Vermilion Parish Marriage License

To get married in Vermilion Parish, both applicants must appear in person at the Clerk of Court office in Abbeville to apply for a marriage license. The Clerk processes all applications under Louisiana state law, including the required documents, fees, and the 24-hour waiting period that applies in every Louisiana parish. Vermilion Parish is in southwest Louisiana near the Gulf Coast, and the Clerk's office has its own dedicated marriages page with local information that is worth reviewing before your visit.

Clerk of Court Office

The Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court is at 100 N. State Street, Suite 101, Abbeville, LA 70510. The mailing address is P.O. Box 790, Abbeville, LA 70511. The main phone number is (337) 898-1992. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The clerk's office has its own website at vermilionclerk.com. The site includes a marriages page with information specific to the Vermilion Parish process. Checking that page before your visit can answer basic questions about what to bring and how the process works locally. If you need to speak with someone directly, call the number above during business hours.

The fee falls in the standard Louisiana range. Call or check the clerk's website to get the exact current amount before your visit. Ask about payment methods when you call since not all offices accept cards.

Official Sources

The Louisiana.gov Vermilion Parish page provides official contact information for the Clerk of Court in Abbeville.

Vermilion Parish is in southwest Louisiana along the Gulf Coast, with the Clerk's office in Abbeville.

The Vermilion Parish Clerk marriages page provides specific information on obtaining a marriage license in the parish.

The Vermilion Parish Clerk's marriages page is the direct resource for marriage license requirements and any local procedures.

The Vermilion Parish Clerk accounting page shows the fee structure for all clerk services including marriage licenses.

Reviewing the fee schedule before visiting ensures you bring the right payment method and amount for your marriage license application.

Required Documents

Louisiana sets the same baseline requirements at every parish. Both applicants must show up in person. No one can apply on behalf of another person, and mail applications are not accepted. Each applicant brings a valid government-issued photo ID. A current driver's license, state ID, or passport all qualify. Expired IDs will not work.

Each applicant also needs a certified birth certificate. This is a certified copy from the vital records office of the state where the person was born, not a hospital birth record or photocopy. Louisiana-born applicants can request certified copies from the Louisiana Department of Health. People born in other states must contact those states' vital records offices. Request certified copies well ahead of time since processing can take a few weeks or more depending on the state.

Both applicants must provide their Social Security numbers. Bring the Social Security card if you have it. If you or your partner were previously married, you must show proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or certified death certificate works. Basic photocopies do not satisfy this requirement.

Waiting Period and Validity

The Louisiana 24-hour waiting period under RS 9:242 applies here just like everywhere else in the state. The ceremony cannot happen until a full 24 hours after the license is issued. This rule is firm. Budget a day between picking up the license and holding the ceremony.

The license is good for 30 days under RS 9:206. After that it expires. If you miss the window, you have to apply again and pay the fee a second time. The license works anywhere in Louisiana under RS 9:222, so getting your license in Abbeville does not mean you have to marry in Vermilion Parish. A wedding in Lafayette or New Orleans is just as valid with a Vermilion Parish license.

Covenant Marriage

Louisiana offers covenant marriage as an alternative to the standard license. Covenant marriage is only available in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Arizona. It involves stricter requirements for divorce and requires premarital counseling before the license is issued. Couples also sign a Declaration of Intent as part of the process. Most people choose a standard marriage license. If you want to explore covenant marriage, ask the Vermilion Parish Clerk's office what additional paperwork and counseling steps are involved.

After the Wedding

The person who officiates your ceremony must sign the license and return it to the Clerk of Court. The clerk records it as a permanent public document. You can then get certified copies from the Clerk or from the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records. Certified copies are needed when changing your name on official documents. Request at least two or three copies so you have extras on hand for different agencies.

eClerks LA Pre-Application

Check eClerks LA to see if Vermilion Parish participates in the online pre-application system. Participating parishes let couples fill out their application before arriving at the office. This can cut down on time spent at the counter and reduce the chance of missing something. You still need to go to the office in person to complete the process and pay the fee.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Vermilion and each have their own Clerk of Court where couples can apply for a marriage license.