Dauphin County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court offers marriage licenses and will probates through video conference during COVID-19 pandemic

HARRISBURG, PA (April 2, 2020) – In response to the COVID-19 emergency declaration and closure of the Dauphin County Courthouse, the Dauphin County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court has developed virtual processes for marriage license applications and probate of wills and estates. These virtual processes involve video conferencing and other electronic communication. 

“Our office assists the public through many life-changing events that typically involve in-person transactions and close contact,” said Jean Marfizo King, Dauphin County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court. “By instituting these virtual procedures, we are able to continue serving our residents during the global pandemic.”

The video conferencing processes were authorized by Administrative Order by President Judge John F. Cherry on March 18, 2020, and began on Monday, March 23, 2020.

According to Marfizo King, the office is utilizing the Avaya Spaces cloud-based videoconferencing service.  This service comes at no cost to taxpayers and can also be downloaded as an application on any smartphone.

During the video conference meeting, the couple must appear together to be sworn in that the facts they presented on the marriage license application are true.  They are then required to sign their applications during the video conference. 

To date, the office has processed three virtual marriage licenses. 

In addition to marriage licenses, the office has offered the opportunity for wills to be probated utilizing video conference technology.  The office has processed two probates since the launch of the virtual process.

Please visit www.dauphincounty.org/wills for more information and to learn about the virtual probate and marriage licenses processes. 

Attorneys and residents interested in scheduling virtual appointments are encouraged to call the office at 717-780-6500.