St. Helena Parish Marriage License
Applying for a St. Helena Parish marriage license means going to the Clerk of Court office in Greensburg, a small rural parish seat in southeast Louisiana where staff issue licenses on weekdays and maintain marriage records that go back to 1804.
St. Helena Parish Quick Facts
St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court
The St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court in Greensburg handles all marriage license applications for the parish. The office sits at 369 Sitman Street, Suite 101/104. Mailing address is P.O. Box 308, Greensburg, LA 70441. The phone is (225) 222-4514. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Because this is a small rural office, calling before your visit is smart. Staff can confirm current requirements and make sure someone is available to process your application.
The clerk's office holds a mission of service and record preservation. As their official statement says: "Our mission is to provide excellence in service, preservation, and management of records and provide access to all legal documents filed in the office of the St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court." Marriage licenses are among those records. The office also notes that it "contains original land documents, marriage licenses and civil proceedings that are available for public view."
| Office Address | 369 Sitman Street, Suite 101/104, Greensburg, LA 70441 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 308, Greensburg, LA 70441 |
| Phone | (225) 222-4514 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The Louisiana.gov St. Helena Parish page provides contact information for the Clerk of Court and other elected officials in Greensburg.
St. Helena Parish is a small, rural parish in southeast Louisiana with the Clerk of Court office in Greensburg.
Parish Government and Marriage Records
The St. Helena Parish government website provides access to parish services and official information about the parish.
The St. Helena Parish government site connects to the Clerk of Court office which holds marriage records going back to 1804.
Those historical records are a meaningful part of what the Clerk's office does. Civil and marriage records are part of the core functions. The office also handles "Civil and Criminal Records available for E-Recording and E-Filing," which means some services are available online or electronically. Call the office to ask which services apply to marriage records specifically.
How to Apply for a St. Helena Marriage License
Both parties must come to the Greensburg office together. Louisiana state law requires both applicants to appear in person and sign the application. One person cannot apply alone or send someone in their place. The clerk takes the application, reviews documents, and collects the fee. The license is ready after the 24-hour waiting period required under RS 9:242.
Once you pick up the license, it is valid for 30 days under RS 9:206. If you do not use it in time, it expires. You would have to apply and pay again. Plan your application date so the ceremony falls comfortably within that 30-day window. If you apply on a Friday, keep in mind the 24-hour wait means you cannot pick it up until Monday at the earliest since the office is closed on weekends.
A license from St. Helena Parish is good for a ceremony anywhere in Louisiana. You do not have to get married in Greensburg or even in St. Helena Parish. Under RS 9:222, the license is valid statewide. The record stays at the St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court regardless of where the ceremony takes place.
If either party was previously married, bring the certified divorce decree or death certificate for the former spouse. The clerk needs to verify the prior marriage has legally ended before issuing a new license.
Required Documents
Both applicants must bring their own documents. Do not count on one person's papers covering both people. Missing a document means coming back another day.
Each person must bring:
- Valid government photo ID such as a driver's license or state ID
- Original certified birth certificate from the vital records office where you were born
- Social Security number
- Certified divorce judgment if previously married and now divorced
- Certified death certificate if a prior spouse has passed
Louisiana requires birth certificates under RS 9:225. A hospital birth record or plain photocopy is not acceptable. You need the original certified copy issued by the state or country where you were born. If your birth certificate is written in a foreign language, you need a certified English translation. Arrange that before your visit. The clerk cannot accept untranslated foreign documents on the spot.
Fee Information
The marriage license fee in St. Helena Parish is approximately $27.50. Call (225) 222-4514 before your visit to confirm the current amount and payment methods. Small parish offices sometimes have limited options. Ask whether they take cash, check, or cards. Bring a bit extra in case costs have changed.
Certified copies of the marriage record are available after the ceremony is recorded. Ask the clerk about the copy fee when you pick up your license. Getting extra copies at the time of recording is usually easier than coming back later. You will need certified copies for Social Security name changes, driver's license updates, and other legal purposes.
The eClerks Louisiana marriage license page gives a general overview of the Louisiana marriage license process. It is a good resource if you have questions about what happens statewide. Always verify St. Helena Parish specifics with the clerk directly.
Louisiana Marriage Laws That Apply in St. Helena
St. Helena Parish follows the same state marriage laws as every other parish in Louisiana. The clerk cannot make exceptions to these rules.
Both applicants must be 18 or older to apply without extra steps. A 17-year-old may apply with notarized consent from both parents and a signed waiver from a judge in the 21st Judicial District. No one under 16 may receive a marriage license in Louisiana under any circumstances. Louisiana law also bars marriage between people related by blood or adoption within the fourth degree collateral. The clerk will not issue a license in those cases.
Louisiana also offers a covenant marriage option. It is a stronger legal commitment than a standard marriage license. It requires pre-marital counseling and limits the grounds for divorce. If you want a covenant marriage, ask the clerk when you come in. The process involves additional forms and agreements that differ from a standard application.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office maintains statewide marriage records. If you need a marriage certificate years after your wedding, that office can help even if the original was recorded in St. Helena Parish.
After the Ceremony
Once the ceremony is complete, the person who performed it must sign the license and return it to the St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court. This creates the official marriage record. After it is recorded, you or anyone else who needs a certified copy can request one from the Greensburg office.
Marriage records at the St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court go back to 1804. That is a long history. If you are looking for a historical marriage record in the parish, the clerk's office is the right place to start. For more recent records, certified copies are typically available for a small fee per page.
Nearby Parishes
St. Helena Parish sits between several other parishes in southeast Louisiana, each with their own Clerk of Court offices where you can apply for a marriage license.