23 Pa.C.S. §§ 1502–1503 • See Self-Uniting Option Primary-Source Reviewed (2026-10-31)

How to officiate a wedding in Pennsylvania

Covers all 67 Local Marriage Recording Jurisdictions in Pennsylvania under 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 1502 & 1503.

Jurisdiction Summary • 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 1502 & 1503 No State-Level Officiant Registry

Officiating in All 67 Jurisdictions in Pennsylvania: Under 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 1502 & 1503, Pennsylvania recognizes ordained ministers in active standing without maintaining a statewide officiant registration office. Ecclesiastical ordination with Agape Church International is free ($0). Typical couple marriage-license fees at the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (Register of Wills) are $60.00–$100.00 (waiting period: 3 calendar days; return window: 10 days—confirm exact local clerk procedures before ceremony day).

Check PA eligibility & apply free ($0) Build ceremony script

Primary-Source Reviewed (2026-10-31) • Pennsylvania General Assembly — 23 Pa.C.S. § 1503 (Persons Qualified to Solemnize Marriages) ↗

Interactive Ceremony Deadline Calculator

Calculate your exact filing & ceremony dates

Wedding State or D.C.

Ceremony Date

Step 1 • Church Ordination ($0)
Complete Agape Ecclesiastical Ordination for Pennsylvania
Obtain your permanent Agape Registry Credential ID and printable digital Certificate of Ordination ($0, zero renewal fees).
Sun, Nov 15, 2026
30 Days Before Ceremony
Confirm Local Clerk Ink & Return Rules (Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (Register of Wills))
IMPORTANT PENNSYLVANIA JUDICIAL & SELF-UNITING LICENSE NOTE: Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1503(a)(6), Pennsylvania authorizes ministers, priests, or rabbis of any "regularly established church or congregation," and historical Pennsylvania trial court decisions split on online-only ordinations (a 2007 Bucks County decision, Heyer v. Hollerbush, invalidated an online-officiated marriage without a local congregation, whereas later York and Montgomery County rulings upheld similar ceremonies). Because Pennsylvania explicitly offers a statutory Self-Uniting ("Quaker") Marriage License under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1502 in all 67 counties, many Pennsylvania couples eliminate 100% of legal uncertainty by requesting a Self-Uniting Marriage License from the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (signed by the couple and 2 adult witnesses) while their friend or Agape minister leads the spoken ceremony. Note Pennsylvania’s 3-day license waiting period, 60-day validity, and 10-day return deadline; confirm current local fee schedules with the Orphans’ Court.
Mon, Nov 30, 2026
21 Days Before Ceremony
Complete Couple Questionnaire & Finalize Ceremony Script
Send the 10-question Couple Interview Link, confirm personal vows vs. repeat-after-me vows, and print your script in large altar type.
Wed, Dec 9, 2026
Waiting Period Buffer (3 calendar days)
Couple Secures Pennsylvania Standard or Self-Uniting ("Quaker") Marriage License
Ensure the couple obtains their Pennsylvania Standard or Self-Uniting ("Quaker") Marriage License early enough to clear Pennsylvania’s waiting period (3 calendar days) without expiring before ceremony day.
Wed, Dec 23, 2026
Within 10 Days After Ceremony
Return Signed Pennsylvania Standard or Self-Uniting ("Quaker") Marriage License to Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (Register of Wills)
Witness Rule: A standard officiated Pennsylvania marriage license requires zero (0) witness signatures (only the officiant signs), whereas a Pennsylvania Self-Uniting Marriage License (23 Pa.C.S. § 1502) requires 2 adult witnesses to sign alongside the couple.. Deliver in person or via tracked mail before Sat, Jan 9, 2027.
Sat, Jan 9, 2027

Ceremony countdown: 60 days from today • Always confirm holiday/office closures with Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (Register of Wills).Open Couple Interview Questionnaire →

Three separate parts of a Pennsylvania wedding (23 Pa.C.S. §§ 1502 & 1503)

IMPORTANT PENNSYLVANIA JUDICIAL & SELF-UNITING LICENSE NOTE: Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1503(a)(6), Pennsylvania authorizes ministers, priests, or rabbis of any "regularly established church or congregation," and historical Pennsylvania trial court decisions split on online-only ordinations (a 2007 Bucks County decision, Heyer v. Hollerbush, invalidated an online-officiated marriage without a local congregation, whereas later York and Montgomery County rulings upheld similar ceremonies). Because Pennsylvania explicitly offers a statutory Self-Uniting ("Quaker") Marriage License under 23 Pa.C.S. § 1502 in all 67 counties, many Pennsylvania couples eliminate 100% of legal uncertainty by requesting a Self-Uniting Marriage License from the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (signed by the couple and 2 adult witnesses) while their friend or Agape minister leads the spoken ceremony. Note Pennsylvania’s 3-day license waiting period, 60-day validity, and 10-day return deadline; confirm current local fee schedules with the Orphans’ Court.

Couple’s Civil Marriage Document

Pennsylvania Standard or Self-Uniting ("Quaker") Marriage License

Recording / Issuing Office: Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (Register of Wills)

Ceremony Witness Requirement

A standard officiated Pennsylvania marriage license requires zero (0) witness signatures (only the officiant signs), whereas a Pennsylvania Self-Uniting Marriage License (23 Pa.C.S. § 1502) requires 2 adult witnesses to sign alongside the couple.

Spoken Ceremony Wording Rule

Whether using a standard officiated license or leading a celebratory ceremony alongside a Self-Uniting license, both spouses exchange clear mutual declarations of intent.

Ordination Cost vs. Physical Documents

Ordination: $0. Optional commemorative ordination certificate & altar binder—review Pennsylvania’s Self-Uniting License option (23 Pa.C.S. § 1502) with the issuing Orphans’ Court Clerk.

4 clear steps before ceremony day in Pennsylvania

Complete free ecclesiastical ordination ($0): Apply online in under a minute to receive your Agape Registry Credential ID and printable digital certificate—with no annual renewal fees.
Complete any required local clerk registration early: Confirm with the issuing Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (Register of Wills) whether they request to inspect a printed credential or have county-specific signing instructions.
Prepare and rehearse the ceremony: Take our free 6-lesson first-time officiant course and customize a word-for-word script at /ceremony-scripts.
Execute & return the couple’s marriage license on time: Follow Pennsylvania’s witness rule (a standard officiated pennsylvania marriage license requires zero (0) witness signatures (only the officiant signs), whereas a pennsylvania self-uniting marriage license (23 pa.c.s. § 1502) requires 2 adult witnesses to sign alongside the couple.) and return the signed license to the issuing Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (Register of Wills) within the statutory deadline (typically 10 days—confirm exact deadline printed on the couple’s license packet).