Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church Ministries

Pennsylvania Outline

Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Pennsylvania. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Pennsylvania. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Pennsylvania.

Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes*
  • Minister Registration Required: Sometimes
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 Days
  • Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: 10 Days
Regional Information

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Pennsylvania, choose a location below. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Pennsylvania

If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!

2 Officiating a Wedding in Pennsylvania

Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.

Select your Register Recorder to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.



Select a register recorder contact

3 Pennsylvania Officiant Requirements

After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Pennsylvania to get an Ordination Package and to add on a Letter of Good Standing. While minister registration is not required in the state of Pennsylvania, it has been frequently reported to us by ULC ministers in the area that county clerks will ask for proof of your ordination before accepting any marriage you perform as having been legally solemnized. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.

*It has come to our attention that some county clerks in Pennsylvania have made it a habit to distribute slips of paper calling the ordinations of the Universal Life Church into question when one mentions that they were ordained online.

You should know that: 1. government employees like county clerks are prohibited from offering legal advice in this fashion, and 2. Despite these alleged threats, our ministers have successfully performed several marriages in Pennsylvania without issue.

Furthermore, a judge in Bucks county in 2008 (after the Universal Life Church collaborated with the ACLU in a lawsuit against the state) found that ordinations from the Universal Life Church were legal and the marriages performed by its ministers valid. This ruling has held strongly, at least, in Bucks County. We are currently working to get stronger affirmations of the validity of ULC ordination on a statewide level.

We would encourage you to reach out to us if you encounter any difficulties.

4 How to get Married in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Top Wedding Spot

Pennsylvania's Top Wedding Spot

Just outside Philly, the circa-1850 Glen Foerd mansion

Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Pennsylvania marriage license from the appropriate office. This license will expire 60 days after it is issued, and there is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license in Pennsylvania and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. The signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days of the ceremony.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Pennsylvania, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Pennsylvania wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.

5 How to Plan a Wedding in Pennsylvania

If you’re due to officiate a wedding in Pennsylvania soon, here are a few helpful tips. While summer used to be the most popular time to get married, now over 40 percent of Pennsylvania couples prefer fall weddings. What does this mean for you? Come prepared! Autumns in Pennsylvania can be quite chilly—the average low hovers around the mid-forties and the average high reaches the mid-sixties. In addition, it is important to understand how seasonal marriage trends affect Pennsylvania’s most popular wedding destinations, regardless of whether the destination is Philadelphia’s elegant greenhouses or the charmingly rustic Pocono campgrounds. Philadelphia’s greenhouses allow for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, making them an excellent destination in spring, summer, and fall. Camping requires nicer weather, meaning only the bravest couples will risk inclement weather in the spring or fall. If you intend to market your services as an officiant, act accordingly! Finally, people often wonder how much a wedding minister should charge in Pennsylvania, but the truth is there’s no simple answer – fees can vary widely based on experience and the level of involvement.


Pennsylvania Marriage Code

Pennsylvania Flag

Pennsylvania Marriage Code

Marriage in Pennsylvania is governed by Section 1503 of the Pennsylvania General Statutes. Ministers ordained online by the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced the relevant excerpts of this code.

§ 1503. Persons qualified to solemnize marriages. (6) A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation. (b) Religious organizations.--Every religious society, religious institution or religious organization in this Commonwealth may join persons together in marriage when at least one of the persons is a member of the society, institution or organization, according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization. View the Pennsylvania Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in Pennsylvania

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Adams County

117 Baltimore Street, Room 103
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
17325

Phone: (717) 337-9806
Fax: (717) 334-9333
Adams County website »

Allegheny County

437 Grant St # 1700
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Phone: (412) 350-4230
Allegheny County Marriage Laws »

Armstrong County

500 E Market Street, Suite 102
Kittanning, Pennsylvania
16201

Phone: (724) 548-3220
Fax: (724) 548-3236
Armstrong County website »

Beaver County

810 Third Street
Beaver, Pennsylvania

Phone: (724) 770-4550
Fax: (724) 728-9810
Beaver County website »

Bedford County

200 South Juliana Street
Bedford, Pennsylvania
15522

Phone: (814) 623-4807
Bedford County website »

Berks County

633 Court Street
Reading, Pennsylvania
19601

Phone: (610) 478-6600
Berks County website »

