How to Apply for a Berks County Marriage License
Berks County takes marriage license applications online only. There are no in-person applications at this time, and the appointment runs by video through Microsoft Teams. The county does not perform ceremonies on site. You can submit the application any time before the wedding, and it stays in the system until you finish the appointment.
The county explains the full process on its marriage license page.
The marriage license page links the online application and lists what to bring. The steps below walk through it.
- Open the Register of Wills online service and log in as Guest.
- Accept the disclaimer and choose the marriage license e-file option.
- Enter the information for both applicants and submit to the county.
- Schedule the virtual appointment through the booking link.
- Attend the Teams appointment with ID, any prior divorce or death records, and the $65 fee.
The license is issued after the appointment, valid on the third day after the meeting, and good for 60 days.
Marriage License Requirements and Validity
Both applicants need to bring a few things to the virtual appointment. The county is specific about documents and timing. Missing a required item can delay or cancel the appointment, so check the list before you book.
Each applicant needs a valid photo ID. A Social Security number is required, though the card itself is not. If either person was married before, they must show a printed divorce decree or death certificate in English. A non-U.S. citizen must provide a notarized Marriage Affidavit. If an applicant cannot speak English, a third-party translator age 18 or older must join the video call; if the interpreter cannot translate accurately, the appointment is cancelled and rescheduled.
Note: The couple must marry within the 60-day license period, or the license expires and the process and $65 fee start over.
The Online Marriage Application Portal
The application runs through the Register of Wills and Orphans' Court online service. You start as a guest, so no account is needed. After you accept the disclaimer, you fill in both applicants' details and submit. The portal then sends you to schedule the virtual booking. The field summary below shows the main steps inside the portal.
| Field / Step | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Login as Guest | Button | Yes | No account or password needed |
| Disclaimer Acceptance | Checkbox | Yes | Must accept before the e-file workflow |
| Applicant 1 Information | Multi-field | Yes | Name, identifying, and contact details |
| Applicant 2 Information | Multi-field | Yes | Same details for the second applicant |
| Submit to County | Button | Yes | Sends the application to Berks |
| Virtual Booking | Scheduling link | Yes | Appointments Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM |
You can reach the portal directly to begin an application.
The Register of Wills online service is also where probate and orphans records are accessed, so the same guest workflow covers more than marriage.
Berks County Marriage License Fees
The marriage fees in Berks County are short and fixed. Payment is by Visa or Mastercard during the virtual appointment. The table below lists the current amounts.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $65 |
| License reprint | $15 |
| Marriage certification | $5 |
The $65 license fee is due at the virtual appointment, not before. A reprint costs $15 if you lose the issued license.
Marriage Certifications
A marriage certification is an official copy of the license record. To get one, use the Marriage Certification Request Form linked from the Register of Wills page. Mail the completed form with the fee by check or money order to the Register of Wills. The certification costs $5 per the Orphans' Court fee schedule.
One key limit: Berks County can only certify marriage licenses that it issued. If another Pennsylvania county issued the license, request the certification from that county's Register of Wills or Orphans' Court office instead. When you mail the request, include both spouses' names and the approximate marriage or license date so staff can locate the right record. A certification is the document most agencies, banks, and government offices accept as proof of a Berks County marriage.
After the Marriage License Is Issued
The appointment is not the finish line. The county issues the license after the virtual meeting, and it becomes valid on the third day. From there, the couple has 60 days to marry. Because Berks does not hold ceremonies on site, you arrange your own officiant. If you need to pick up the physical license, the Register of Wills counter is on the 2nd floor of the Services Center at 633 Court Street, open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
The application has a useful feature for couples who plan ahead. You can submit it any time before the wedding, and it stays in the county system until you complete the appointment. That lets you handle the paperwork early and book the virtual meeting when your schedule allows. Just remember the 60-day clock starts at issue, not at application.
Common Marriage and Divorce Questions
A few questions come up again and again about Berks County marriage and divorce records. The short answers below cover the most frequent ones.
Can Berks certify a marriage from another county? No. The Register of Wills can only certify licenses that Berks County issued. For a license from another Pennsylvania county, contact that county's Register of Wills or Orphans' Court office.
Where do I file for divorce? Divorce and custody are civil family matters, so they are filed with the Prothonotary, not the Register of Wills. The statewide court portal helps you locate the docket, and the Prothonotary provides copies.
Berks County Divorce Records
Divorce is not handled by the Register of Wills. Because a divorce is a civil family matter, divorce records are filed with and kept by the Prothonotary. The Prothonotary is on the 2nd floor of the courthouse at 633 Court Street, Reading, and can be reached at 610-478-6970. Custody cases follow the same office.
To find a divorce record, use the statewide court portal to locate the civil docket, then request copies from the Prothonotary. For the search itself, the Berks County court records page covers the portal, and the Prothonotary page covers the office and its fees.
Filing for Divorce or Custody in Berks County
Self-represented filers can submit custody and divorce documents by mail or in person at the Prothonotary's office. Attorneys file electronically. The county has said self-represented filers will be allowed or required to e-file after August 1, 2026, once it posts notice. Filing fees follow the current Prothonotary fee bill, so use the live fee list rather than an old number.
- Get the divorce or custody packet from Family Court self-help or the Pennsylvania courts forms site.
- Complete the complaint, notices, and any confidential information forms.
- File by mail, in person, or by attorney e-filing with the Prothonotary.
- Serve the other party and file proof of service.
- Complete the required waiting period and the final decree paperwork.
Pennsylvania residency and grounds rules apply, so confirm them on the state's current divorce self-help forms before you file. A divorce can be a mutual-consent matter or a contested one, and economic claims or custody may be handled together or in separate filings. The waiting period and the exact forms depend on the type of divorce, which is why many filers start with the self-help packet or a short consult with counsel before they submit anything to the Prothonotary.
Self-Help and Legal Resources
Help is available for people handling a marriage or divorce matter without a lawyer. The Berks County Family Court self-help page lists the Prothonotary filing location and points to the current fee bill. The Lawyer Referral Service of the Berks County Bar Association, at 544 Court Street in Reading, can be reached at 610-375-4591.
For income-eligible filers, MidPenn Legal Services offers free civil legal help with family custody and protection orders, and Safe Berks provides free, confidential advocacy for survivors filing protection orders. These options round out the public records and self-help resources across the county.
Restricted Family Records
Not every family record is open. Family Court filings can include confidential information forms, abuse-history verification, minors' details, and financial data. The public docket may not equal the full family file. Protection From Abuse matters and adoption records carry their own privacy rules, and adoption files are confidential.
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court handles marriage and probate from the Services Center. Its landing page links the marriage, probate, and records services in one place.
The Register of Wills and Orphans' Court page is the hub for marriage licenses, certifications, and the related probate work covered on the Orphans' Court page.