West Feliciana Parish Marriage License

West Feliciana Parish issues marriage licenses through the Clerk of Court in St. Francisville, a small river town in the Florida Parishes of southeast Louisiana. Both applicants must appear in person at the Prosperity Street office, bring the required documents, and pay the fee. The Clerk has a dedicated marriage license page on its website with local guidance. Louisiana's 24-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued, and the license stays valid for 30 days from the date it was issued under state law.

Clerk of Court Office

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court is at 4785 Prosperity Street, St. Francisville, LA 70775. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1843, St. Francisville, LA 70775. Call (225) 635-3794 to reach the office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The website is westfelicianaclerkofcourt.org, and the dedicated marriage license page is at westfelicianaclerkofcourt.org/marriage-license.html.

West Feliciana is one of Louisiana's smaller parishes, and the Clerk's office is compact. Call ahead on the day you plan to visit to confirm staff are available and that nothing has changed with fees or hours. The marriage license page on the clerk's website is the most direct source for any local requirements or procedural notes specific to this parish.

Official Sources

The Louisiana.gov West Feliciana Parish page provides contact information for the Clerk of Court and other officials.

West Feliciana Parish is home to St. Francisville, a historic river town, and the Clerk's office is on Prosperity Street.

The West Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court website provides access to the clerk's office services and contact information.

The West Feliciana Clerk's website is the primary resource for marriage license requirements and any local procedures or fees.

The West Feliciana Parish marriage license page provides specific guidance for couples applying for a marriage license in St. Francisville.

The West Feliciana marriage license page is the most direct source for current fees and document requirements at the St. Francisville office.

Required Documents

Both applicants must come to the Clerk's office in St. Francisville together. Louisiana does not allow one person to apply on behalf of another. Each person must bring a valid, current government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all satisfy this requirement. Make sure your ID is not expired before you make the trip.

A certified birth certificate is required for each applicant. This must be a certified copy issued by the vital records office of the state where the person was born. It needs an official raised seal or stamp. Hospital birth records and plain photocopies are not acceptable. Louisiana-born applicants can order certified copies from the Louisiana Department of Health. If born in another state, contact that state's vital records office as early as possible, since some states take several weeks to process and mail requests.

Both people must provide their Social Security numbers. If either applicant was previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce decree or a certified death certificate for a former spouse satisfies this. Plain copies will not work. Make sure you have the actual certified originals before heading to the office.

Waiting Period and License Duration

Louisiana law under RS 9:242 requires a 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This rule is statewide and applies in West Feliciana Parish. Apply at least one day before your planned wedding date. The license is valid for 30 days from the date it was issued under RS 9:206. If you do not use it within that window, it expires and you must start the process over.

Under RS 9:222, a license issued in West Feliciana Parish is valid anywhere in Louisiana. You are not limited to marrying in St. Francisville just because that is where you applied. Couples who apply here can hold their ceremony in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, or anywhere else in the state.

State Law Framework

RS 9:224 specifies what the clerk must record: each applicant's full name, age, birthplace, and Social Security number. Make sure you have all this information ready when you arrive. Gaps in any required field can delay the application and may require a return visit. RS 9:225 requires the certified birth certificate from each applicant's birth state. The clerk must see this document before issuing the license. No substitutes are accepted under normal circumstances.

Louisiana dropped its blood test requirement many years ago. You do not need a medical exam or lab work to get a marriage license in West Feliciana Parish or anywhere else in the state. The documents listed above are all you need beyond the fee payment.

Covenant Marriage

West Feliciana Parish couples can choose a covenant marriage instead of the standard marriage license. Louisiana is one of three states that offers this option, alongside Arkansas and Arizona. Covenant marriage requires premarital counseling before the license is issued and a signed Declaration of Intent. It also comes with stricter grounds for divorce than a standard marriage. Most couples choose the standard license. If you want to learn more about covenant marriage in this parish, the West Feliciana marriage license page or a call to the clerk's office can provide guidance.

After the Wedding

Once the ceremony is done, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Clerk of Court for recording. It becomes a permanent public document. You can request certified copies from the Clerk's office or from the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records. Certified copies are essential for changing your name on a driver's license, updating Social Security records, and handling other legal and financial changes that come with marriage. Request several copies while you are at it since different agencies tend to want their own.

Online Pre-Application

Check eClerks LA to see if West Feliciana Parish participates in the online marriage license pre-application system. Smaller parishes do not always participate, but if West Feliciana is listed, you can fill out the application at home before your visit to St. Francisville. In-person appearance is still required to finalize everything and pay the fee. The eClerks system simply reduces the time spent at the counter.

Nearby Parishes

These neighboring parishes also issue marriage licenses and are worth considering if St. Francisville is not easily accessible for you.