Luzerne County Family History
Luzerne County genealogy research covers one of Pennsylvania's most historically rich regions, centered on Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley. The county was formed from Northumberland County on September 25, 1786, and its records span more than two centuries of settlement, immigration, coal mining, and industry. Researchers can access birth and death records, marriage licenses, wills, land deeds, and court documents through the Luzerne County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds offices. The Luzerne County Historical Society and the Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society provide additional resources for Luzerne County family history work.
Luzerne County Genealogy Quick Facts
Luzerne County Genealogy Records Overview
Luzerne County is one of Pennsylvania's older counties, formed in 1786 from Northumberland County. The Wyoming Valley, which runs through the heart of Luzerne County, was the site of significant conflict and settlement during the late 18th century. Families with roots in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Nanticoke, Pittston, and the surrounding townships will find a rich documentary record at the county courthouse and in local archives. The county's history as a coal mining center brought waves of immigrants from Ireland, Wales, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Italy, and other countries, making Luzerne County records especially valuable for ethnic genealogy research.
Core record types for Luzerne County genealogy include probate records from 1786, land deeds from 1786, marriage licenses from 1885, and birth and death records from 1893 to 1906. Some early Luzerne County probate records were damaged during Hurricane Agnes in 1972, so researchers should be aware that gaps may exist in certain collections from that period. Despite this loss, the county still holds extensive materials. Marriage license dockets from 1885 to 1950 are indexed on FamilySearch. Wills from 1787 to 1916 are also available through FamilySearch. The Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society has recorded 307 cemeteries in the county and has digitized 90% of Catholic church records, making it a key resource for this heavily Catholic region.
Note: Some early Luzerne County probate records were damaged in the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood, so researchers should check with the Register of Wills about the completeness of specific record series.
Luzerne County Register of Wills and Deeds
The Luzerne County Register of Wills maintains the county's probate, vital, and marriage records, serving as a central resource for Luzerne County genealogy research.
The Luzerne County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is located at the Courthouse Annex, 153 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. The office can be reached by phone at 570-825-1668. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a filing deadline of 4:20 PM. A Hazleton Annex is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Records at this office include wills from 1786, marriage licenses from October 1885, and birth and death records from 1893 to 1906. Naturalization records are also on file. Searching the index at this office is free; fees apply to view or copy documents.
The Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds is located at 200 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Phone: 570-825-1641. This office holds land records from 1786. Deeds from 1786 to 1967 are available through the IQS E Film Reader at searchiqs.com. Deeds from 1968 to the present are searchable through Landex Remote. Online access options include grantor and grantee name searches, book and page searches, document type searches, and date range searches.
Luzerne County Historical Society Collections
The Luzerne County Historical Society at luzernehistory.org is the oldest county historical society in Pennsylvania, founded on February 11, 1858, as the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. The society operates a museum and research library in Wilkes-Barre with collections that span more than 200 years of Luzerne County history. Holdings include court records, photographs, maps, family genealogies, business records, Civil War materials, coal mining records, labor history archives, and ethnic heritage collections. All newspapers held by the society from 1797 to 1950 have been digitized by Ancestry.com and are available on newspapers.com, making them accessible to remote researchers.
The Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society at nepgs.com is another key resource for Luzerne County family history. The society has recorded all 307 cemeteries in the county and digitized 90% of Catholic church records. Luzerne County births, marriages, and deaths from 1852 to 1854 are on file at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Marriage License Dockets from 1885 to 1950 are indexed on FamilySearch. FamilySearch also holds Luzerne County birth records from 1893 to 1905 and wills from 1787 to 1916. The Pittston Dispatch and Hazleton newspapers have been digitized by the Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society and provide obituaries and vital notices for the eastern side of the county.
Vital Records in Luzerne County
Vital records in Luzerne County follow the statewide division between pre-1906 and post-1906 records. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1906 are held at the Register of Wills at 153 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre. For births and deaths from 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Department of Health holds statewide records at pa.gov. Under 35 P.S. § 450.801, birth records are restricted for 105 years and death records for 50 years. Records that fall outside those restriction windows are publicly available at the State Archives.
Luzerne County also holds births, marriages, and deaths from 1852 to 1854 at the State Archives, a brief record period that resulted from a short-lived state mandate before the system was repealed. Marriage records from October 1885 are at the Register of Wills. Marriage license applications from 1885 to August 2004 are viewable online. For marriages and births before 1885 or 1893, researchers must rely on church registers, Bible records, cemetery inscriptions, and newspaper notices. The Luzerne County Historical Society's digitized newspaper collection on newspapers.com is a practical starting point for locating older vital notices.
Note: Luzerne County delayed birth registrations are on file at the Courthouse but are not available online; a visit or written request to the Register of Wills is required.
Land and Probate Records in Luzerne County
Luzerne County land records begin in 1786 when the county was formed. The Recorder of Deeds maintains deed books that trace property ownership across all of the county's townships and boroughs. These records often show when families arrived in Luzerne County, where they settled, and when they moved on. Grantor and grantee indexes allow searches by the names of property buyers and sellers. Online access to deeds from 1786 to 1967 is available through the IQS E Film Reader, and deeds from 1968 to the present are accessible via Landex Remote.
Probate records at the Register of Wills go back to 1786. Wills frequently identify children and their spouses, grandchildren, and other heirs, making them a primary source for expanding a Luzerne County family tree. Estate inventories describe the personal property of the deceased and can reveal occupation, wealth, and community ties. Administration records for intestate estates also list family members and their shares. The Orphans' Court records include guardianship cases that identify minor children and their guardians, which can be useful when children appear without clear parental links in other records. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, court records are presumed open to research.
Searching Luzerne County Records Online
Luzerne County offers multiple paths for online genealogy research. FamilySearch has free indexed collections that include Luzerne County birth records from 1893 to 1905, marriage dockets from 1885 to 1950, and wills from 1787 to 1916. The Ancestry.com partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission provides additional access to Luzerne County materials. The Pennsylvania State Archives ARIAS database contains military records for Luzerne County residents who served in Pennsylvania units. The State Library of Pennsylvania provides census records on microfilm from 1790 through 1930 along with county history volumes that cover Luzerne County families. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, records more than 75 years old at the State Archives are open to public research.
Explore Pennsylvania Cities
Luzerne County includes Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, and many other communities. To search genealogy resources for Pennsylvania's major cities, visit our full city directory.
Nearby Counties
Luzerne County borders several other northeastern Pennsylvania counties. Families frequently moved between neighboring counties, so genealogy research may need to cover more than one area.