Genealogy Research
The Register of Wills Office, the Clerk of Orphans’ Court and the Marriage License Bureau all house extensive records dating as far back as 1878 for wills and October 1885 for Marriage Licenses. All files are located on site and are public information (with the exception of Adoption records). The public is welcome to come into the office to do research or they may request our office conduct a search for them. The fee associated is $25.00 per search.

To Request a Search:

Download the Applicable Genealogy Search Form & Complete

  • Enclose a check made payable to the Register of Wills/Orphans Court, in the applicable amount
  • Include Self-Addressed Envelope (Postage included in search fee)
  • Mail to:  Register of Wills
                   Lackawanna County Government Center
                   123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521
                   Scranton, PA 18503

Search Forms


The following records may be housed at:

Records that can be found at the Register of Wills/Clerk of Orphans’ Court:

  • Wills & Estates from 1878 to the present
  • Guardianships, Trusts and Misc. Documents from 1878 to the present

Records that can be found at the Marriage License Bureau:

  • Marriage Licenses issued from October 1885 – present
  • Births that occurred in Lackawanna County (excluding Scranton) between 1893-1905
  • Deaths that occurred in Lackawanna County (excluding Scranton) between 1893-1905

Click here to download your family tree
Click here for additional genealogy resources