How to get a marriage license in Berks County
Berks County takes marriage license applications online only, with a video appointment. The $65 fee, what to bring, the 3-day wait, and how to book.
By The Berks Beat staff · Published July 20, 2026 · Updated July 20, 2026 · Facts last verified July 20, 2026
Berks County no longer takes marriage license applications at a counter. You file the application online, then both partners meet the Register of Wills together on a video call, and the license costs $65. There is no walk-in option and no in-person appointment at the office.
Who issues the license
A marriage license in Pennsylvania comes from the county Register of Wills, who also serves as Clerk of the Orphans’ Court. In Berks County that office is on the 2nd floor of the Berks County Services Center at 633 Court Street in Reading. The current Register of Wills is Suzanne Myers. You can apply through any county in Pennsylvania, not only the one where you live or plan to marry, but you must use whichever county issued the license when you later want a certified copy.
Unlike a birth or death certificate, which comes from the state, a marriage license is a county process. If it is a birth or death record you need, see our guide to getting a birth or death certificate in Berks County.
Before you start: what you need
Both people getting married take part, and each needs to have the following ready:
- A valid government photo ID.
- Your Social Security number. You have to provide the number, but you do not need the physical card.
- If you were married before, a printed divorce decree or a death certificate for each prior marriage, in English.
- If either applicant is not a U.S. citizen, a notarized marriage affidavit.
- If either applicant does not speak English, a third-party translator age 18 or older who can join the video call.
Pennsylvania does not require a blood test.
How to apply
The process has two online steps and one video appointment. Do them in this order.
- File the application online. Go to the county’s marriage license page and open the application portal. You can log in as a guest, with no username or password, and enter the information for both applicants.
- Book your video appointment. Use the booking link on the same page to schedule a virtual appointment with the Register of Wills. Appointments run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Meet on the video call. Both applicants join a Microsoft Teams video conference together at the scheduled time. Have your photo IDs and any divorce or death records ready to show.
- Pay the $65 fee. Payment is due at the appointment, by Visa or Mastercard.
After the appointment, the office issues the license. If you need a replacement copy of the license itself, a reprint costs $15.
When the license is valid, and when it expires
Pennsylvania builds a short waiting period into every marriage license. Your Berks County license becomes valid on the third day after your video meeting, and it stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. If you do not marry within that 60-day window, the license expires and you have to apply and pay again. Plan the appointment so the license is active by your wedding date but does not run out before it.
What it costs
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license application | $65 |
| Reprint of the license | $15 |
| Certified copy of the marriage record, later | $5 |
| Long-form or dual-citizenship copy | $15 |
The $65 covers the license that lets you marry. The certified copy is a separate document you order after the wedding as proof the marriage happened. These figures come from the county’s marriage license page and its certification request form, confirmed July 20, 2026; call the office to confirm the current amount before you rely on it.
Who can get a license
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Pennsylvania sets 18 as the minimum age to marry, with no exceptions for parental consent or a court order. Both people apply together on the same video call; one person cannot get the license alone. If either applicant was married before, that earlier marriage must be legally ended, and you bring the divorce decree or the former spouse’s death certificate to prove it.
After the wedding: getting your marriage certificate
The license you use to get married is not the same as the certified marriage record most agencies ask for later, when you change a name or update Social Security, insurance, or immigration records. For that, order a certified copy from the Register of Wills after the ceremony.
- Fill out the Certified Copy of Marriage License Request form.
- Pay $5 per certified copy, or $15 for a long-form or dual-citizenship copy.
- Mail the form and a check or money order payable to “Register of Wills” to the office at 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading, PA 19601, with a self-addressed envelope. In person you can pay by cash or check, or by Visa or Mastercard on charges of $20 or more.
Berks County can only certify a marriage license it issued. If you got your license in another county, request the certified copy from that county’s Register of Wills.
Where to go
Berks County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans’ Court, Berks County Services Center, 2nd Floor, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. Phone 610-478-6600, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The same office handles wills, estates, and probate, so say you are there about a marriage license. To see which county office does what, read how Berks County government works.
FAQ
How much is a marriage license in Berks County?
The application fee is $65, due at your video appointment and payable by Visa or Mastercard. A reprint of the license is $15. A certified copy of the marriage record after the wedding is a separate $5, or $15 for a long-form copy.
Do I have to go to the courthouse to get a marriage license?
No. Berks County takes marriage license applications online only, followed by a video appointment with the Register of Wills. Both partners join the video call together; there is no in-person counter application.
How long does it take to get married after applying?
The license becomes valid on the third day after your video appointment, so you cannot marry the same day you apply. Once valid, the license is good for 60 days. Schedule your appointment at least three days before the wedding.
What do I need to bring if I was divorced or widowed?
For each earlier marriage, bring a printed copy of the divorce decree or the former spouse’s death certificate, in English. The prior marriage must be fully ended before Berks County will issue a new license.
Does Berks County offer a self-uniting (Quaker) marriage license?
Pennsylvania law allows a self-uniting license, which lets a couple marry without an officiant and is used by Quakers and others. The county’s marriage license page does not mention this option, so call the Register of Wills at 610-478-6600 to ask whether Berks issues it and what it costs.