Columbia County Marriage License in Bloomsburg
Columbia County issues marriage licenses through the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds office at the Columbia County Courthouse in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Bloomsburg is a unique county seat, as it is the only incorporated town in Pennsylvania that serves as a county seat rather than a borough or city. The office is located at 35 West Main Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Register of Wills Brenda S. Lupini leads the office. For marriage license questions, call (570) 389-5614 or (570) 389-5615.
Hours and Fees for a Columbia County Marriage License
The Register of Wills office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. However, marriage licenses and passport services are only processed during the narrower window of 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Arriving outside this window means the staff cannot take your marriage license application, even if the office is technically open. Plan your visit to fall well within the 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM timeframe.
The fee for a Columbia County marriage license is $44.00. Payment is accepted in cash only. No checks, credit cards, or money orders are accepted. Bring exact change if possible. The Chief Deputy for the office is Hollie Stewart, and the fax number is (570) 389-5620.
Note: The marriage license window closes at 3:30 PM, a full hour before the office itself closes. Arriving between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM will not result in an application being processed that day.
What Columbia County Marriage License Applicants Need to Bring
Both applicants must appear together at the office with valid photo identification. A current driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport each work. You will need to provide your Social Security number as part of the application. The clerk will collect full legal names, dates of birth, places of birth, and information about parents for both applicants. This is the standard Pennsylvania marriage license application form.
If either applicant was previously married, proof that the prior marriage ended is required. A certified divorce decree is needed if the marriage ended by divorce. A death certificate is required if the former spouse has died. Foreign-language documents must come with a certified English translation. Non-English speakers must also bring an independent interpreter, meaning someone other than the other applicant who can translate accurately and accurately explain the form.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old under 23 Pa.C.S. §1304(b). Both must appear in person per §1306. Marriage between close blood relatives or first cousins is prohibited under §1304(e).
Three-Day Wait and Validity of a Columbia County Marriage License
After applying, a three-day waiting period must pass before the Columbia County marriage license is valid. This rule comes from 23 Pa.C.S. §1303. The day of the application does not count. Your license will be available on the fourth calendar day. Plan your wedding date to fall after this period. If you need a waiver due to extraordinary circumstances, contact the office to ask whether a judge may consider the request.
A Columbia County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue per §1310. Your wedding must take place before it expires. The license is valid for use anywhere in Pennsylvania, not just in Columbia County. Couples from across the area who plan to hold their ceremony in a different county can still apply in Bloomsburg.
Columbia County Marriage License Records: 1885 to Present
The Columbia County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds office maintains marriage license records from 1885 to the present. This is an extensive archive useful for genealogical research and legal purposes. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are also on file with the office. These older records give researchers a broader window into the history of families who lived in Columbia County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Marriage license applications are public records under 23 Pa.C.S. §1309. Members of the public can request access to these records. Contact the office by phone, fax, or in person to ask about available records and the process for submitting a request. Bloomsburg University, located in the same town, has students and faculty who sometimes use the county records for academic research into local history.
The Columbia County Register and Recorder website provides contact information and an overview of all the services offered by the office, including marriage licenses and historical record searches.
Bloomsburg and Columbia County: A Unique Setting
Bloomsburg stands out among Pennsylvania county seats for being the only incorporated town to hold that designation. Every other county seat in the state is a borough or a city. This distinction is a point of local pride. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania adds a university-town feel to the community. The North Branch of the Susquehanna River runs along the town's edge, making it a scenic location for couples who want to explore the area around the time of their wedding.
Couples from Berwick, Catawissa, Benton, and other parts of Columbia County all travel to Bloomsburg to apply at the same office. The courthouse is easy to find on West Main Street. Street parking and nearby lots serve courthouse visitors during business hours. The compact downtown layout makes the visit convenient for those who want to combine the courthouse trip with other stops in Bloomsburg.
Note: The Pennsylvania Courts Orphans' Court Clerks directory lists contact details for the Columbia County office alongside all other county offices in the state.
After Your Columbia County Marriage License Is Issued
After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Columbia County Register of Wills. Authorized officiants in Pennsylvania are defined under 23 Pa.C.S. §1503 and include judges, justices of the peace, and ordained or licensed religious clergy. Some faith traditions also allow self-uniting marriages. Make sure your officiant qualifies under state law before the ceremony.
Once the signed license is on file, couples can request certified copies. Certified copies are needed for name changes, Social Security updates, passport applications, and other legal matters. Contact the office at (570) 389-5614 or (570) 389-5615 to ask about fees and turnaround times for certified copy requests. Pennsylvania abolished common law marriage on January 1, 2005, under §1103. The Register and Recorder office is the place to start for all marriage license needs in Columbia County.