Louisiana Marriage License Laws > LA Wedding Officiants

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Marriage license Laws in the state of Louisiana, here is what you need to bring with you, and what you need to know about the Louisiana marriage laws before filling out the Louisiana marriage license form.

In order to get married, you need to apply and receive a marriage license. This is the document in your state that allows you to officially tie the knot under the law. The rules for acquiring your marriage license varies from state to state, so you should check with your city's marriage bureau at your clerk of court's office to find out what your local rules are.

You'll typically need to apply for your marriage license at least one month before your wedding ceremony. You'll traditionally need to send in your birth certificates, tax information, and other official documents. You don't, however, want to apply for your marriage license too early. In some states, the licenses do expire, if you don't get married within a few months.

When you apply for your license, you'll not only need a proof of identification and age, will need to provide any information about previous marriages, and will need to pay a nominal fee. You will also need to have a witness when you sign the application, so plan on bringing your maid of honor or best man with you. The bride will need to know what her married name will be before she signs the marriage certificate. You'll have to write that name on the application.

And, believe it or not, just because you have your marriage license sent to you in the mail does not mean you are officially married. You need to have a justice of the peace or a religious clergyman sign the document. On your wedding day, you'll give your chaplain your marriage license, then after the ceremony, he'll sign it and send it to the proper government agency for validation.

ID Requirement in Louisiana:

In applying for a marriage license, at least one party must appear in person; and he/she must have all the necessary information and documents, outlined below.

La. R.S. 9:225 requires that applicants provide a certified copy of each applicant's birth certificate. If either party cannot produce a certified copy of their birth certificate due to extenuating circumstances, a waiver issued by a justice of the peace or district judge MUST be provided.

Residency Requirement:

You do not have to be a resident of Louisiana.

If either applicant was born out-of-the country and IS a naturalized citizen, they must present their original citizenship or naturalization papers with a valid state ID or Drivers License along with a waiver issued by a justice of the peace or district judge.

If either applicant was born out-of-the country and IS NOT a naturalized citizen, they must present an original foreign birth certificate in English or with a translation into English by a certified translator on official letterhead. If either party cannot satisfy the birth certificate requirement, we will accept a valid passport along with a waiver issued by a justice of the peace or district judge.

Previous Marriages:

If either party is divorced or widowed, applicant must provide a certified copy of divorce judgment or death certificate which provides applicants name as surviving spouse. If the documents originated outside the United States, they must present an original with a translation into English by a certified translator on official letterhead. Foreign language originals must be submitted along with original translations.

Louisiana Covenant Marriage Option:

Yes. Both of you must apply in person for this license, attend premarital counseling, and you both must sign a declaration of intent witnessed by a notary. Covenant Marriage Law Text Covenant Marriage Pamphlet provided by Louisiana Attorney General
Louisiana Covenant Marriage Forms.

Waiting Period in Louisiana:

There is a 72-hour waiting period between the time of issuance of the license and the ceremony. If the 72 hours have been exceeded you may apply for a 72 hour waiver which must be signed by a district Judge or Justice of the Peace in the parish in which the license is issued.

Fees in Louisiana:

The fee for obtaining a marriage license is $31.25. A copy of a marriage license is $5.00. If a waiver is required there will be an additional fee of $2.50 per waiver. Cash, money order, personal checks, or certified or cashiers checks are accepted. We are planning to provide for payment by credit card or check card in the very near future. By Louisiana law, the clerk of court transfers over forty percent of the above fees to the program for the Program of Victims of Family Violence.

Other Tests:

Louisiana does not have a blood test requirement.

Proxy Marriages:

No. However, when applying for the license, both parties need not be present unless they want to sign up for a covenant marriage. Either the bride or groom must be present to apply for a marriage license. A certified birth certificate must be presented for the absent partner.

Cousin Marriages:

State law prohibits the marriage of persons who are related by blood or adoption within the fourth degree collateral (first cousins).

Common Law Marriages:

No.

Same Sex Marriages:

No.

Under 18:

Applicants must be 18 years of age to obtain a marriage license without parental consent. If an applicant is under 18 years of age both parents must appear in person with applicant. If either applicant is under 16 years of age applicant and parents must appear before a juvenile judge for permission to marry and must present state ID or Drivers License before a marriage license can be issued. If one parent has sole custody certified documents must be presented showing sole custody. No temporary orders are acceptable.

Officiants in Louisiana:

Any ordained or licensed clergymen who have registered with the clerk of the district court of the parish or with the health department if in New Orleans, and justices of the peace.

