Marriage records in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, are available through several channels. NorthamptonCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, the Register of Wills office issues licenses and keeps original documents. You can also visit the county courthouse in person or send a request by mail.
Northampton Marriage Records Search
In Pennsylvania, the issuance of marriage licenses and the maintenance of marriage records at the county level is the responsibility of the Register of Wills office. In Northampton County, this division is part of the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court Division. This is where marriage licenses issued in the county, marriage certificates returned after the ceremony, and historical records from previous decades are stored. Older documents may be kept in the Northampton County Archives, which holds materials from over 30 different county departments.
For genealogical research, Pennsylvania residents can also use the resources of the State Library, which provides free access to digitized vital records through Ancestry.com.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Northampton
The fees for marriage records are set according to the fee schedule of the Northampton County Register of Wills office. Below is an approximate table — it is recommended to verify the exact amounts directly with the office, as fees may change.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Marriage License (Issuance) | Check with the Register of Wills office |
| Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate | Check with the Register of Wills office |
| Additional Certified Copy (in one order) | Usually lower than the cost of the first copy |
| Search of Archived Records | May be charged separately |
Payment is usually accepted by check, money order, or cash. Call 610-829-6500 to confirm current rates and acceptable forms of payment before visiting. The processing time for in-person requests is usually the same day, while mail requests may take several weeks.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Northampton
There are several ways to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate in Northampton County.
In Person
Visit the Register of Wills office in the Northampton County Courthouse at 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Walk-ins are usually possible. Bring with you:
- A valid photo ID
- Marriage details — names of the spouses, approximate date of marriage
- Payment in an acceptable form
By Mail
Send a written request to the office address:
Include in your letter:
- Full names of both parties to the marriage
- Approximate date of marriage registration
- A check or money order for the appropriate amount (confirm in advance by phone)
- A copy of the applicant's ID
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
Online
The state of Pennsylvania does not have a single centralized online portal for ordering marriage certificates at the county level. Some counties offer ordering through third-party services — check the Register of Wills page on the county website to see if this option is available for Northampton. You can also use NorthamptonCourt.us to search for public information about marriage records in the county.
For questions related to public access to records in Pennsylvania in general, a useful resource is the Office of Open Records.