Ouachita Parish Marriage License Search

Couples applying for a marriage license in Ouachita Parish must go in person to the Clerk of Court in Monroe, and both parties are required to appear together at the time of application. The fee is $35, and a 72-hour waiting period applies before the ceremony can take place. That is longer than the 24-hour wait found in most Louisiana parishes. Counseling can reduce this wait. This page covers what to expect, what to bring, the online pre-application option, and how the Ouachita Parish process works from start to finish.

Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court in Monroe

The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court, Hon. Dana Benson, is located at 301 South Grand Street, Suite 104, Monroe, LA 71201. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1862, Monroe, LA 71210-1862. Phone: (318) 327-1444. Fax: (318) 327-1462. The clerk's own notice is clear: "While our hours are from 8:30am to 4:30pm, if you are applying for a Marriage License please arrive no later than 4:00pm." Do not show up at 4:15 and expect to complete your application. Leave yourself time before 4:00 PM.

The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court website at opclerkofcourt.com has information on all services offered at the Monroe courthouse, including civil records, criminal records, and the marriage license application process.

Both Parties Must Appear in Person

The Ouachita Parish Clerk is direct about this: "Marriage licenses must be obtained in person at the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court since both parties must appear together." This is not optional. You cannot send someone else. You cannot have your partner drop off a form. Both people getting married must be at the Monroe office at the same time.

Staff verify both applicants' identities and documents in person before the license is issued. If one party cannot appear due to a documented emergency, contact the clerk's office at (318) 327-1444 to find out what options may apply. There are no standard exceptions for one absent party built into the normal process.

Plan your visit with care. Suite 104 is inside the building at 301 South Grand Street. Give yourself at least 30 to 45 minutes once you arrive to complete the full application. Factor in parking and travel time if you are coming from outside Monroe.

The 72-Hour Waiting Period in Ouachita Parish

Most Louisiana parishes require only a 24-hour wait. Ouachita Parish requires 72 hours between when the license is issued and when the ceremony can happen. That is three full days. If your ceremony is on a Saturday, you need your license by at least Wednesday. The clerk's materials state: "Marriage license fees in Ouachita Parish are $35, with reduced fees available for couples who complete state-approved counseling programs."

The counseling option is worth looking into. If both parties complete a state-approved premarital counseling program, the 72-hour waiting period can be waived. You could get your license and marry sooner if you have already finished counseling. Call (318) 327-1444 to ask which programs qualify and how to document your completion. The clerk's staff can point you to the right resources.

The fee is $35.00. Confirm accepted payment methods before your visit. Call the office and ask whether they take cash only or if checks and cards are also accepted. Bring what you need so the payment does not slow you down on the day you go.

Online Marriage License Application for Ouachita Parish

Ouachita Parish offers an online pre-application through the Clerk Connect system at clerkconnect.com/marriageapp/ouachita. You can start the process online before your in-person visit. This can save time at the counter, but both parties must still appear in person at the Monroe office to finalize the application and receive the license. Online submission alone is not enough to complete the process.

Starting the application online can save time at the office, though both parties must still appear together in person to complete the process.

What to Bring to the Ouachita Parish Clerk's Office

Both parties need to bring certified birth certificates. These must be original certified copies, not photocopies or digital scans. Bring your Social Security numbers and valid photo ID. The clerk needs your full legal names, addresses, and your parents' names and places of birth. If either party has been married before, show that the prior marriage ended. A final divorce decree or a death certificate covers those situations.

Age requirements under Louisiana law at RS 9:208 apply across all parishes. Both applicants must be at least 18 to marry without additional consent. Those between 16 and 17 need written consent from both parents. Anyone under 16 needs a court order from a district judge as well. The clerk checks these rules against the birth certificate you bring. Do not assume exceptions apply without confirming with the office first.

A Ouachita Parish marriage license works anywhere in Louisiana under RS 9:222. You do not have to hold the ceremony in Monroe or in Ouachita Parish. The license is good for 30 days from the date of issue under RS 9:206. After 30 days it expires.

Covenant Marriage in Ouachita Parish

Louisiana is one of only three states in the country that offers covenant marriage. This is a legal option you declare at the time you apply for your marriage license at the Ouachita Parish Clerk's office. Covenant marriage requires completion of premarital counseling with a licensed counselor or clergy member before the license is issued. It also sets more limited grounds for divorce than a standard Louisiana marriage. If you want a covenant marriage, tell the clerk when you arrive. You cannot convert a standard license to a covenant marriage after it is issued.

Marriage Records After the Ceremony

After your ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court. The clerk records it permanently. Certified copies can then be ordered from the clerk's office for name changes, insurance, or other legal needs.

The Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court website covers all services at the Monroe courthouse including the marriage license application process.

For statewide certified copies of marriage records, the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office maintains copies of marriages across all parishes. Order through LDH if you need a state-level certified copy and cannot easily visit Monroe.

The eClerks LA marriage license portal also has general statewide information on the Louisiana marriage license process, including background on requirements that apply in Ouachita Parish.

Cities in Ouachita Parish

The main city in Ouachita Parish is Monroe, which is also where the Clerk of Court is located. All residents of Ouachita Parish apply at the Monroe courthouse for their marriage license.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes are near Ouachita Parish in northeast Louisiana. Each has its own Clerk of Court with its own fees and procedures.