The Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record is the form two married applicants file in the Orphans' Court Division of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas to ask a judge to correct errors on their marriage record. It is listed on the Register of Wills' forms page alongside the Bucks County marriage license forms, and it covers misspelled names, a wrong birth date, parent's information, last names not used and other corrections. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by Bucks County.
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What is Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record – Bucks County, PA?
The Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record is the Bucks County Orphans' Court Division form on which two married applicants ask the Court of Common Pleas to order a correction of errors on their Pennsylvania marriage record, identified by its Marriage License File No.
It is a court petition, not a county application. Numbered paragraphs state that the applicants are married adults, that the Orphans' Court Division has jurisdiction under 20 Pa. C.S. §711(19), where and when they married, and which part of the record is wrong. Paragraph 6 states that the Orphans' Court has inherent power to correct clerical errors, and paragraph 7 states that the correction will not prejudice any person or entity.
Item 4 offers five kinds of correction, each with a space for the proof attached as an exhibit:
- misspelled names;
- wrong birth date;
- parent's information;
- both last names not utilized;
- other correction.
The same PDF holds the pages that go with the petition: a Verification, an Order for Hearing, a Certificate of Compliance with the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, and a Decree that grants the petition. The Order for Hearing and the Decree end with the judge's "BY THE COURT" signature line. The form is revision Rev. 10/05/2022. It does not apply for a marriage license; it corrects the record of a marriage that has already taken place.
Who needs to file Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record – Bucks County, PA?
Two married adults who want the court to correct their marriage record file this petition in the Bucks County Orphans' Court Division. The form is written for Applicant "1" and Applicant "2", who state their shared residence, the county and date of the marriage and the Marriage License File No., and who both sign the petition and the Verification.
It fits a record that is wrong in one of the ways listed in item 4: a misspelled name, a wrong birth date, incorrect parent's information, a case where both last names are not used, or another correction. Each correction needs an exhibit as proof.
The Certificate of Compliance has a line for an attorney number "if applicable", so the form allows for a filing submitted by an attorney. The form describes no other representative or substitute signer. It is not a marriage license application; the county's forms page lists the application and the other marriage license pages separately.
When to file Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record – Bucks County, PA
File the petition once you find that your marriage record is wrong in one of the ways listed in item 4 of the form. No filing deadline is printed on it.
Gather your proof first, because every correction you request is tied to an exhibit that must be attached. The form is dated twice, in its opening paragraph and at the "Respectfully Submitted" line, and the Verification carries its own dates.
After filing, the court decides on a hearing. The Order for Hearing page in the packet says that a hearing shall be held at the Bucks County Justice Center, 100 N. Main St., Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and that petitioners shall be present. The date, time and courtroom are left for the court to fill in.
Documents you need
- Proof of correct legal name, attached as an exhibit, for misspelled names: a current driver's license, passport, Social Security card or birth certificate.
- Birth certificate, attached as an exhibit, to prove the correct date when the birth date on the marriage record is wrong.
- Proof of the correct information, attached as an exhibit, when parent's information on the marriage record is incorrect.
- Proof of the correct name, attached as an exhibit, when both last names are not utilized on the marriage record.
- Proof of the correct information, attached as an exhibit, for any other correction requested under item 4e.
- Payment of the filing fee, payable to Orphans' Court, with a paper filing; the form says paper filings should be mailed with payment.
How to fill out Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record – Bucks County, PA
Enter the Marriage License File No.
Write the Marriage License File No. under "IN RE" at the top. Repeat it on the Verification, Order for Hearing, Certificate of Compliance and Decree pages.
Name both applicants and the date
In the opening paragraph, fill in the day, month and year and the names of Applicant "1" and Applicant "2".
State your residence in paragraph 1
Enter the address where the two married applicants reside.
Give the marriage details in paragraph 3
Enter the county in Pennsylvania and the date of the marriage, the Marriage License File No. and the exhibit letter or number for the marriage record.
