Free links to official Pennsylvania state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 67 counties.
How to Get Pennsylvania Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in Pennsylvania — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Register of Wills / Orphans' Court Clerk.
What this page covers: Pennsylvania vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Register of Wills / Orphans' Court Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Pennsylvania: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide
Population
13,078,751
Households
5,246,700
Median Income
$73,824
Median Home Value
$240,500
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Pennsylvania vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.health.pa.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
Pennsylvania Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Pennsylvania — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Pennsylvania vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — Pennsylvania Vital Records
2026
Pennsylvania vital records portal active
The official Pennsylvania portal at www.health.pa.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
For 2026, Pennsylvania continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.health.pa.gov for current fees and processing times.
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Pennsylvania's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Pennsylvania, start with the Pennsylvania health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Pennsylvania typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Pennsylvania records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Pennsylvania Vital Records
MYTH"Vital records are federal records."
FACTThey're state records. The CDC compiles national statistics but has never issued a birth or death certificate — the state (and in Pennsylvania, its vital records office) does.
MYTH"A death index entry and a death certificate are the same."
FACTThe index proves a death was recorded; the certified certificate carries the legal details. Banks and courts want the certificate, not a screenshot of the index.
MYTH"VitalChek is a government website."
FACTIt's a private company that many states authorize to process orders. Legitimate, yes — but the extra convenience fees are theirs, not the state's.
MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite — most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Pennsylvania route through this office. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
Birth Records (County of Berks- 1894-1906) Name, year recorded, place of birth, parents' names, father's occupation · Birth Records (City of Reading- 1876-1906) Name, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, father's occupation, physician/midwife's name ·
The Recorder of Deeds Office maintains records of all deeds and mortgages for Chester County. You may search the records by instrument or by name. The navigation bar at the top of the Recorder of Deeds main screen displays a list of the main menu items within this section.
Vital-record certificates connected to Chester County are ordered here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
Additional Resources: Please click here for Court Related forms Please click here for the Local Rules of Court Please click here for Magisterial District Online Forms Please click here for Prothonotary Forms Please click here for the Pro Se Litigant Self Help Center
This is the request channel for Pennsylvania vital records — births, deaths, and marriages. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
This office is called the Prothonotary or Office of Judicial Records. There are procedural rules that govern divorce proceedings. Those rules instruct on who must do what and where and when at different stages of a divorce proceeding. The rules are the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure (Pa.R.Civ.P.) and can be found in Title 231, Chapter 1920 and Chapter 1930 of the Pennsylvania Code.
This is the request channel for Pennsylvania vital records — births, deaths, and marriages. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
Montgomery County Viewer · Register of Wills • Marriage License Search · This screen is designed to help you search for the case(s) you are looking for. You may search on one field or multiple fields. When doing a name search, type in as much of the name as you know.
Montgomery County Viewer · Register of Wills • Marriage License Search · This screen is designed to help you search for the case(s) you are looking for. You may search on one field or multiple fields. When doing a name search, type in as much of the name as you know.
In this sense, the reproduced data cannot be considered for official use. Any person requiring dockets for official use must obtain them from the Clerk of Family Court, 11th Floor, 1501 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, or Customer Service, 8th Floor, 1501 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
The Schuylkill County Archives opened its doors in the Spring of 1988. It represented, for the first time, a central depository for all of the County's government records. The archives were designed to hold approximately 10,000 cubic feet of records. It was built as an addition to the courthouse.
Local-history and genealogy holdings for York County — older records and obituary indexes often surface here first. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
• Marriage Licenses: Processing applications and issuing marriage licenses for couples intending to marry in Westmoreland County, as well as providing certified copies of marriage licenses (may be required for Real ID) • Adoption Records: Maintaining records for adoption matters, though access may be restricted as per legal guidelines.
The Register of Wills keeps records for marriages after December 31, 1885. Visit the City Archives in person, or complete a birth, death, or marriage record application and mail it to: City Archives 548 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA 19123
Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through.
67 Pennsylvania counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Which Pennsylvania counties publish vital records information online
8 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.
Where do I order a Pennsylvania birth certificate?▼
Certified birth certificates for events in Pennsylvania are issued by the Official Pennsylvania Vital Records at www.health.pa.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a Pennsylvania death certificate?▼
Pennsylvania death certificates are issued by the Official Pennsylvania Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.health.pa.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a Pennsylvania marriage or divorce record online?▼
Pennsylvania marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Pennsylvania Vital Records (www.health.pa.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a Pennsylvania vital record?▼
Standard Pennsylvania vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Pennsylvania Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.health.pa.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a Pennsylvania certified vital record?▼
The Official Pennsylvania Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.health.pa.gov.
