Iberia Parish Marriage License

Applying for a marriage license in Iberia Parish means a visit to the Clerk of Court office in New Iberia, where staff can walk you through the process from start to finish. The office issues marriage licenses Monday through Friday, and only one party needs to appear in person to apply. This guide covers what you need to bring, how long the process takes, what it costs, and where to go.

Iberia Parish Clerk of Court - Marriage License Office

The Iberia Parish Clerk of Court is the office that issues all marriage licenses in the parish. Hon. David M. Ditch serves as the elected Clerk. The office is at 300 Iberia Street, Suite 100, in New Iberia. You can also reach them by mail at P.O. Drawer 12010, New Iberia, LA 70562-2010.

Phone is (337) 365-7282. The civil fax is (337) 365-0737 and the recording fax is (337) 365-7636. You can also reach the Clerk by email at dditch@iberiasclerk.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Marriage licenses are issued until 4:00 PM only, so plan to arrive with enough time before that cutoff.

The Iberia Parish Clerk of Court website has details on all the services the office provides, including what you need to apply for a marriage license in Iberia Parish.

The clerk's main website gives you a quick overview of services and contact details.

How to Get an Iberia Parish Marriage License

The marriage license page on the clerk's website describes what you need. You can download some of the paperwork ahead of time and fill it out before your visit, but you must appear in person at the office to complete the application. One of the key things to know is that only one party is required to come in. As the office states: "Only one party is required to come in to purchase the marriage license."

The clerk's marriage license page lists what documents you need and what to expect when you arrive.

Both parties must be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. Louisiana law sets age requirements under RS 9:224, which outlines what information must be provided when applying. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, and place of birth. Bring a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you were previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended, such as a divorce decree or a death certificate.

There is no blood test needed. Louisiana dropped that requirement years ago. The whole process at the office usually does not take very long. Come before 4:00 PM since that is when the office stops issuing licenses for the day.

Note: You can get the forms and read through the paperwork online at the clerk's website before your visit, but the actual application must be completed in person.

Iberia Parish Marriage License Fees and Wait Time

The fee for a marriage license in Iberia Parish is $35.00. The office accepts cash, check, money order, or debit and credit cards. As the clerk's office states: "FEES: $35.00 in cash, check money order or debit/credit card." This is good to know since some other Louisiana parishes only take cash.

There is a waiting period after you get the license. According to the clerk: "There is a 24 hour (1 day) waiting period from the time the license is issued until it can be used." This means you cannot have your ceremony the same day you pick up the license. Plan your wedding date with that gap in mind. The 24-hour wait is required under Louisiana RS 9:242.

The license does not last forever. The clerk is clear: "The license expires 30 days from the date and time of issuance." Under Louisiana RS 9:206, a marriage license is valid for 30 days from when it is issued. If your ceremony is not performed within that window, the license is void and you would need to get a new one.

If you need a certified copy of your marriage license after the ceremony, the fee is $6.00. 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." Most people need at least one certified copy for this purpose.

Note: The eClerks LA system at eclerksla.com has general information about marriage licenses across Louisiana parishes.

Janell Derouen Wedding Chapel

Iberia Parish has something a bit unusual among Louisiana clerk offices. There is an on-site wedding chapel called the Janell Derouen Wedding Chapel at the courthouse. This gives couples the option to hold the ceremony right at the same location where they pick up the license. It is a convenient option if you want a simple, low-cost ceremony without renting a separate venue.

Not every parish in Louisiana offers this. If you are looking for a straightforward and local option in New Iberia, ask the clerk's office about using the chapel. Call (337) 365-7282 to get details on how to book it and what the rules are for its use.

Online Records and eClerks LA

Iberia Parish is part of the eClerks LA network, which offers online access to certain public records. Through this system, you may be able to search for recorded documents including marriage records after they have been filed. The eClerks LA system covers many parishes across Louisiana and provides a way to look up documents without visiting the courthouse.

The Iberia Parish eClerks LA page gives you access to online document search for recorded marriage records and other filings.

Keep in mind that the eClerks system is for searching recorded documents, not for applying for a new license. You still need to go in person to the Iberia Parish Clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. Once the signed license is returned after your ceremony, it gets recorded and may appear in the system. The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records also keeps records of marriages statewide.

Louisiana Marriage License Law

Marriage licenses in Louisiana are governed by state law. The main rules are in the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 9. Under RS 9:224, the clerk must collect certain information from both parties before issuing a license. Both must provide their full name, age, and place of birth. Certified birth certificates are typically required to verify this information.

RS 9:222 says a license issued in any Louisiana parish is valid for use anywhere in the state. So if you get your license in Iberia Parish, the ceremony can take place in another Louisiana parish if needed. RS 9:225 sets out the birth certificate requirement. RS 9:208 covers age rules. Under Louisiana law, parties must be 18 or older to marry without any additional consent. RS 9:242 requires the 24-hour waiting period between getting the license and the ceremony.

Louisiana also allows covenant marriages, which are a more binding form of marriage that requires pre-marital counseling and has stricter rules for divorce. This is an option available statewide. You can read more about covenant marriages at the Lafayette Parish Clerk's covenant marriage page, which has a good general overview of how they work.

Cities in Iberia Parish

The largest city in Iberia Parish is New Iberia, which is also the parish seat. All marriage licenses for the parish are issued from the Clerk of Court office in New Iberia. Other communities in the parish do not have their own license-issuing offices, so everyone goes to the same location in New Iberia regardless of where in the parish they live.

Nearby Parishes

If you live near the edge of Iberia Parish, check which parish your address falls in. Marriage licenses must be obtained from any parish in Louisiana and are valid statewide, so you can apply here or in a neighboring parish.