A Bucks County marriage license costs $85, which includes one certified Certificate of Marriage. You apply online, both attend a video appointment to show ID and sign, wait three days, and the license stays valid for 60 calendar days. No blood test, no residency requirement.
| Total cost | $85 |
| Waiting period | 3 days |
| Valid for | 60 calendar days |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Apply | Online + virtual meeting, or in person |
| Payment (online) | Credit or debit card only |
| Usable | Anywhere in Pennsylvania |
How much is a marriage license in Bucks County?
$85 total. The county's published fee schedule breaks it down as a $50 application fee, a $10 ACP fee, and $25 for one certified Certificate of Marriage — which is included, not extra.
Full fee schedule:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage License Application (all-in) | $85 |
| Certified copy of Marriage License | $25 |
| — for first responders with ID | No charge |
| Duplicate or reissued license | $25 |
| Affidavit of Name Verification | $25 |
| Outside Office Appearance | $175 |
| Petition for Emergency Waiver of 3-day wait | $95 |
| — for active-duty military | No charge |
If you showed military ID when you applied, two certified copies are issued automatically after the ceremony.
A note on the $60 figure you may have seen. Several third-party sites still list a $60 Bucks County marriage license fee. That's outdated. The county's current schedule, in effect since February 2021, is $85.
How do you apply?
Online, through the Bucks County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Online Services portal. Choose "Login as Guest," then "e-file Marriage Application."
After you submit, both applicants appear together in a virtual meeting with a clerk to provide identification and sign the license. You don't both need to take a day off and drive to Doylestown.
The online application accepts credit or debit cards only. For any other payment method, apply in person.
In-person locations:
Doylestown (main office) Bucks County Administration Building 55 E. Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 215-348-6000
Levittown Lower Bucks County Government Services Center 7321 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19055 267-580-3585
What do you need?
Government-issued photo ID for both applicants, and proof of how any prior marriage ended.
Required:
- Photo ID — driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID
- Proof of dissolution of your most recent previous marriage, if applicable:
- Divorce decree — photocopy accepted
- Civil annulment — photocopy accepted
- Death certificate — original required
- Payment
If either applicant has legally changed their name, bring the name change decree, including any order permitting resumption of a maiden name after divorce.
If either applicant doesn't speak English, you need an interpreter over 18 with government-issued photo ID. You cannot interpret for each other. Free interpreters in several languages are available through Bucks County Court Administration if you arrange it in advance.
Foreign documents require the original plus an English translation with an affidavit of accuracy and a notarized signature.
Who can't get a license?
The county's restrictions are specific:
- Anyone under 18
- Anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of application
- Couples related more closely than second cousins
There are special procedures if an applicant is incarcerated — the warden contacts the office to arrange it — or if an applicant is under guardianship as a person of unsound mind, which requires petitioning the court under 23 Pa. C.S. § 1304(c).
If you believe you've been unfairly denied, you have a right of appeal to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas under 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 1308.
How long is the waiting period?
Three days. Every Bucks County marriage license is issued after a three-day waiting period, so the earliest possible ceremony is the fourth day after applying.
Same-day weddings aren't possible in Pennsylvania under normal circumstances. An emergency waiver petition costs $95 and is free for active-duty military, but it requires a genuine emergency and court involvement — it's not a convenience option.
Weekends compress your margin. County offices are closed Saturday and Sunday, so if a document turns out to be wrong on a Thursday application, you've lost the following week.
Apply two to four weeks out.
How long is the license valid?
60 calendar days from issuance. Miss that window and you reapply and pay $85 again.
Practically, that means there's a window on both ends. Don't apply more than about eight weeks before your date, and don't leave it inside three days. Two to four weeks is the comfortable zone.
Your license can be used anywhere in Pennsylvania — you're not restricted to Bucks County for the ceremony. It cannot be used outside the state.
Can out-of-state couples apply?
Yes. Pennsylvania has no residency requirement, and couples from New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and elsewhere use Bucks County licenses regularly.
Two constraints:
- The ceremony must take place within Pennsylvania. A Bucks County license won't work for a wedding in New Jersey.
- You still need the video appointment, which is far easier for out-of-state couples than the old in-person requirement.
What about self-uniting licenses?
Bucks County issues them. The county states directly that its office will issue a self-uniting marriage license as provided under 23 Pa. C.S. § 1502.
A self-uniting license means no officiant — you marry each other and two witnesses sign. Say so when you apply, because the standard license is the default.
The county's published fee schedule lists a single marriage license application fee and doesn't show a separate self-uniting charge, but confirm at the time of application.
Full detail: Pennsylvania self-uniting marriage licenses explained.
What happens after the wedding?
The marriage return — the bottom portion of the license — must be filed with the issuing office within 10 days of the ceremony. Your officiant usually handles it; with a self-uniting license, you do.
If it isn't filed, no marriage record exists. This is the step people forget, and unwinding it later is tedious.
Your $85 includes one certified copy. Extras are $25. Order two or three at filing — you'll want them for name changes, insurance, financial accounts, and immigration paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a marriage license cost in Bucks County? $85 total, including one certified Certificate of Marriage. Some third-party sites still list $60, which is out of date — the county's current schedule has been in effect since February 2021.
Can we apply for a Bucks County marriage license online? Yes. Apply through the county's Online Services portal, then both applicants attend a virtual meeting to show ID and sign. Online payment is by credit or debit card only.
How long does the license last? 60 calendar days from issuance. If your ceremony doesn't happen within that window, you'll need to reapply and pay the fee again.
Is there a waiting period? Yes, three days. An emergency waiver petition costs $95 and is free for active-duty military, but it requires a genuine emergency.
Do we need to be Pennsylvania residents? No. There's no residency requirement, though the ceremony itself must take place within Pennsylvania.
How old do you have to be? 18. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time they appear before the Clerk of the Orphans' Court.
How many certified copies should we get? One is included. Most couples want two or three extras at $25 each for name changes, insurance, and financial accounts. First responders with ID receive copies at no charge.
What if we lose the license before the wedding? A duplicate or reissued license costs $25. Contact the office promptly — don't leave it to the week of your ceremony.
Planning a Bucks County wedding
The Arbor at The Bucks Club is a wedding venue in Jamison, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about ten minutes from the Doylestown county offices. Our complete guide to getting married in Bucks County covers officiants, witnesses, timing, and what happens after the ceremony.
Fees and requirements confirmed against the Bucks County Register of Wills published fee schedule (effective February 1, 2021) and Requirements & Restrictions page, August 2026. Verify current details at buckscounty.gov or by calling 215-348-6000.
Last updated: August 2026