The original marriage license is given to the married couple by the minister and both certificates of marriage are mailed to the Clerk's Office for recording.

Ministers are required to register with the Clerk of Court according to Act 229 of 1952.

Miscellaneous:

A Louisiana marriage license is valid in any parish in Louisiana for a period of 30 days from issuance. There is a 72-hour waiting period between the time of issuance of the license and the ceremony. If the 72 hours have been exceeded you may apply for a 72 hour waiver which must be signed by a district Judge or Justice of the Peace in the parish in which the license is issued.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage:

Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160
fax: (504) 568-5391

Save Time! Bring a completed application with you.

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Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice.

To notify us of corrections or additions send an email to update@usmarriagelaws.com. Please include the state and county information.

Louisiana Parishes Office

Acadia Parish Crowley, LA 318.788.8881	Allen Parish Oberlin, LA 318.639.4351	Ascension Parish Donaldsonville, LA 225.473.9866
Assumption Parish Napoleonville, LA 504.369.6653	Avoyelles Parish Marksville, LA 318.253.7523	Beauregard Parish De Ridder, LA 318.463.8595
Bienville Parish Arcadia, LA 318.263.2123	Bossier Parish Benton, LA 318.965.2336	Caddo Parish Shreveport, LA 318.226.6780
Calcasieu Parish Lake Charles, LA 318.437.3550	Caldwell Parish Columbia, LA 318.649.2272	Catahoula Parish Harrisonburg, LA 318.744.5497
Claiborne Parish Homer, LA 318.927.9601	Concordia Parish Vidalia, LA 318.757.8638	De Soto Parish Clerk Manfield, LA 318.872.3110
East Baton Rouge Parish Baton Rouge, LA 225.389.5647	East Carroll Parish Lake Providence, LA 318.559.2399	East Felicianna Parish Clinton, LA 225.634.5623
Evangeline Parish Clark Ville Platte, LA 318.363.5671	Franklin Parish Winnsboro, LA 318.435.5133	Grant Parish Colfax, LA 318.627.3246
Iberia Parish New Iberia, LA 318.365.7282	Iberville Parish Plaquemine, LA 225.687.5160	Jackson Parish Jonesboro, LA 318.259.2424
Jefferson Davis Parish Jennings, LA 318.824.1160	Jefferson Parish Clerk Gretna, LA 504.364.2900	La Salle Parish Jena, LA 318.992.2158
Lafayette Parish Lafayette, LA 318.233.0150	Lafourche Parish Thibodaux, LA 504.447.4841	Lincoln Parish Ruston, LA 318.251.5130
Livingston Parish Livingston, LA 504.686.2216	Madison Parish Tallulah, LA 318.574.0655	Morehouse Parish Bastrop, LA 318.281.3343
Natchitoches Parish Natchitoches, LA 318.352.8152	Orleans Parish New Orleans, LA 504.568.5182	Ouachita Parish Monroe, LA 318.323.8441
Plaquemines Parish Pointe-A-La-Hache, LA 504.333.4343	Pointe Coupee Parish New Road, LA 504.638.9596	Rapides Parish Alexandria, LA 318.473.8153
Red River Parish Coushatta, LA 318.932.6741	Richland Parish Rayville, LA 318.728.4171	Sabine Parish Many, LA 318.256.6223
St. Bernard Parish Chalmette, LA 504.271.3434	St. Charles Parish Hahnville, LA 504.783.6632	St. Helena Parish Greenburg, LA 504.222.4514
St. James Parish Convent, LA 504.562.7496	St. John Parish Edgard, LA 504.651.6955	St. Martin Parish St Martinville, LA 318.394.210
St. Mary Parish Franklin, LA 318.828.4100	St. Tammany Parish Covington, LA 985.646.4120	Tanggipahoa Parish Amite, LA 504.748.4146
Tensas Parish St Joseph, LA 318.766.3921	Terrebonne Parish Houma, LA 504.868.5660	Union Parish Farmerville, LA 318.368.3055
Vermilion Parish Abbeville, LA 318.898.1992	Vernon Parish Leesville, LA 318.238.1384	Washington Parish Franklinton, LA 504.839.4663
Webster Parish Minden, LA 318.371.0366	West Baton Rouge Parish Port Allen, LA 504.383.0378	West Carroll Parish Oak Grove, LA 318.428.3281
West Feliciana Parish St Francisville, LA 504.635.3794	Winn Parish Winnfield, LA 318.628.3515

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