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Who Must Apply?
Couples who wish to marry in Pennsylvania must obtain a Pennsylvania marriage license. The license is good in any county in PA, regardless of which county it is issued in. Both applicants must appear together to the Circuit Court of the County and complete the application. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania no longer requires a blood test or physical to obtain a marriage license

What Type of Information is required?
In addition to the application, each applicant will be required to show one form of legal identification. You'll also be asked for your parents names, their mailing addresses, and occupations.

Is there an Age Requirement?
Applicants for a Pennsylvania marriage license must 18 years or older. Applicants 16 to 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Applicants under 16 years of age must have the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the written

approval of a judge of the Orphan's Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas.

What if this is a second marriage?
Applicants who are divorced must provide a certified copy of the Decree of Divorce. Widows or widowers who wish to apply must prove the date of death of their former spouse.

How long does it take to Apply?
The application process takes approximately 15 minutes. However, there is a three-day waiting period before the license is available. The license is valid for 60 days after the issue date.

How much does it Cost?
Marriage license fees vary from county to county. You should call prior to going to apply for a license to obtain the office hours and to verify the fees, payment options, and office hours.

If you plan to use your married name at work, be sure to have your name changed in Social Security records. This way, you will get credit for all your earnings. It's easy and it's absolutely free. Contact any Social Security office. Look in the telephone book for the address and phone number. You will need documentary evidence showing both your old name and your new name.

As with any other laws, marriage laws can change so we advise you to check with the county, city, or town clerk.

 Change Your Name?...

From Miss to Mrs…..Holding on to Tradition

By: Katharine Weissmann

Official New Bride Name Change Kit - 1-800-439-0334

As our society evolves so do the demands of career, education, family and personal growth. The average age of the first time bride is now at 27, a dramatic increase in the average age of a bride from just 20 years ago. Our modern bride now enters marriage established in her career, financial foundation, personal and professional contacts, and an impressive list of personal records that she maintains.

The transition of Miss. to Mrs. can be for most brides, well let’s just say… overwhelming. Just ask any bride who’s gone through it. With too much to do, and too little available time, the name change process can really amount to quite a large task. But still, most brides want to take their husbands name, or a least hyphenate, and nearly all husbands anticipate this tradition.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A few frequently asked questions with answers provided to assist in understanding the name change process.

Can I change my name before I get married?
No, you must have your marriage certificate to change your name, this comes after the wedding from the county or country in which you were married and has an embossed county/country seal on the document.

When can I start the name change process?
After you receive your certificate of marriage, approximately 2-3 weeks after your wedding.

I am getting married in a couple months, we are going to honeymoon out of the country, do I need to change my passport?
You will have to wait until you get back from your honeymoon to change your passport. Therefore, you will still be using your maiden name when traveling on your honeymoon. Make your flight reservations in your maiden name so your passport/driver license match.

What if I want to hyphen/non-hyphen my maiden and married name, do I still need to make a name change?
Yes, even if you are hyphenating/non-hyphenating your maiden with your married name you must notify the appropriate government agencies and your personal records to effectively change your name.

What record do I change first?
The kit walks you through six steps and provides all the official forms and addresses of your area taking you through a complete name change process. Our recommendation is to start with your social security record (our 1st step).

Can I change my name by mail?
Most all records can be changed through the mail. All forms and addresses are included in the kit to facilitate your mailing option. The record you must make a personal appearance for will be your State Driver License or State Identification Card.

Do I have to change my name on everything?
Our recommendation is that you make a complete and comprehensive name change, the reason being there can be considerable confusion if you do not. Our kit is designed to take you through every conceivable record you may have and provide a name change form for those records.

 Wedding Day Truths... 

The Seven Great Truths of Your Wedding Day Schedule
or HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR FUN

And guess what? You can do it. And you can have fun too. All it takes is some planning and organization. I'm going to take it for granted that you have, at this point, done all the necessary ground work to make your Grand Production happen…the hall, the caterer, the church, the photographer, the music, the flowers, etc.Now lets get down to the nitty gritty of the Schedule of the Day.

TRUTH #1…TIME IS YOUR ENEMY
You have a lot to do in a short time during your wedding day. If you can develop a good schedule and stick to it you can accomplish a lot. Work backwards from the time you and your caterer have decided you should arrive at the reception. This is a critical time point because all of the reception activities will follow this point. Remember your schedule at the reception is fairly fixed and will usually follow a tried and true script set out by the caterer. Keep in mind that if you have booked a five hour reception that begins at noon and is set to end at 5:00 PM, you can usually assume that at 5:00 the lights will come on and the caterer will begin to turn over the hall for the 6:30 reception coming in after you.

If you are a half hour late getting to the hall, either the dinner will begin to get cold, or other activities will be rushed. Not a good thing if you are trying to relax and enjoy yourself. By the way, if the hall offers you a separate room for the Bridal Party to hide in during the cocktail hour, let your bridesmaids and ushers use it, but your time and interests are best served by mingling with the guests. This will leave you more time later for dancing and playing rather than the mandatory table visits when the music is too loud anyway.

TRUTH #2…TRAVEL EATS UP TIME
Many couples forget to include this into their estimates. You may spend as much as an hour or more in the limo during course of the day. And god help us all if one of the bridal cars gets lost. It is often a good idea to hire a party bus to transport the critical attendees. Nobody gets lost and, unlike the traditional limo, you can all have fun together.

TRUTH #3…GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY TAKES TIME
When you see disaster footage on the local news, victims are always shown looking for their most precious keepsakes…the family photographs. Not their vcr's or hot tubs. Those are the important memories you are looking to preserve. The FORMAL PORTRAITS (not a dirty word) are an important historical record and as such you should devote some time to creating them. You will appreciate them more as you pass them on to your children and grandchildren. You should generally allow about a half hour for them and they are best done right after the ceremony. All the important players are there already, assembled and freshly attired. The worst place to try to get these is at the reception where trying to get people off the dance floor does nothing but eat up time. Receptions are for informal and fun photos.

TRUTH #4…RECEIVING LINES WASTE TIME
After all you will be seeing each of these guests at the hall anyway, right? Why throw away as much as 20 good minutes that you could spend at the cocktail hour.

TRUTH#5…START YOUR DAY EARLY
It's easier to spend a little time waiting for the show to start while lounging in the limo than it is to make up for lost time. This means you should plan to leave for you hair appointment early. If you plan to meet your bridesmaids at your house beforehand and go together, give them an earlier time. Plan a little slack into the schedule early, you will appreciate it later.

TRUTH#6…NUTRITION IS POWER
Yeah, I know this sounds like your mom talking, but it is true. When you don't eat you loose energy…and you can't have any FUN if your tired and hungry. Plan a good breakfast. Even if you think you can't eat a thing, at least drink a diet shake. Have one of your bridesmaids compile a snack basket for everyone to pick at during the day. Soft pretzels work great…no mess and they soak up alcohol. Give the basket to your limo driver to attend to. By the way, Alcohol early in the day is usually a BAD idea. Hangover at the reception…not FUN.

TRUTH#7…YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER IS THE CRUISE DIRECTOR
He will be with you from the beginning of your day until the cake is cut. If you work with him to realistically plan your schedule he will keep you on track and maximize your FUN. Believe it or not this is in his best interest. When you are relaxed your photographs look best.