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Index to Official County Records

Washington County Pennsylvania
and State of Pennsylvania

What do you need to know ?

Compiled by Judith Florian

Information about County and State Vital Records

This information was checked for accuracy Jan 2019.

Statewide registration of births and deaths began January 1906. Pennsylvania birth and death records prior to 1906 and marriage and divorce records can be found at the County Court House.

General Information about Vital Records

• Birth Records

• Delayed Registration of Birth Records

• Death Records

• Divorce Records

• Funeral Records

• Marriage Records

• Obtaining a Record

Obtain copies of certificates by writing to:

Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
101 S. Mercer St.
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16101
(724) 656-3100

Website: http://vitalrec.com/pa.html

Internet Access to STATE Vital Records:

Download a request form : Division of Vital Records - Health Planning and Assessment (updated link - June 14, 2005)

For internet addresses in other states, see: Other Vital Records Offices in the USA

Vital Records Collected from Users:

This website collects "vital records" type of information from users.  We list text versions of births, deaths, marriages, etc., or provide newspaper clippings of such events.  We are always looking to add more records.  Please include the source information (as much as you know) when you submit records or newspaper items.

Local Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages

The Register of Wills kept births and deaths for most counties for the period 1852-1854. The LDS FHL has microfilmed copies of Births, Marriages and Deaths on File at the State Archives, 1852-1854 (film number 1016403-8).

Some counties also began registering births and deaths in 1893 and continued until 1906 when the state took over. Washington County PA has records from 

You can call or write to the Court House and request a certified copy.

Register of Wills
100 W. Beau St. 
Washington, PA 15301-4402
Phone: (724)-228-6700 
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM 

When writing to the Court House, address your envelope to the CORRECT office.

• Recorder of Deeds (for land records) 

• Register of Wills (for wills)   1700s Wills-present

• Include a Legal-Size, self-addressed stamped envelope with your request.  Requests must be accompanied by appropriate research fee (call for updated fees). Fee is charged regardless of search outcome.  Make check, money order or certified bank check to Washington County Recorder of {Deeds, or Wills, etc.}, or "Clerk of". 
  

• Clerk of the Orphan's Court for old birth, death, marriage records.
  

Delayed Registration of Birth Records

Births before 1906 that were not registered at the time of birth may have been registered beginning 1941. To prove a birth, several witnesses were required to sign affidavits before the orphans court which would then issue a certificate. Delayed registration of births began in many counties in 1941 and continued through 1976.

To obtain delayed birth records, contact the Registrar of Vital Statistics at the county seat.

Funeral Records

Funeral records issued by a funeral home include financial records (cost of casket, dressing), name of the deceased, when and where they were buried, if the body was shipped to another funeral home, purchaser of the cemetery plot, etc.

Not all funeral homes make their records available to the public. You may wish to contact a funeral director directly to see if they are willing to copy this information for your research.

See listing of current funeral homes in the county

Marriage Records

There are few civil marriage records in state archives prior to 1885 -- most marriage records before this date were recorded in church records. However, some cities and counties have recorded marriage records dating from the early 1800's. Counties which kept birth and death records for the period 1852-1854 also kept marriage records. Most counties began keeping marriage records starting in October of 1885. You can obtain copies from the Clerk of the Orphans Court in Somerset County.

The LDS FHL has several good sources available for marriage records research as well as many copies of marriage records from 1885-1920.

Marriage Register of Pennsylvania, 1684 to 1689 mainly Quaker records. FHL film 20438 item 4.

Marriage Bonds, 1784-1786 from the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. FHL films 1759093 item 2 through 1759094 item1.

Marriage Records, 1885-1889 Bureau of Vital Statistics. FHL film 1027957-8. The males are listed on the first film, females on the second.

Newly filed Marriage records may be obtained from:

Pronothary Office

100 W. Beau St. 
Suite 1001
Washington, PA 15301-4402
Phone: (724)-228-6700 
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM 

Divorce Records

In Pennsylvania, divorce records were kept by the court of common pleas.

Pronothary's Office
Washington Court House
100 W. Beau St. 
Suite 1001
Washington, PA 15301-4402
Phone: (724)-228-6700 
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM 

Obtaining a Record

To obtain a birth or death record from the State of Pennsylvania, please visit their website and follow the instructions listed. You may also wish to use VitalCheck to order a birth or death certificate (there is an additional processing fee for using this service). Please visit their website for more information.

County Home Record Book - Law Library

Last seen in the Law Library Vault.

Added July 2008, updated July 2013