Tensas Parish Marriage License
Tensas Parish marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Court in St. Joseph, one of Louisiana's smallest and most rural parishes, where calling ahead before making the trip is strongly recommended since the office staff is small and hours should be confirmed in advance.
Tensas Parish Quick Facts
Tensas Parish Clerk of Court
The Tensas Parish Clerk of Court handles marriage licenses for the parish. The office is at 203 Hancock Street in St. Joseph. Tensas is one of Louisiana's least populated parishes. The office staff is small. Call before your visit to make sure staff can assist you that day and to confirm they have not changed their hours or procedures. The mailing address is P.O. Box 78, St. Joseph, LA 71366. Phone is 318-766-3927.
The clerk has a website at tensasclerk.org. The marriage license page is at tensasclerk.org/marriage.php. Both pages have useful information about the application process and what to bring. Check there for the most current details before planning your trip to St. Joseph. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Office Address | 203 Hancock Street, St. Joseph, LA 71366 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 78, St. Joseph, LA 71366 |
| Phone | 318-766-3927 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | tensasclerk.org |
The Louisiana.gov Tensas Parish page provides official contact information for the Clerk of Court.
Tensas Parish is one of Louisiana's smallest parishes by population, with the Clerk's office in St. Joseph on Hancock Street.
Online Marriage License Information for Tensas Parish
The Tensas Parish Clerk of Court website provides information on all records and services available at the St. Joseph courthouse.
The Tensas Parish Clerk's office handles marriage licenses along with court records, land filings, and other public documents.
The Tensas Parish Clerk marriage license page provides information specific to obtaining a marriage license in this parish.
Contact the Tensas Parish Clerk directly to confirm current fees and any specific requirements before making the trip to St. Joseph.
How to Apply for a Tensas Parish Marriage License
Both applicants must go to the clerk's office together. Louisiana law requires both parties to appear in person and sign the application at the same time. The clerk in St. Joseph will check documents, take the fee, and begin processing the license. The 24-hour waiting period required by RS 9:242 starts when the application is submitted.
Under RS 9:206, the license is valid for 30 days after it is issued. After 30 days, it expires. You would need to apply again. A license from Tensas Parish is good for a ceremony in any other Louisiana parish under RS 9:222. The place of ceremony does not have to be in Tensas. The marriage record stays at the Tensas Parish Clerk of Court regardless of where the ceremony takes place.
The drive to St. Joseph takes time from most populated areas in Louisiana. The parish sits in the far northeast corner of the state along the Mississippi River. Plan your application trip to the clerk's office at least two full days before your ceremony. That accounts for the 24-hour wait plus time to pick up the license during business hours before the wedding day.
If you were previously divorced, bring a certified copy of the divorce judgment from the issuing court. A plain copy or court printout is not sufficient. It must be a certified copy with the court's seal or certification mark. If the divorce was in another state, request the certified copy from that state's court system ahead of time since that process can take days or weeks.
Documents Required for a Tensas Parish Marriage License
Both applicants must bring their own complete set of documents. The clerk will check each person's papers individually. One person's documents do not cover the requirement for both. The state requires separate documentation for each applicant.
Each applicant must bring:
- Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID
- Original certified birth certificate from a vital records office
- Social Security number
- Certified divorce judgment if previously divorced
- Certified death certificate if a prior spouse is deceased
Louisiana requires birth certificates under RS 9:225. The document must be a certified copy issued by a vital records office, not a hospital birth record or a photocopy. If your birth certificate is in a foreign language, you must provide a certified English translation. In a small rural parish like Tensas, finding a certified translator locally is very difficult. Arrange the translation before your trip to St. Joseph so there are no delays. Do not plan to handle that step when you arrive.
Fees and Payment in Tensas Parish
The marriage license fee in Tensas Parish is approximately $27.50 to $35.00. Call 318-766-3927 before your visit to verify the current fee. Ask about payment methods as well. Small rural parish offices often prefer cash or money orders and may not accept credit cards. Knowing this before your visit avoids a problem at the counter. Bring cash just in case.
After the ceremony is recorded, certified copies of the marriage record are available from the clerk's office. You will need those copies to change your name at the Social Security Administration, the Louisiana DMV, your bank, and other institutions. Ask the clerk about the copy fee and order extras at the time of recording. Coming back to a remote parish like Tensas for additional copies is an inconvenient extra trip.
State Law and Age Rules in Tensas Parish
Tensas Parish follows all Louisiana state marriage laws. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply without parental consent. A 17-year-old may apply with notarized consent from both parents and a signed judicial waiver from a judge in the 6th Judicial District. No one under 16 may receive a marriage license in Louisiana under any circumstances. This rule is absolute.
Louisiana also bans marriage between people related by blood or adoption within the fourth degree collateral. The clerk cannot issue a license in those cases. These rules come from state law and apply in Tensas Parish just as they do in every other parish in the state.
Louisiana offers a covenant marriage option. It is one of only three states to do so, along with Arizona and Arkansas. A covenant marriage is a stronger legal commitment requiring pre-marital counseling and limiting the grounds for divorce. If you want a covenant marriage instead of a standard license, ask the clerk about the process. It involves additional forms and takes more time than a regular application.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office can provide a marriage certificate after the ceremony is recorded in Tensas Parish. The eClerks Louisiana marriage license resource explains the statewide process for couples who want a broader overview. After the ceremony, the officiant must sign and return the license to the Tensas Parish Clerk of Court to create the official marriage record.
After the Ceremony
Once the ceremony is done and the signed license is returned to the clerk, the marriage is officially recorded in Tensas Parish. Certified copies are then available from the St. Joseph office. Get several at once since you will need them for multiple purposes. Making the drive to St. Joseph a second time just for more copies is avoidable if you order enough the first time.
The Louisiana Department of Health also holds statewide marriage records and can issue certificates for marriages recorded in Tensas Parish. This can be helpful if you need a copy later and cannot travel back to St. Joseph.
Nearby Parishes
Tensas Parish is in the far northeast corner of Louisiana, and several neighboring parishes can also issue marriage licenses for couples who prefer a location closer to larger cities or services.