Blair puts marriage license application forms online

Blair County Prothonotary Robin Patton stands about 8 feet from a Duncansville couple while administering an oath associated with their application for a marriage license. The prothonotary’s office is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so Patton administered the oath in the hall outside the courthouse office. Mirror photo by Kay Stephens
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County residents in need of a marriage license now have a new option that could make the application process a little faster.
Prothonotary Robin Patton, whose office issues marriage licenses, has introduced an online application that can be completed before a couple heads to the courthouse where they are required to sign the application and pay a $52 fee.
Because the prothonotary’s office is currently closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, Patton said she took steps to make the online option available.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while,” she said. “But the current situation gave me a reason to do it now and I think it’s going to be a good thing.”
The closed county office will continue to address marriage license requests by appointment for those who call 693-3080.
Patton, who became the county’s prothonotary in January 2018, said she worked with Infocon Corp. of Ebensburg to create the online application. After applicants complete a form, their information is forwarded to the prothonotary staff for review.
While the couple must show up at the prothonotary’s office to finish the process, visits will be shorter if they have filled out the online application, Patton said.
Since the coronavirus pandemic developed in March, couples have canceled and delayed wedding plans until more family and friends can be accommodated at churches and businesses that are closed and unavailable for any gathering of more than 10.
“We’ll probably go to a park,” said a Duncansville woman who was at Patton’s office on Wednesday with her fiance to secure a license that remains valid for 60 days.
Patton said she had a call from a pastor who asked if she would issue a license to a couple that he would marry via video transmission. By contacting the state prothonotary’s association, Patton said she learned it was permissible, as long as the pastor and the couple could hear and communicate.
“People are getting creative,” she said.
Because her office is temporarily closed to the public, Patton could have put all marriage license requests on hold. She decided against that, but is asking couples seeking marriage licenses to include at least one Blair County resident.
“I want to be able to give people their marriage licenses,” Patton said. “They should be able to be married when they want.”
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is 946-7456.
Apply online
Blair County’s online marriage application is accessible through the county’s website at www.blairco.org. Under the clerk of orphans court, users should look for “marriage license info apply online.”