Jefferson Parish Marriage License

Jefferson Parish marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Court, which has two office locations serving the East Bank and West Bank of the parish. Applicants can start the application online before visiting in person, and the office offers several ways for couples to sign the license depending on their situation. This page covers the office locations, fees, what to bring, and the rules that apply to a Jefferson Parish marriage license.

Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court - Marriage License Office

Hon. Jon A. Gegenheimer serves as the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court. His office handles marriage licenses along with court records, passport services, and other public documents. The clerk has two office locations to serve the full parish. The West Bank office in Gretna is the main location. The East Bank office is in the Elmwood area near New Orleans.

You can email the marriage license division at marriageinfo@jpclerkofcourt.us. The West Bank office is at 200 Derbigny Street, Suite 100, Gretna, LA 70053. West Bank phone numbers are (504) 364-2922 and (504) 364-2923. The East Bank office is at 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70123. East Bank phone is (504) 736-6390. The mailing address is P.O. Box 10, Gretna, LA 70054.

Hours at both locations are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The offices are closed on legal holidays. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court website has full details on both locations and all services.

The Jefferson Parish Clerk's marriage and passports page gives an overview of both services available at the two office locations.

How to Apply for a Jefferson Parish Marriage License

The clerk's office encourages couples to prepare before arriving: "Start your application before coming to the courthouse." You can begin filling out the application online at the marriage license page before your visit. This can speed things up once you are at the office.

The Jefferson Parish Clerk's dedicated marriage license page walks you through the application process and lists everything you need to bring.

Jefferson Parish offers several ways couples can sign the marriage license. As the clerk states: "Both parties appear and sign before a deputy clerk, OR One party appears; the other signs before a notary, OR Both parties sign before a notary, OR One signature only, with a judge or justice of the peace order from Jefferson Parish." This flexibility is helpful if both parties cannot appear together at the same time.

You must bring certified birth certificates for both parties, as required under Louisiana RS 9:225. Both parties must provide their name, age, and place of birth under RS 9:224. Bring valid photo ID. If either party was previously married, bring proof the marriage ended, such as a certified divorce decree or death certificate. No blood test is needed in Louisiana.

Note: Military personnel may have additional options. Ask the clerk's office for details on any exceptions that apply to active-duty service members.

Jefferson Parish Marriage License Fees

The clerk is clear about what everything costs. As stated on the office's website: "Marriage License: $27.50, Certified Copy: $10.00 (La. R.S. 13:841), 24-hour waiting period waiver: $4.00 per waiver." If you want a certified copy of your license, that is $10.00 on top of the license fee. Most people need at least one certified copy for name change purposes or legal records.

There is also something worth knowing about where part of the license fee goes. The clerk notes: "$12.50 of each license fee is transferred to the State of Louisiana for the victims of family violence programs." So getting a marriage license in Jefferson Parish also supports a state program. The total cost if you get the license plus one certified copy is $37.50.

If you need to waive the 24-hour waiting period, each waiver costs $4.00. This is separate from the license fee. The office accepts standard payment methods, but confirm accepted forms of payment when you call ahead.

Waiting Period and Expiration

Like all Louisiana parishes, Jefferson Parish enforces the mandatory waiting period. The clerk explains: "License is valid anywhere in Louisiana for 30 days from date of issuance. 24-hour waiting period before ceremony." Both of these rules come from Louisiana state law. The 24-hour wait is set by RS 9:242. The 30-day validity comes from RS 9:206.

RS 9:222 confirms that a license issued in Jefferson Parish can be used for a ceremony in any other Louisiana parish. So if you live in Jefferson but your ceremony is in New Orleans or another parish, your license still works. The ceremony just must happen before the 30-day window closes.

After your ceremony, the signed license goes back to the clerk's office. The clerk says to order certified copies about two weeks after the ceremony so the office has time to process and record the returned license. Do not wait too long if you need certified copies for a name change or other legal purpose.

Additional Services from the Jefferson Parish Clerk

The Jefferson Parish Clerk's office offers a few other services worth knowing about. One is JeffWatch, a property fraud alert system that notifies you if documents are recorded against your property. This is separate from marriage licenses but shows the range of services the clerk's office provides.

The clerk also handles passport applications and photos at both locations. If you are planning an international honeymoon, you can apply for a passport at the same time as your marriage license appointment, or schedule a separate visit. Call the office to check current wait times for passport services, as these can vary.

The eClerks LA system may provide online access to recorded marriage documents for Jefferson Parish. For statewide vital records, the Louisiana Department of Health issues official marriage certificates from its vital records office.

Cities in Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish includes several large communities. All marriage licenses for residents of the parish are issued through the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court at either the West Bank or East Bank office. Major cities and communities in the parish include Metairie, Kenner, Marrero, and Terrytown. Gretna is the parish seat. All of these communities file through the 24th Judicial District Court.

Nearby Parishes

Jefferson Parish borders several other parishes. A Louisiana marriage license is valid statewide, so you can apply at any parish clerk's office that is convenient for you.