Get a Marriage License in LaSalle Parish

LaSalle Parish marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Court in Jena, the small central Louisiana parish seat where the office has served residents since the parish was created in 1910. Applying requires a visit to the courthouse in person, and the process follows standard Louisiana state rules for marriage license applications. This guide covers where to go, what to bring, and what to expect when you apply for your LaSalle Parish marriage license.

LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court

Hon. Steve Andrews is the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court. As the clerk's office describes its own role: "The duties of the Clerk of Court is the Parish Recorder of Deeds, Mortgages, Marriage Licenses, Civil, Criminal and Probate records." Marriage licenses are one of the core responsibilities of this office, which has been operating in Jena since the parish was established.

The office is at 1050 Courthouse Street, Jena, LA 71342. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1316, Jena, LA 71342. Phone is (318) 992-2158 and fax is (318) 992-2157. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can find more information at lasalleclerk.com.

One thing worth noting about the clerk's office: "The Clerk of Court's office operates from statutory fees it collects, not from taxes." This is the way most Louisiana clerk offices are structured, which means fees for services like marriage licenses fund the operation of the office directly.

The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court website at lasalleclerk.com gives an overview of the office's services including marriage licenses and public records.

How to Apply for a LaSalle Parish Marriage License

Applying for a marriage license in LaSalle Parish follows Louisiana state law. You must appear in person at the clerk's office in Jena. The application cannot be submitted online or by mail. Bring all required documents with you so the process goes smoothly.

Under Louisiana RS 9:224, both parties must give their full name, date of birth, and place of birth when applying. Louisiana RS 9:225 requires certified birth certificates for both parties. These must be official certified copies from the issuing agency. Photocopies do not meet the requirement. Bring valid photo ID for each party as well.

If either party was previously married, you need to show that the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or certified death certificate will satisfy this. The clerk's staff reviews all documents before issuing the license. No blood test is required in Louisiana, so you do not need to schedule any medical appointments.

Both parties are generally expected to be present when applying, though Louisiana law allows for some flexibility when one party signs before a notary. Call the clerk's office at (318) 992-2158 to ask about options if both parties cannot appear at the same time.

Note: LaSalle Parish records date back to 1910 when the parish was created, so the clerk's office maintains a long history of marriage records for the area.

LaSalle Parish Marriage License Fee

The marriage license fee in LaSalle Parish is in line with the standard Louisiana range of approximately $27.50 to $35.00. Call the office at (318) 992-2158 to confirm the current fee before your visit. Also ask what payment methods are accepted. Some Louisiana parishes only accept cash or money orders, so it is always worth checking before you go.

The LaSalle Parish Clerk's contact page at lasalleclerk.com has the office address, phone number, and fax number you need to reach the marriage license division.

Once you pay the fee and the license is issued, the 24-hour waiting period begins. Louisiana RS 9:242 requires this mandatory wait before the ceremony can take place. The waiting period applies statewide in Louisiana. If you need a waiver for the waiting period, ask the clerk's office about the process and whether a fee applies.

The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance under Louisiana RS 9:206. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires. You would need to apply again and pay the fee a second time. Make sure your ceremony date is set and falls within the 30-day period before you apply.

Louisiana Marriage License Law and LaSalle Parish

All Louisiana marriage licenses follow the same state statutes regardless of which parish issues them. The rules come from Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. RS 9:224 covers what information is collected at the time of application. RS 9:225 sets the birth certificate requirement. RS 9:242 mandates the 24-hour waiting period. RS 9:206 limits validity to 30 days. RS 9:208 sets age at 18 as the minimum for marriage without additional consent or a court order.

Under RS 9:222, a license issued in LaSalle Parish is valid for a ceremony anywhere in Louisiana. So if you apply in Jena but your ceremony is in another parish, the license still works. The reverse is also true: if it is more convenient for you to apply in a neighboring parish, that license would be valid in LaSalle Parish.

Louisiana also has the covenant marriage option. This is a more binding form of marriage that requires pre-marital counseling before the license is issued, and limits the grounds for later divorce. More details are at the Louisiana covenant marriage information page. Ask the clerk's office if you are interested in this option.

After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the clerk's office. It is recorded there. The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records also maintains statewide marriage records. For online access to recorded documents, check the eClerks LA system.

Nearby Parishes

LaSalle Parish is in central Louisiana. These neighboring parishes border it or are located nearby. A marriage license from any Louisiana parish clerk is valid statewide, so apply wherever is most convenient for you.