Bucks County Marriage License Information

Bucks County is one of the most populous counties in Pennsylvania, and its Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court office in Doylestown issues marriage licenses to couples from across the county and beyond. Whether you live in Levittown, Bristol, Perkasie, or are a non-resident planning to marry in Bucks County, you must apply in person at the County Administrative Building. This page explains the full process, highlights the county's unique Vows and Veterans program, and covers the Pennsylvania statutes that govern every marriage license issued in Bucks County.

Bucks County Marriage License Office Contact and Location

The Bucks County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court is located at the County Administrative Building, 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Douglas Wayne serves as the Acting Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court. The office phone number is 215-348-6265, and the fax number is 215-348-6156.

Doylestown is the county seat of Bucks County. The courthouse and administrative building complex in Doylestown serves residents from every corner of the county. Additional information about Bucks County government can be found at buckscounty.gov.

Non-residents who plan to marry in Bucks County may also apply at this office. You do not need to live in Bucks County to obtain a marriage license there. However, the ceremony must be performed in Pennsylvania for the license to be valid.

Vows and Veterans: Bucks County's Free Wedding Program

Bucks County offers a program called Vows and Veterans that provides free wedding ceremonies for veterans and their partners at the courthouse on select dates. This is one of the more distinctive programs offered by any Pennsylvania county Register of Wills office. It recognizes the service of veterans and makes a formal marriage ceremony accessible at no cost.

Couples who participate in the Vows and Veterans program still need to obtain a valid Bucks County marriage license before the ceremony takes place. The program handles the ceremony itself but not the license application. Contact the Register of Wills office at 215-348-6265 to ask about upcoming Vows and Veterans dates and how to register.

Note: Vows and Veterans ceremony dates are offered on a limited schedule. Check with the Bucks County office well in advance if you want to participate, as spots may fill up quickly.

How to Apply for a Bucks County Marriage License

Both applicants must appear together in person at the Bucks County Administrative Building in Doylestown. You cannot apply online or by mail. Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID and their Social Security number. The office will process the application at that visit.

Pennsylvania law requires this in-person appearance under Section 1306 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. No agent or representative can appear in your place. Both applicants must be physically present at the same time.

Once the application is submitted, the three-day waiting period required by Section 1303 begins. This means that even if you apply on a Monday morning, the earliest your license can be issued is Thursday morning. Emergency waivers of the waiting period are available through the court but require a compelling reason and a judge's approval. After the license is issued, it remains valid for 60 days under Section 1310. A Bucks County marriage license can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Courts Orphans Court directory lists every county clerk's contact information, which can be useful if you need to compare Bucks County procedures with those in neighboring counties like Montgomery or Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania Law Governing Bucks County Marriage Licenses

Every marriage in Pennsylvania requires a license. Section 1301 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is explicit on this point. No ceremony is legally binding without a license, whether it is a civil ceremony at the courthouse or a religious ceremony at a place of worship in Bucks County.

The minimum age for marriage is 18, per Section 1304(b). Bucks County cannot issue a license to anyone under that age under current state law. Section 1304(e) bars marriage between blood relatives, including first cousins, regardless of where they live or where the ceremony will be held.

Under Section 1309, every marriage license application is filed immediately as a public record. Bucks County marriage license records are therefore accessible to the public, though certified copies are issued only through the Register of Wills office. Public access to records is one reason researchers and genealogists use county offices as a starting point for family history work.

Pennsylvania abolished common-law marriage for any union formed on or after January 1, 2005, per Section 1103. No couple can establish a valid common-law marriage in Bucks County or anywhere else in Pennsylvania today. Cohabiting for any length of time does not create legal marital rights without a license.

Bucks County Marriage License Records and Research

Historical Bucks County marriage license records are held by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court office in Doylestown. Researchers who need copies of older records can contact the office by phone at 215-348-6265 to ask about the request process. Having the names of both parties and an approximate date of marriage will speed up the search.

Bucks County is one of the original three Pennsylvania counties, established in 1682 when William Penn organized the province. Its marriage records reach back well into the colonial era, though the format and availability of those older records varies considerably. Records from the modern licensing era are more uniformly accessible.

Pennsylvania Title 23 contains the full body of domestic relations law, including every statute that governs how marriage licenses are issued and recorded in Bucks County.

For statewide records research, the Pennsylvania State Archives offers vital statistics resources that cover all 67 counties. The archives can be a helpful complement to what the Bucks County office holds, especially for records from periods when county-level indexing was less consistent.

Note: Certified copies of Bucks County marriage licenses are legal documents and may be required for name changes, insurance claims, estate proceedings, or other official purposes. Request copies directly from the Register of Wills office.

Authorized Officiants for Bucks County Marriages

A valid Bucks County marriage license allows you to marry, but it does not mean anyone can perform the ceremony. Pennsylvania law under Section 1503 sets out who qualifies as an authorized officiant. The list includes judges of any court of record, mayors of cities, and ministers, priests, or rabbis of any regularly established church or congregation.

Couples choosing a friend or relative as their officiant should verify in advance that the person's ordination is recognized under Pennsylvania law. Online ordinations have been contested in Pennsylvania courts, and the legal standing of such ordinations can vary. The safest approach is to confirm with a Pennsylvania attorney or with the court before the ceremony.

The Vows and Veterans program and other courthouse ceremonies in Bucks County are typically performed by a judge or other authorized official, so couples choosing that route do not need to arrange their own officiant.