Blair County

423 ALLEGHENY STREET
HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pennsylvania

Phone: (814) 693-3000
Blair County website »

Bradford County

301 Main Street
Towanda, Pennsylvania
18848

Phone: (570) 265-1702
Fax: (570) 265-1721
Bradford County website »

Bucks County

55 East Court Street, 6th Floor
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
18901

Phone: (215) 348-6265
Fax: (215) 348-6156
Bucks County website »

Butler County

124 West Diamond St, Level L
Butler, Pennsylvania
16003

Phone: (724) 284-1409
Butler County website »

Cambria County

200 South Center Street
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania

Phone: (814) 472-1440
Cambria County website »

Cameron County

20 East Fifth Street
Emporium, Pennsylvania
15834

Phone: (814) 486-3349
Fax: (814) 486-0464
Cameron County website »

Carbon County

1 Broadway
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
18229

Phone: (570) 325-2261
Carbon County website »

Centre County

414 Holmes St., Suite #2
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Phone: (814) 355-6724
Fax: (814) 355-8685
Centre County website »

Chester County

201 W Market Street, Suite 2200
West Chester, Pennsylvania

Phone: (610) 344-6335
Fax: (610) 344-6218
Chester County website »

Clarion County

421 Main Street, 1st floor Suite 24
Clarion, Pennsylvania
16214

Phone: (814) 226-4000 ext 2500
Fax: (814) 226-1117
Clarion County website »

Clearfield County

1 North Second Street, Suite 103
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
16830

Phone: (814) 765-2641
Clearfield County website »

Clinton County

Piper Building <br> 2 Piper Way, Suite 239
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
17745

Phone: (570) 893-4010
Clinton County website »

Columbia County

35 W Main Street
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Phone: (570) 389-5615
Columbia County website »

Crawford County

359 E. Center St.
Meadville, Pennsylvania
16335

Phone: (814) 333-7442
Fax: (814) 333-7349
Crawford County website »

Cumberland County

1 Courthouse Square, Rm. 102
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Phone: (717) 240-6345
Fax: (717) 240-6571
Cumberland County website »

Dauphin County

101 Market Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
17101

Phone: (717) 780-6530
Dauphin County website »

Delaware County

201 W. Front Street
Media, Pennsylvania
19063

Phone: (610) 891-4400
Fax: (610) 891-8759
Delaware County website »

Elk County

250 Main St.
Ridgway, Pennsylvania
15853

Phone: (814) 776-5344
Elk County website »

Erie County

140 W 6th Street, Room 123
Erie, Pennsylvania
16501

Phone: (814) 451-6264
Erie County website »

Fayette County

61 E. Main St. Room 1A
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
15401

Phone: (724) 430-1206
Fayette County website »

Forest County

526 Elm Street, Room 2
Tionesta, Pennsylvania
16353

Phone: (814) 755-3526
Fax: (814) 755-8837
Forest County website »

Franklin County

157 Lincoln Way East
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
17201

Phone: (717) 261-3805
Franklin County website »

Fulton County

201 N. 2nd St
Mcconnellsburg, Pennsylvania
17233

Phone: (717) 485-4212
Fulton County website »

Greene County

10 East High Street
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

Phone: (724) 852-5283
Greene County website »

Huntingdon County

223 Penn Street
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
16652

Phone: (814) 643-1610
Huntingdon County website »

Indiana County

825 Philadelphia St
Indiana, Pennsylvania
15701

Phone: (724) 465-3860
Fax: (724) 465-3863
Indiana County website »

Jefferson County

200 Main Street
Brookville, Pennsylvania
15825

Phone: (814) 849-1610
Fax: (814) 849-1677
Jefferson County website »

Juniata County

1 North Main Street
Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
17059

Phone: (717) 436-7709
Fax: (717) 436-7713
Juniata County website »

Lackawanna County

123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521
Scranton, Pennsylvania
18503

Phone: (570) 963-6702
Lackawanna County website »

Lancaster County

Courthouse <br> 50 N. Duke St.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
17602

Phone: (717) 299-8000
Lancaster County website »

Lawrence County

430 Court Street
New Castle, Pennsylvania
16101

Phone: (724) 658-2541
Lawrence County website »

