Louisiana Marriage License Records
A Louisiana marriage license is the legal document couples need before getting married in the state. You can apply at the Clerk of Court in any of Louisiana's 64 parishes, no matter where you live or where the ceremony takes place. This page helps you find the right parish office, understand what to bring, check fees, and access marriage records after your ceremony. Start searching below or browse by parish to find the resources closest to you.
Louisiana Marriage License Quick Facts
How to Get a Louisiana Marriage License
The Clerk of Court in each Louisiana parish issues marriage licenses. Walk into the clerk's office, present your documents, pay the fee, and you will receive your license on the spot. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Some close earlier for new applications. Call ahead or check your parish page before driving over. In Calcasieu Parish, the clerk requires all couples to book an appointment and complete an online form before arriving. No walk-ins are accepted there. Most other parishes do allow walk-ins, but arriving early gives you more time with staff if questions come up during your visit.
Orleans Parish operates differently from every other parish in the state. There, the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry issues all marriage licenses, not the Clerk of Court. The office sits at Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 407, in downtown New Orleans. Hours run from 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM, Monday through Friday. If you pay cash, bring the exact amount. No change is given. Credit cards, checks, and money orders are also accepted. A second location at the Historic Algiers Courthouse on Morgan Street serves the West Bank.
After you apply and pay, a waiting period starts before the ceremony can take place. Most parishes follow the standard 24-hour wait set under state law. Ouachita Parish, which includes Monroe, has a 72-hour waiting period unless both parties complete state-approved premarital counseling. Pointe Coupee Parish also requires 72 hours. A district court judge or a justice of the peace can waive the standard wait for good cause. In Orleans Parish, First or Second City Court judges can grant waivers for Louisiana residents on weekdays only. Once the license is issued, it is valid for 30 days. The ceremony must take place within Louisiana. Two witnesses must be present and sign at the ceremony. Your officiant then returns the signed license to the clerk, where it becomes a permanent public record.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office handles Orleans Parish marriage license applications and maintains official marriage records for New Orleans.
All other parishes outside of Orleans use their own Clerk of Court for marriage license applications and official recording.
Note: A Louisiana marriage license is only valid for ceremonies performed within the state, even though applicants can get one from any parish regardless of where they live.
Documents Required for a Marriage License
Before visiting the clerk's office, gather everything you need. A missing document can delay your application by days. The certified birth certificate is the item that surprises many couples most. A hospital keepsake copy is not valid. You need a certified copy with a raised seal from the vital records office in the state where you were born. For Louisiana births, some clerks can issue certified copies on-site. Lincoln Parish offers this service but charges $34 per copy in cash, and you should plan for extra processing time. Ascension Parish allows only one party to appear in person, which means one person can bring documents for both applicants.
Social Security numbers are required for U.S. citizens. Non-citizens may use a valid passport from their country of birth as an alternative. If your only ID is a visa, bring Form I-94 with it. Foreign birth certificates must have a certified English translation attached. Under RS 9:225, both applicants must provide certified birth certificates. If no birth record can be located, a court order waiving the requirement may be obtained along with a letter from the registration authority confirming the record does not exist, as provided under RS 9:227 and RS 9:228.
Bring these items to your appointment:
- Valid government-issued photo ID for the appearing party
- Certified birth certificate for each applicant
- Social Security number for each applicant
- Certified divorce judgment if either party was previously married
- Death certificate if a prior spouse has passed away
- Payment for the license fee in the accepted form for that parish
If you were married before, you must prove that marriage ended. Bring a certified copy of the final divorce judgment. It must carry the clerk's official seal, not just a printed copy. St. John the Baptist Parish has an extra rule: there is a 30-day waiting period after a divorce judgment is signed before the clerk can issue a new marriage license. Most parishes do not have this restriction, but always verify with your local office before applying.
The Orleans Parish marriage license guide on the LDH site lists the exact documents required for applying in New Orleans.
Document requirements are largely consistent across Louisiana, though individual parishes may have minor differences in what they accept or require for specific situations.
Where to Apply for a Marriage License in Louisiana
Under RS 9:222, a marriage license may be issued in any parish regardless of where the parties live or where the ceremony will take place. This gives couples flexibility. If one office is more convenient because of your location near a parish border, you can use that one. The Louisiana parish directory on Louisiana.gov lists contact information for every parish government office in the state, including the Clerk of Court.
Payment rules differ by parish. Lafourche Parish accepts cash only and charges $32. The Tangipahoa Parish office in Hammond accepts checks or credit cards but not cash. Jackson Parish requires cash or money orders and charges $27.50. Always verify the payment method before you go, since arriving with the wrong form of payment means a wasted trip. Some offices, like Calcasieu Parish, require applicants to call a specific extension to schedule a marriage license appointment before the visit.
The Louisiana parish directory lists addresses and phone numbers for clerk offices across all 64 parishes.
Use the directory to find the office nearest you or to verify current hours and contact details before making the trip.
