New Iberia Marriage License - Iberia Parish
New Iberia is the parish seat of Iberia Parish, and marriage licenses for New Iberia residents are issued by the Iberia Parish Clerk of Court at 300 Iberia Street in the heart of the city. The office also offers something unusual: the Janell Derouen Wedding Chapel on-site for couples who want to hold a civil ceremony right at the courthouse. Only one party needs to appear in person to apply, and the Clerk accepts multiple payment methods including card.
New Iberia Quick Facts
Iberia Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk is Hon. David M. Ditch. The office address is 300 Iberia Street, Suite 100, New Iberia, LA 70560. Phone: (337) 365-7282. You can email the Clerk at dditch@iberiasclerk.com. The website is iberiaclerk.com, and the marriage license page is at iberiaclerk.com/services/marriage-licenses.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Marriage licenses are issued until 4:00 PM. That means you need to arrive by 4:00 PM to get a license. Arriving at 4:25 PM will not work. Plan to be there well before the 4:00 PM cutoff.
Fee and Payment Methods
The marriage license fee is $35.00. The Iberia Parish Clerk accepts cash, personal check, money order, or debit/credit card. This is more flexible than some other Louisiana parishes that require cash or money order only. A certified copy of the marriage certificate costs $6.00 each. That is one of the lower certified copy fees in Louisiana, and it makes it easy to request multiple copies at a reasonable cost.
The Clerk's office confirms: "FEES: $35.00 in cash, check money order or debit/credit card." Keep your receipt in case there are any questions about your payment later.
Only One Party Needs to Appear
The Iberia Parish Clerk confirms: "Only one party is required to come in to purchase the marriage license." This is helpful when one partner is out of town, working, or otherwise unable to make the trip to the courthouse. The party who does appear needs to bring documents for both people. Make sure you have everything for both applicants before one person goes alone to apply.
Documents Required
Bring these items to the Clerk's office. Have them ready for both parties even if only one of you appears:
- Valid photo ID for each party (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
- Certified birth certificate for each party
- Social Security number for each party
- If previously divorced: certified copy of the final divorce decree
- If previously widowed: certified death certificate of the prior spouse
Louisiana requires no blood test. No medical exam is needed. The document list is short but strict. A hospital-issued birth record is not the same as a certified birth certificate. Get the official version from the vital records office of the state where each person was born.
The 24-Hour Wait
The Iberia Parish Clerk is direct about this rule: "There is a 24 hour (1 day) waiting period from the time the license is issued until it can be used." Plan accordingly. The license is stamped with the exact time it is issued, and the ceremony cannot begin until 24 full hours after that timestamp.
The license is valid for 30 days. The Clerk notes: "The license expires 30 days from the date and time of issuance." Get the license close enough to the ceremony that it will not expire, but not so close that you have no buffer. One to two weeks before the ceremony is usually ideal.
The On-Site Wedding Chapel
The Iberia Parish Clerk's office has an on-site chapel called the Janell Derouen Wedding Chapel. This is a real option for couples in New Iberia who want a simple, legal civil ceremony without booking a separate venue. Ask the Clerk's office about availability and any requirements for using the chapel. Not every Louisiana parish courthouse has this type of facility, so it is a notable local option for New Iberia residents.
Where the Ceremony Can Be Held
An Iberia Parish marriage license is valid anywhere in Louisiana. The ceremony does not have to be in New Iberia or Iberia Parish. Use the license for a ceremony in Lafayette, New Orleans, or any other part of the state. The marriage record is filed in Iberia Parish regardless of where the ceremony takes place in Louisiana.
Age Requirements
Both parties must be 18 or older to apply without additional steps. Louisiana does not allow a marriage license for anyone under 16. Those who are 16 or 17 need both parental consent and a court order from a judge before the Clerk will issue a license. Contact the Clerk's office to find out which court handles this process in Iberia Parish.
Covenant Marriage
The Iberia Parish Clerk offers covenant marriage as a legal option. Pre-marital counseling and a signed declaration of intent are required. The fee may differ from the standard license. Ask the Clerk's office for the forms and current fee schedule. Both parties must agree to a covenant marriage; it is a mutual legal election.
Certified Copies and Name Changes
The Clerk's office explains: "A certified copy of the marriage license will be necessary if one of the parties wishes to change their name with Social Security and on their driver's license." Each certified copy costs $6.00 in Iberia Parish. Request at least two when you pick them up after the ceremony. Keep the originals safe and use them for name-change paperwork.
You can also check the eClerks LA portal to see if online access to Iberia Parish marriage records is available.
Official Sources
The Iberia Parish Clerk marriage license page covers all requirements for New Iberia residents seeking a marriage license.
New Iberia is the parish seat of Iberia Parish, and the Clerk of Court office on Iberia Street is conveniently located in the heart of the city.
The Iberia Parish Clerk of Court website provides full details on marriage licenses, certified copies, and the on-site wedding chapel in New Iberia.
The Iberia Parish Clerk's office has a wedding chapel on-site, the Janell Derouen Wedding Chapel, which gives couples in New Iberia an option for a civil ceremony right at the courthouse.
Iberia Parish Marriage License
The Iberia Parish page has complete information on fees, hours, the on-site chapel, and all requirements for New Iberia residents.
Nearby Cities
Other Louisiana cities near New Iberia with marriage license information pages are listed here.