Certifications of birth and death records can be obtained for Butler County residents between 1893 and 1905 from the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court offices, Level L, Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler.

To obtain a certification of a birth or death record from the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court, you must know the person’s first and last name and date of birth or death. Place of birth or death and parents’ names are helpful but not required.

If the office must research the records, there is a $5 per name research and retrieval fee in addition to the $10 certification fee. Each page copied is $2. Fees can be paid to the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court in cash if in person, or with a certified check or money order if mailed.

The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court office can be reached at 724-284-5348.

Birth and death certificates for 1906 until now are in the state office building, 101 S. Mercer St., New Castle, Division of Vital Records. To obtain a death or birth certificate through the office of Vital Records, you must know the person’s name and the date and place of death or birth. You must also state your relationship to the deceased and reason for your request.

The fee for birth and death certificates is $20 and there is a $10 processing fee for both. The Division of Vital Records can be reached at 724-656-3100. The division’s website is www.health.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx.

To register or title a boat in Pennsylvania, contact any boat dealer or notary public.

Registering or titling a boat is similar to registering or titling a car. Registrations and titles are issued by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.

To find out if your boat needs to be registered or titled, visit the boat registration/titling Frequently Asked Questions page, this page also lists fees based on the type and size of the boat and more. Visit www.fishandboat.com or call the helpline at 866-262-8734.

Dog licenses can be obtained at the Butler County Treasurer’s office in the Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler, or online at www.doglicenses.us/PA/Butler and www.butlercountypa.gov/364/treasurer.

A dog license costs $8.70. A dog license for a senior citizen, someone age 65 or older, or a disabled person is $6.70. Duplicate licenses are available at the Butler County Treasurer’s Office for $1.70.

Lifetime licenses may only be purchased at the Butler County Treasurer’s Office, in person or by mail.

The treasurer’s office can be reached at 724-284-5149.

Call the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Driver’s License Center in Pointe Plaza, New Castle Road, Butler, at 800-932-4600. Driver’s manuals and other information are available there.

Other information can be obtained by calling 717-412-5300. TTY Callers — dial 711.

Customer call center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays) or visit www.dmv.pa.gov.

Initial learner’s permit and four-year license cost $45.50. Road tests can be scheduled online or by calling 717-412-5300. Testing is done by appointment only.

Renewal for driver’s licenses and other products expiring after July 2023 is $39.50. Costs vary depending on license status.

Beginning May 7, 2025, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, photo ID card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a federal building or military installation. The Department of Homeland Security postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID in response to COVID-19.

Visit www.dmv.state.pa.us and see the information under driver and vehicle services.

Fishing licenses are sold at many stores, the Butler County Treasurer’s Office in the Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler, and online at www.huntfish.pa.gov. The treasurer’s office can be reached at 724-284-5149.

Fishing licenses cost $27.97 for residents, plus an additional $14.97 for a trout stamp. Senior citizens, someone age 65 or older, can buy a lifetime fishing license for $86.97. An annual senior license is $14.47. Anyone who wants to fish in Lake Erie or its tributaries must purchase a Lake Erie stamp for $9.97. A combination Lake Erie and trout stamp is available for $20.97. Children younger than 16 do not need a fishing license.

Nonprofit organizations in certain municipalities are required to obtain a license for all small games of chance. Various requirements and more information is available at www.butlercountypa.gov/377/Fundraising-Licenses.

Hunting licenses are sold at many stores, the Butler County Treasurer’s Office in the Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler, and online at www.huntfish.pa.gov. The treasurer’s office can be reached at 724-284-5149.

Adult hunting licenses cost $20.97, junior licenses cost $6.97, senior one-year licenses cost $13.97 and senior lifetime licenses cost $51.97.

Visit www.pgc.pa.gov for a complete list of fees.

Residents can apply by appointment only for a passport at the Butler County Prothonotary’s office on the first floor of the Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler. The office processes new passport applications and does not process renewal applications. Applications can also be made at some U.S. Post Offices by appointment. Applications take 18 weeks to process.

If you have never had a passport, you will need one 2-by-2 passport photograph, a copy of a state-certified birth certificate with a raised seal, and photograph identification, such as a driver’s license. Birth certificates must list the parents’ names. You also must supply your Social Security number.

At the Butler County Prothonotary’s office, passport fees must be paid with a check or money order made payable to U.S. Department of State.

People age 16 and older pay a total of $165 for a passport. A check for $130 must be made out to the U.S. State Department and a separate check for $35 must be made out to the prothonotary’s office. Cash can be accepted for the prothonotary’s fee only. The passport is good for 10 years.

People age 15 and younger pay a total of $135 ($100 to the U.S. State Department and $35 to the prothonotary’s office) for a passport, which will be valid for five years. Both parents or legal guardians must apply for a passport for someone younger than 16. Applicants must apply in person by appointment only.

Expedited service costs comes at an additional fee and guarantees the passport will arrive in 12 weeks (six weeks for processing and six weeks for mailing time).

For more information, call the prothonotary’s office at 724-284-5214. More information regarding passport application fees can be obtained at www.travel.state.gov/fees or call 877-487-2778.

Marriage licenses can be obtained at the Butler County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court offices, Level L, in the Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler.

For license application information, call 724-284-5354 or visit www.butlercountypa.gov/291/Register-of-Wills-Orphans-Court.

The license fee is $60, and the certification of marriage license fee is $5. The fee can be paid in cash if in person. Personal checks are not accepted. Credit and debit cards can be used, but a convenience fee is charged.

Deed copies can be obtained by visiting the Butler County Recorder of Deeds office on Floor L in the Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler.

Deed copies also can be obtained by visiting the office’s website at www.butlercountypa.gov/262/Recorder-of-Deeds, or by submitting a written request. Other public land records also are available through the Recorder of Deeds. Call 724-284-5340.

Not all wills have been entered into public record and are only registered after death. Those who have been registered can be found in the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court, Level L, Butler County Government Center, 124 W. Diamond St., Butler.

If the office must research and copy the will, there is a $5 fee plus $1 per page, or $2 per page if certified status is desired. Fees can be paid in cash if in person, or with a certified check or money order if the request is mailed.

Call 724-284-1409, or visit online at www.butlercountypa.gov/291/Register-of-Wills-Orphans-Court for more information.