April to September only); Wednesdays 8:30 AM to 7 PM (October to March only). Closed county holidays.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Both applicants, in person or by video conference. Cash or credit card (a second county page also lists money orders)
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Pennsylvania. 60 days from the date of issue; it can be used in any Pennsylvania county

What to bring

• Photo ID for both applicants
• Certified copy of the divorce decree if previously divorced; date of death of the former spouse if widowed
• Minimum age 18 (per the county's how-to-apply page)
• Blood relatives up to and including first cousins may not marry

Good to know

• Apply two to three weeks before the ceremony
• A traditional license needs an officiant; a self-uniting license needs none. The Department of Court Records does not decide who may solemnize a marriage
• The officiant must file the marriage return with the issuing office within 10 days of the ceremony
• Social Security number rules were not stated on the pages read

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 Pittsburgh and our Pennsylvania nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Marriage License Section website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Marriage License Section: marriage license page. Contact: 412-350-4230; dcrml@alleghenycounty.us. This guide is general information, not legal advice.