Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records

Major Genealogical Resources

This office has birth and death records for all Pennsylvania counties since January 1906. The address is listed below.

For birth and death records prior to 1906, contact the Orphans Court at the County Court House in the county where the event occurred. Court house addresses can be found in Ancestry's Red Book (SSH 929.1072 R245b, 3rd ed. 2004). If the event occurred in Philadelphia from 1 July 1860 to 30 June 1915, contact the Philadelphia City Archives. If the event occurred in Pittsburgh from 1870 to 1905 or in Allegheny City from 1882 to 1905, write to the Office of Biostatistics, Pittsburgh Health Department, City-County Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

For marriage records, contact the Marriage License Bureau at the County Court House where the license was issued. For Philadelphia, contact the Marriage License Bureau of the Orphan's Court.

For divorce records, contact the Prothonotary at the County Court House where the divorce was granted. For Philadelphia, contact the Court of Common Pleas.

Points of Contact for More Information

Department of Vital Records, State Department of Health, Central Building, 101 South Mercer Street, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16101. (724) 656-3100.

Philadelphia Office, Department of Vital Records, 1400 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. (215) 560-3054, call for a recorded message.