A Lebanon County marriage license is issued by the Register of Wills at the county courthouse, 400 South Eighth Street, Lebanon, PA 17042. Both applicants must appear together by appointment, the fee is $80, and Pennsylvania law imposes a three-day waiting period before the license can be used for a ceremony. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days and can be used anywhere in the Commonwealth.
Who Can Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18. Pennsylvania eliminated all exceptions for minors in 2020, so no one under 18 qualifies regardless of parental consent or court approval.1Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 Chapter 13 Section 1304 – Restrictions on Issuance of License Both parties must also be legally single: any prior marriage has to have ended by final divorce decree or the death of the former spouse.
Pennsylvania prohibits marriages between close relatives, including parents and children, siblings, aunts or uncles and nieces or nephews, and first cousins.1Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 Chapter 13 Section 1304 – Restrictions on Issuance of License The clerk will also decline to issue a license if either applicant appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the appointment.
What to Bring
Each applicant needs a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport. U.S. citizens must provide their Social Security numbers. Non-citizens without an SSN should mention that when scheduling; a valid passport becomes the primary identification.2Lebanon County. Requirements for Marriage License
You’ll also need each parent’s full name at birth (including maiden names) and their birthplaces. This information becomes part of the permanent record, so confirm it before the appointment rather than guessing at the counter.
If You Were Previously Married
If you’re divorced, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree with the court’s raised seal. The decree must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. A church annulment does not satisfy this requirement; only a civil annulment or divorce decree does.2Lebanon County. Requirements for Marriage License Several Pennsylvania county offices also require the decree to be dated more than 30 days before the application, so plan ahead if your divorce was recent.
Widowed applicants need to provide the date of death for the deceased spouse. If you resumed a maiden name after that death, bring legal documentation of the name change.
Scheduling and Attending the Appointment
Both applicants must appear in person together. Walk-ins are not accepted. Call 717-228-4415 to schedule.3Lebanon County. Register of Wills Virtual appointments are available for couples who cannot come to the courthouse because of illness, disability, or hardship.
At the appointment, the clerk reviews your documents and administers an oath to both parties confirming that the information in the application is true.
Fees and Payment
The fee is $80. The office accepts cash, checks, and money orders only; credit and debit cards are not accepted.2Lebanon County. Requirements for Marriage License All fees are non-refundable, even if you never use the license.
Waiting Period and Expiration
Pennsylvania requires three days between application and use. You cannot marry on the license until the fourth day after your appointment.4New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 Section 1303 – Waiting Period After Application A court can waive the waiting period in two situations: an emergency or extraordinary circumstances, or when an applicant is a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard or another military reserve component called to active duty.
The license stays valid for 60 days after issuance.5Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 Chapter 13 Section 1310 – Duration and Form of License If the ceremony doesn’t happen within that window, the license expires and you start over with a new application and another $80 fee. Apply at least four days before the wedding, and ideally a week or two ahead to leave a buffer.
A license issued in Lebanon County is valid for a ceremony anywhere in Pennsylvania. You don’t need to marry in Lebanon County to use it.
Who Can Officiate
Pennsylvania law specifies who can perform a marriage ceremony:6Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 Chapter 15 Section 1503 – Persons Qualified to Solemnize Marriages
- Any active, retired, or senior justice or judge of a Pennsylvania court, and active or senior federal judges sitting in Pennsylvania’s district courts, bankruptcy courts, or the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Any current mayor of a Pennsylvania city or borough, and certain former mayors who meet residency and service requirements.
- A minister, priest, or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation.
- Any religious society or institution in Pennsylvania, joining persons in marriage according to its own customs, provided at least one party is a member.
No officiant may perform the ceremony unless the couple produces a valid marriage license. If someone not on the authorized list performs your ceremony, the marriage may not be legally recognized, so verify your officiant’s qualifications before the wedding. Online ordinations are a gray area in Pennsylvania, and some county clerks have rejected marriage returns from internet-ordained officiants.
Self-Uniting Marriages
Pennsylvania is one of the few states that recognizes self-uniting marriages, in which the couple marries without an officiant. The tradition originated with Quaker practice but is available to any couple regardless of religious affiliation. In place of an officiant’s signature, the certificate is signed by two witnesses who were present at the ceremony.7Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 Section 1502 – Declaration of Authorization for Marriage Without Officiant
Tell the clerk at scheduling that you want a self-uniting license so the correct form is prepared. The same eligibility rules, fee, and waiting period apply. After the ceremony, both spouses and both witnesses sign the certificate, and one of the parties returns the duplicate to the clerk within ten days.
After the Ceremony
The officiant (or the couple, in a self-uniting marriage) must sign the marriage certificate and return the duplicate copy to the Register of Wills within ten days.8New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 23 Section 1504 – Returns of Marriages Missing that deadline can result in a fine. Follow up with your officiant to confirm the paperwork was filed.
Once the certificate is recorded, you can request certified copies from the Lebanon County Register of Wills. Certified copies typically cost around $10 each. Order several: most agencies and institutions that require proof of marriage will not accept a photocopy.