Lebanon County

400 South 8th Street #105
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
17042

Phone: (717) 228-4415
Fax: (717) 228-4460
Lebanon County website »

Lehigh County

455 West Hamilton Street, Room 123.5
Allentown, Pennsylvania

Phone: (610) 782-3173
Lehigh County website »

Luzerne County

200 N. River Street
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
18711

Phone: (570) 825-1668
Fax: (570) 970-4580
Luzerne County website »

Lycoming County

48 West Third Street, 1st floor
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
17701

Phone: (570) 327-2263
Fax: (570) 327-6790
Lycoming County website »

McKean County

500 W. Main Street
Smethport, Pennsylvania
16749

Phone: (814) 887-3260
McKean County website »

Mercer County

112 Mercer County Courthouse
Mercer, Pennsylvania

Phone: (724) 662-3800
Fax: (724) 662-1604
Mercer County website »

Mifflin County

20 N. Wayne St.
Lewistown, Pennsylvania

Phone: (717) 242-1449
Fax: (717) 248-2503
Mifflin County website »

Monroe County

610 Monroe Street, Room 327
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Phone: (570) 517-3385
Monroe County website »

Montgomery County

425 Swede Street, 4th Floor
Norristown, Pennsylvania
19404

Phone: (610) 278-3414
Montgomery County website »

Montour County

29 Mill Street
Danville, Pennsylvania

Phone: (570) 271-3010
Fax: (570) 271-3089
Montour County website »

Northampton County

669 Washington Street
Easton, Pennsylvania

Phone: (610) 559-3095
Northampton County website »

Northumberland County

201 Market Street, 1st Floor
Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Phone: (570) 988-4143
Fax: (570) 988-4141
Northumberland County website »

Perry County

2 East Main Street, P.O. Box 223
New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania
17068

Phone: (717) 582-2131
Fax: (717) 582-5149
Perry County website »

Philadelphia County

Room 415 City Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19107

Phone: (215) 686-2233
Philadelphia County Marriage Laws »

Pike County

412 Broad Street
Milford, Pennsylvania
18337

Phone: (570) 296-7231
Pike County website »

Potter County

1 East Second Street, Room 23
Coudersport, Pennsylvania
16915

Phone: (814) 274-9740
Fax: (814) 274-3361
Potter County website »

Schuylkill County

401 N 2nd Street 1st Floor
Pottsville, Pennsylvania
17901

Phone: (570) 628-1382
Fax: (570) 628-1384
Schuylkill County website »

Snyder County

9 West Market Street, PO Box 217
Middleburg, Pennsylvania
17842

Phone: (570) 837-4202
Fax: (570) 837-4282
Snyder County website »

Somerset County

111 E. Union Street, Suite 145
Somerset, Pennsylvania
15501

Phone: (814) 445-1548
Somerset County website »

Sullivan County

245 Muncy Street
Laporte, Pennsylvania
18626

Phone: (570) 946-7351
Fax: (570) 946-7105
Sullivan County website »

Susquehanna County

31 Lake Ave
Montrose, Pennsylvania
18801

Phone: (570) 278-4600
Fax: (570) 278-2963
Susquehanna County website »

Tioga County

118 Main Street
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
16901

Phone: (570) 723-8191
Tioga County website »

Union County

103 S. Second Street
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
17837

Phone: (570) 524-8751
Fax: (570) 524-8628
Union County website »

Venango County

1168 Liberty Street, 1st Floor
Franklin, Pennsylvania
16323

Phone: (814) 432-9539
Venango County website »

Warren County

204 4th Avenue
Warren, Pennsylvania
16365

Phone: (814) 728-3430
Warren County website »

Washington County

1 South Main Street
Washington, Pennsylvania
15301

Phone: (724) 228-6675
Washington County website »

Wayne County

924 Court Street, 2nd Floor Annex
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
18431

Phone: (570) 253-5969
Wayne County website »

Westmoreland County

2 N. Main St., Suite 301
Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Phone: (724) 830-3196
Fax: (724) 850-3976
Westmoreland County website »

Wyoming County

1 Courthouse Square
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
18657

Phone: (570) 996-2232
Wyoming County website »

York County

45 North George Street
York, Pennsylvania

Phone: (717) 771-9288
Fax: (717) 771-4678
York County website »