Note: Lafourche Parish accepts cash only for marriage license fees, so confirm payment options with your specific parish before arriving.
Online Marriage License Applications
Many parishes allow couples to start the marriage license process online through the eClerks LA system. You select your parish from a participating list, fill out the application form on the site, and submit it. When you finish, you get a confirmation number that stays valid for 30 days. You still must visit the clerk's office in person to complete the process. Bring your confirmation number along with all required documents and your payment. The clerk reviews your ID and birth certificates, collects the fee, and issues the license. The online step saves time at the counter but does not replace the required in-person visit. Not every parish participates, so check with your local clerk first.
East Baton Rouge Parish also has an online application available at ClerkConnect EBR. Ouachita Parish offers an online application at ClerkConnect Ouachita. Ascension Parish has its own online application at their clerk website as well.
The eClerks LA marriage license portal makes it easier to begin the application before your in-person visit to the clerk's office.
Confirm with your parish that the online system is active before you submit, since availability can change.
Louisiana Marriage License Laws
Louisiana law outlines clear rules for who can receive a marriage license and how the application process works. RS 9:224 governs the application itself. The form must include both parties' full legal names, addresses, ages, Social Security numbers or valid passport information for non-citizens, the full names of each party's parents, and the number of prior marriages. Both parties do not have to sign at the same time or in the same place. One person can sign before a notary public if the other cannot appear. A military exception applies too. When one applicant is on active duty, the co-applicant can attach a copy of the service member's military ID instead of requiring their signature in person.
Age rules come from RS 9:208. Anyone 18 or older can apply without parental consent. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need a court order from a district judge plus written consent from both parents or the legal custodian. They also face an age-gap restriction. A minor in this age group cannot marry someone who is three or more years older. This rule has been in effect since Act 401 of 2019. No one under 16 may receive a marriage license in Louisiana under any circumstances. East Baton Rouge Parish is specific about this on its forms, noting that the clerk cannot issue a license if both parties are under 18 and there is more than a three-year age difference.
Under RS 9:206, a license expires at midnight on the 30th day after it was issued. If the ceremony is delayed past that deadline, a new application and a new fee are required. RS 9:242 governs the waiting period. The standard wait is 24 hours between issuance and the ceremony. A district court judge or justice of the peace can grant a waiver.
The Louisiana Secretary of State maintains official state records and can help direct you to the correct agency for legal documents related to your marriage.
For certified copies of a recorded marriage license, contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the license was issued.
Covenant Marriage in Louisiana
Louisiana is one of only three states that offer covenant marriage as a legal option. The other two are Arkansas and Arizona. Covenant marriage is a more binding form of the commitment that comes with stricter grounds for divorce. Couples choosing this path must complete premarital counseling with a licensed counselor or a religious official authorized to perform marriages. They must also sign a Declaration of Intent, which gets attached to the application and becomes part of the official record. Under RS 9:224(C), this declaration is legally binding. Couples already married under a standard license can convert to a covenant marriage by completing the same counseling and declaration process at any time.
Most clerks charge an additional fee for covenant marriage licenses. The extra amount is typically $10 to $25 above the standard cost. Lafayette Parish's covenant marriage information page explains the full process and what to expect. Contact your local clerk to confirm the exact additional fee and any specific requirements for your parish.
Marriage License Records and Certified Copies
After the ceremony, your officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the Clerk of Court that issued it. The clerk records it and files it permanently. Most offices advise waiting at least two weeks after the wedding before ordering certified copies, to make sure the paperwork has been fully processed and entered into the record. Certified copies serve as proof of marriage for name changes with the Social Security Administration, updates to a driver's license, banking changes, insurance updates, and other legal purposes. Fees vary by parish. Jefferson Parish charges $10 per certified copy. Iberia Parish charges $6 for additional copies. In Orleans Parish, certified copies cost $5 each through the Louisiana Department of Health.
You can order certified copies in person at the clerk's office where the original license was filed. Some offices accept mail requests as well. Provide the names of both parties and the date of the ceremony. The Louisiana Department of Health handles certified marriage records only for Orleans Parish. For all other parishes, the local Clerk of Court is where you get certified copies. The Louisiana Secretary of State can also help direct you to the right office if you are unsure who holds your records.
The Orleans Parish marriage records ordering page on the LDH site explains how to get certified copies of New Orleans marriage certificates.
For all other Louisiana parishes, certified copies of marriage licenses are available directly from the issuing Clerk of Court office.
Note: Jefferson Parish recommends ordering certified copies at least two weeks after the wedding to allow time for the signed license to be returned and fully recorded.
Browse Louisiana Parishes
Each parish in Louisiana has its own Clerk of Court that handles marriage license applications and records. Pick a parish below to find local contact information, fees, and office details.
View All 64 Louisiana Parishes
Cities with Marriage License Offices
Residents of major Louisiana cities apply for a marriage license at their parish Clerk of Court. Pick a city below to find the right office and resources for your area.