Complete item 4a for misspelled names
Enter the misspelled name and the correct spelling, each with first, middle and last name. Attach proof of the correct legal name and write its exhibit number.
Complete items 4b, 4c and 4d
For a wrong birth date, give the date on the record, the correct date and the birth certificate exhibit. For parent's information or both last names not utilized, give the record entry, the correction and the exhibit.
Describe any other correction
Under item 4e, state any other correction and the exhibit that proves it.
Explain the problems in paragraph 5
Write the significant problems the incorrect information has caused you on the lines provided.
Print names and sign the petition
Complete the "WHEREFORE" names and the "Respectfully Submitted" date. Each applicant prints a name and signs.
Sign and date the Verification
Both applicants print their names, then sign and date the Verification, which refers to penalties under 18 Pa. C.S. §4904 for unsworn falsification.
Complete the Certificate of Compliance
Sign it and print the name of the person submitting, add an attorney number if applicable and enter the date.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every exhibit reference matches an attachment, leave the Order for Hearing and Decree for the court, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record – Bucks County, PA
You can file the petition electronically or on paper with payment.
- E-filing: the form says the petition may be e-filed by visiting www.Propublic.buckscountyonline.org.
- Paper filing: mail the petition with payment to the Clerk of Orphans' Court, Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901.
A filing fee applies and is payable to Orphans' Court. The amount is stated in the note at the bottom of the petition's signature page, so check the current form or ask the Clerk of Orphans' Court before you pay. The packet should include the signed petition, the signed Verification, the Certificate of Compliance and the exhibits that prove each correction. The form names no other channel. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Requesting a correction without attaching an exhibit and writing its exhibit letter or number in the blank, since each item 4 category calls for proof.
- Offering a document that is not one of the listed proofs of legal name: current driver's license, passport, Social Security card or birth certificate.
- Signing the petition but not the Verification, or having only one applicant sign; both Applicant "1" and Applicant "2" sign each.
- Omitting the Marriage License File No. in the caption, in paragraph 3 or on the later pages of the packet.
- Mailing a paper filing without payment; the form says paper filings should be mailed with payment to Orphans' Court.
- Sending a paper petition to an address other than the Clerk of Orphans' Court, Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901.
- Filling in the Order for Hearing or the Decree, which end with the judge's "BY THE COURT" signature line.
- Leaving off the Certificate of Compliance with the Public Access Policy, which accompanies the filing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Petition For Amendment of Marriage Record?
It is the Bucks County Orphans' Court Division petition that two married applicants file to ask the Court of Common Pleas for an order correcting their marriage record. It covers misspelled names, a wrong birth date, parent's information, both last names not utilized and other corrections.
Where do I correct an error on my Bucks County marriage license record?
File this petition with the Bucks County Clerk of Orphans' Court. You can e-file at www.Propublic.buckscountyonline.org or mail a paper filing with payment to the Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901.
What proof do I need to correct a misspelled name?
Attach proof of your correct legal name as an exhibit and list it in item 4a. The form names a current driver's license, passport, Social Security card or birth certificate as the types of proof.
Do both spouses have to sign the petition?
The form is written for Applicant "1" and Applicant "2" and has signature lines for both on the petition and on the Verification. Both applicants print their names and sign each of those pages.
Is there a filing fee for this petition?
Yes. The form says a filing fee applies and is payable to Orphans' Court. The amount is printed in the note on the petition, so check the current form or contact the Clerk of Orphans' Court before paying.
Will I have to attend a hearing?
The Order for Hearing page in the packet says a hearing shall be held at the Bucks County Justice Center, 100 N. Main St., Doylestown, and that petitioners shall be present. The court fills in the date, time and courtroom.
Can I fill out this petition online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of Bucks County and does not file the petition; you e-file or mail it through the channels the form gives.
Is this the form for applying for a marriage license?
No. This petition corrects the record of a marriage that has already taken place. The county's Register of Wills site lists applying for a marriage license on a separate page from this petition.
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