No, you do not need a blood test to get married in PA. Pennsylvania dropped that requirement years ago, and nothing in the current marriage license process involves bloodwork, an STI screen, or any other medical exam. What you do need is identification, some basic information about your parents, a fee, and enough time to clear a mandatory three-day waiting period.
What Pennsylvania Requires Instead
Each applicant brings a valid government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, or passport. You also need to know each parent’s full name (including a birth mother’s maiden name), their birthplace, and their state of residence.1Butler County, PA. Marriage Licenses
Federal law requires your Social Security number on the application. If you have one and refuse to give it, the clerk cannot process the application. If you genuinely don’t have one, the clerk can still issue the license.2Montgomery County, PA – Official Website. Frequently Asked Questions The number stays private and does not appear on any public document.
If either applicant was previously married, bring the certified divorce decree or an original death certificate for the most recent prior spouse. Photocopies are not accepted. Some counties require the divorce to have been finalized at least 30 days before you apply, so call the county clerk if the decree is recent.1Butler County, PA. Marriage Licenses
Who Can Marry in Pennsylvania
Both applicants must be at least 18. Since Act 18 of 2020, no marriage license may be issued if either applicant is under 18, and there are no parental consent provisions and no judicial waivers.3Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code 23 Pa.C.S. 1304 – Restrictions on Issuance of License
State law also prohibits marriages between close relatives, including ancestors and descendants, siblings, and certain other family relationships. Bigamy is prohibited. Both applicants must be legally free to marry, meaning any prior marriage must have ended through divorce or the death of a former spouse.
Where to Apply and What It Costs
You apply at the Clerk of Orphans’ Court in any Pennsylvania county. The license is valid statewide, so you don’t have to apply in the county where you live or plan to hold the ceremony.4Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code 23 Pa.C.S. 1301 – Marriage License Required Both applicants generally must appear in person to sign and show ID.5Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Clerk of Orphans’ Court
Fees vary by county. Expect roughly $40 to $90. Check the county’s website before you go, and note that some offices don’t accept personal checks.
The Three-Day Wait and the 60-Day Window
Pennsylvania requires a three-day waiting period between the date you apply and the date the license becomes valid.6Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code 23 Pa.C.S. 1303 – Waiting Period After Application Apply on a Monday and the license won’t be usable until Thursday. Some counties hand you the physical license on the day you apply, but it isn’t legally valid until the wait passes.
A judge can waive the three-day wait in two situations: an emergency or extraordinary circumstances, and if an applicant is a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard or other military reserve component called to active duty.6Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code 23 Pa.C.S. 1303 – Waiting Period After Application Otherwise, there’s no way around it.
Once the three days pass, you have 60 days to hold the ceremony. After that the license expires and you’d have to reapply and pay again.7Chester County, PA – Official Website. Chester County Marriage Licenses The 60-day clock runs from the issue date printed on the license, not the date of the ceremony. So plan the wedding inside that window, and the whole thing moves without a needle in sight.