St. Landry Parish Marriage License Lookup
Couples seeking a St. Landry Parish marriage license apply in person at the Clerk of Court office in Opelousas, where both parties must appear together with required documents and pay the fee before the 24-hour wait begins.
St. Landry Parish Quick Facts
St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court
The St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court office in Opelousas handles all marriage license applications for the parish. The address is 118 S. Court Street, which is in the heart of downtown Opelousas near the courthouse. The mailing address is P.O. Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571. Phone is 337-942-5602. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
St. Landry is one of the larger parishes in central Louisiana. The Opelousas clerk office handles a wide range of legal documents in addition to marriage licenses, so the counter can be busy at times. Arriving early in the morning is usually best to avoid waits. Staff there process all applications, collect fees, and maintain the official marriage record for the parish.
| Office Address | 118 S. Court Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 750, Opelousas, LA 70571 |
| Phone | 337-942-5602 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The Louisiana.gov St. Landry Parish page provides contact information for the Clerk of Court and other elected officials.
St. Landry Parish is in south-central Louisiana, and the Clerk's office is on Court Street in Opelousas.
Applying for a St. Landry Parish Marriage License
Both people getting married must go to the Opelousas clerk's office at the same time. Louisiana law requires both applicants to appear in person and sign the application together. One person cannot represent the other. The clerk will ask both parties to show ID and provide their personal information as part of the application process.
Once you submit the application and pay the fee, you enter the 24-hour waiting period required by RS 9:242. You cannot get the license the same day you apply. Most couples come back the next weekday to pick it up. If you apply late in the week, keep in mind that the clerk is closed on weekends. You will need to return on Monday in that case. After you pick up the license, RS 9:206 gives you 30 days to use it before it expires. After that window closes, a new application is required.
Louisiana law allows you to use a St. Landry Parish marriage license for a ceremony in any other parish in the state. The ceremony location and the parish that issued the license do not have to match. This is true for all Louisiana parishes under RS 9:222.
If you were recently divorced, bring your certified divorce decree so the clerk can confirm when it was finalized. There may be waiting period questions depending on when the judge signed the judgment. The clerk can advise you at the counter.
What to Bring to the St. Landry Parish Clerk
Missing a document means making another trip to Opelousas. Review this list and make sure both applicants have their papers ready before you go.
Each applicant must bring:
- Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or state ID
- Original certified birth certificate from the vital records office
- Social Security number
- Certified copy of any prior divorce judgment if previously married
- Certified death certificate for a deceased former spouse if applicable
Louisiana requires birth certificates under RS 9:225. Hospital records and photocopies are not accepted in place of an original certified copy. If your birth certificate is in a foreign language, you need a certified English translation prepared by a qualified translator. Do not try to hand-translate or bring an unofficial translation. The clerk needs a proper certified document to process the application.
Social security numbers are collected as part of the required information. You do not need to bring the physical Social Security card, but both applicants must know their numbers and be ready to provide them when asked.
St. Landry Parish Marriage License Fee
The fee for a St. Landry Parish marriage license is approximately $27.50 to $35.00. Call 337-942-5602 before your visit to confirm the current fee amount. Fees are set by state law but can be updated, so it is smart to check. Ask about accepted payment methods when you call. Not every parish office accepts cards, and some require cash or a money order. Bring a little extra just in case.
Certified copies of the marriage record are available from the clerk after the ceremony is recorded. If you need copies for a name change or legal purpose, ask the clerk how many you should order and what the fee per copy is. Getting extras at the time of recording is usually easier than coming back for them later.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records can issue a marriage certificate as well. This is a shorter version of the record. For full legal copies that include all the original license details, the Clerk of Court in Opelousas is the right place to go.
Louisiana Marriage Laws in St. Landry Parish
The Clerk of Court in Opelousas follows Louisiana state law. All marriages in St. Landry Parish are governed by the same statutes that apply throughout the state. Knowing the key rules helps you prepare and avoids confusion on the day you visit.
Both applicants must be 18 or older to apply without additional steps. A 17-year-old can apply only with notarized consent from both parents and a signed waiver from a judge in the 27th Judicial District. No one under 16 may receive a marriage license in Louisiana under any circumstances. The law also bars marriage between people who are related by blood or adoption within the fourth degree collateral. The clerk cannot grant exceptions to these rules.
Louisiana also offers covenant marriage. It is one of only three states with this option, alongside Arizona and Arkansas. Covenant marriage involves a stronger commitment and requires pre-marital counseling. It also sets tighter limits on divorce grounds. If you want a covenant marriage, tell the clerk when you apply. The forms and process are different from a standard license.
After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the Clerk of Court by the officiant. This is how the marriage becomes part of the official record in St. Landry Parish. The eClerks Louisiana marriage license guide also offers a helpful statewide overview if you want more background on the process.
After the Ceremony
Once the ceremony is recorded, certified copies are available from the Opelousas clerk's office. Those copies are used to update your name at the Social Security Administration, the Louisiana DMV, your bank, your employer, and other institutions. Start with the Social Security Administration. Then update your driver's license. Most other agencies want one of those two as proof before updating their records.
For statewide record requests, the Louisiana Department of Health also holds marriage records and can issue certificates for marriages recorded in St. Landry Parish.
Nearby Parishes
St. Landry Parish is in the heart of central Louisiana and borders a number of other parishes where you can also apply for a marriage license.