Pennsylvania has no residency requirement. You can live anywhere and marry here. And Bucks County now handles applications online with a virtual meeting, which removes what used to be the biggest obstacle — a separate trip just to apply.
The three things to know
1. No residency requirement. Couples from New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and further afield marry in Bucks County routinely.
2. The ceremony must happen in Pennsylvania. A Pennsylvania license is valid anywhere in the state — but not in New Jersey, ten minutes across the river.
3. The three-day waiting period still applies. Plan around it.
How the application works now
Bucks County uses an online application through the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court portal, followed by a virtual meeting where both applicants show identification and sign.
This is a significant change for out-of-state couples. You no longer need to travel to Doylestown just to apply — the video appointment handles it.
Online payment is by credit or debit card only. Other payment methods require applying in person at Doylestown or Levittown.
What you need
- Government-issued photo ID for both applicants — driver's license, passport, or state ID from any state
- Proof any prior marriage ended: divorce decree or annulment (photocopy accepted), death certificate must be the original
- $85 by card
If either applicant doesn't speak English, you'll need an interpreter over 18 with photo ID — you can't interpret for each other. Bucks County Court Administration provides free interpreters in several languages with advance notice.
Foreign documents require the original plus an English translation with a notarized affidavit of accuracy.
Planning around the waiting period
Three days from application to a valid license, and the license expires after 60 calendar days.
For out-of-state couples, the practical sequence is:
- Apply online four to six weeks out
- Do the virtual meeting from home
- Arrive for the wedding with the license already valid
That's the whole advantage of the online process — no extra trip, no compressed timeline.
Do you need an officiant?
No. Pennsylvania issues self-uniting marriage licenses, and Bucks County states it issues them under 23 Pa. C.S. § 1502. You marry each other and two witnesses sign.
This is genuinely useful for out-of-state couples, since finding and vetting a local officiant from another state is one of the harder parts of planning remotely.
More: Pennsylvania self-uniting licenses
After the wedding
The marriage return must be filed with the issuing office within 10 days. With an officiated ceremony that's usually their job; with a self-uniting license it's yours.
Order certified copies before you leave the state. They're $25 each, one is included, and ordering remotely later is more hassle than doing it while you're here.
Is the marriage recognised at home?
Yes. A marriage validly performed in Pennsylvania is recognised in all fifty states and for federal purposes — taxes, immigration, Social Security, insurance.
Nothing about your certificate indicates you married out of state.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to be a Pennsylvania resident to get married there? No. Pennsylvania has no residency requirement. The only geographic constraint is that the ceremony must take place within Pennsylvania.
Can out-of-state couples apply for a Bucks County marriage license online? Yes. Bucks County uses an online application followed by a virtual meeting where both applicants show ID and sign, which removes the need for a separate trip to apply.
Can you use a Pennsylvania license for a ceremony in New Jersey? No. A Pennsylvania marriage license is only valid for ceremonies within Pennsylvania, regardless of how close the state line is.
Does the three-day waiting period apply to out-of-state couples? Yes, to everyone. Apply four to six weeks before the wedding so the license is valid on arrival and hasn't expired.
Is the marriage recognised in our home state? Yes. A marriage validly performed in Pennsylvania is recognised in all fifty states and for all federal purposes.
Do you need an officiant if you're from out of state? No. Pennsylvania self-uniting licenses let you marry each other with two witnesses signing — useful when vetting a local officiant remotely would be difficult.
What ID do out-of-state applicants need? A government-issued photo ID from any state — driver's license, passport, or state ID. Plus documentation if either applicant was previously married.
Weddings at The Arbor
The Arbor at The Bucks Club is a wedding venue in Jamison, Bucks County, Pennsylvania — about an hour from Philadelphia and two from New York, with plenty of couples coming from out of state.
Confirmed against Bucks County Register of Wills published requirements and fee schedule, August 2026.
Last updated: August 2026