Louisiana Marriage Certificate: License, Ceremony, and Copies

A Louisiana marriage certificate is the signed, filed record of your wedding, and getting one is a three-step process: apply for a marriage license at a parish clerk of court, hold the ceremony after a 24-hour waiting period, and have the officiant file the completed certificate with the clerk within 10 days. Once filed, you can order certified copies for name changes, insurance, and other legal purposes.

What to Bring to the Clerk of Court

Louisiana law under La. R.S. 9:224 requires each applicant to provide full name, residence, race, age, parents’ names, number of prior marriages and how they ended, the relationship between the parties, and a Social Security number. If you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and do not have an SSN, you can substitute a valid unexpired passport from your country of birth, or an unexpired visa with a Form I-94.1Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-224 – Application Information Required

Under La. R.S. 9:225, both of you also need to bring:

Missing documents usually mean a return trip, so check your paperwork before you go.

Applying for the Marriage License

You apply at the clerk of court in the parish where the ceremony will take place. The application is sworn and signed before a notary public, deputy clerk, or deputy registrar. You and your partner do not have to appear together: each of you can sign separately, as long as each signature is made before a notary. There is also a military exception. If one of you is on active duty, the other can submit the application alone with a copy of the service member’s military ID attached.1Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-224 – Application Information Required

Fees vary by parish. Lincoln Parish, for example, charges $27.50 in cash only.5Lincoln Parish Louisiana. Marriage Some clerks take cards, others only cash or money orders. Call ahead.

The 24-Hour Waiting Period

Once the license is issued, no officiant can perform the ceremony until 24 hours have passed.6Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-241 – Premature Ceremony Prohibited A judge, justice of the peace, or retired justice of the peace authorized to perform the marriage can waive the delay if the couple shows “serious and meritorious reasons,” and the waiver certificate has to be attached to the license. In Orleans Parish, any officiant registered there can waive the delay for nonresidents of Louisiana who are marrying in that parish.7Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-242 – Waiver of Delay

How Long the License Is Good For

The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires and you start over.8Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-235 – Valid for Thirty Days

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Only two categories of officiant qualify under Louisiana law: clergy and judges. That means a priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, or any clergyman authorized by their religion to perform marriages, as well as any state judge or justice of the peace. The officiant must be at least 18.9Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-202 – Authority to Perform Marriage Ceremonies Any non-judge officiant also has to register with the clerk of court in the parish where they will perform the ceremony (or with the state registrar for Orleans Parish), and registration does not carry across parish lines.10Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-204 – Officiant Other Than Judge Registration Confirm your officiant is registered where you plan to marry before the day of the wedding.

Turning the License Into a Certificate

After the ceremony, three things have to happen for the license to become an official marriage certificate.

First, two competent witnesses who are at least 18 must be present at the ceremony.11Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-244 – Witnesses Required Second, both spouses, both witnesses, and the officiant sign the certificate.12Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-245 – Marriage Certificate Third, the officiant prepares three copies: one goes to the couple, and the other two must be filed with the clerk of court who issued the license within 10 days of the ceremony. The clerk signs the copies, records the date, and forwards one to the state registrar of vital records by the 15th of the following month.13Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-253 – Disposition and Recordation of Marriage Certificates

That filing step is what puts your marriage on the official record. If the 10-day deadline slips, follow up with your officiant right away. An unfiled marriage creates problems with insurance, name changes, and any paperwork that requires proof of marriage.

Ordering Certified Copies

Certified copies carry an official seal and are what government agencies, banks, and insurers accept as proof of marriage. Where you order from depends on where you married.

Marriages Outside Orleans Parish

Contact the clerk of court for the parish that issued your license. Most clerks offer in-person and mail-in orders, and some take requests online. Fees vary; Jefferson Parish, for instance, charges $10.00 per certified copy.14Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court. Marriage Licenses

Orleans Parish Marriages

Orleans is the exception. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry, run by the Louisiana Department of Health, holds Orleans Parish marriage records for 50 years.15Louisiana Department of Health. Marriage Certificates and Licenses You can request copies at the central office, which offers walk-in service for Orleans Parish marriage certificates.16Louisiana Department of Health. Center for Vital Records and Statistics Records older than 50 years are held by the Louisiana State Archives. Bring valid ID and expect a processing fee.

Age Limits

You must be at least 16 to marry in Louisiana. No one under 16 can enter into a marriage. If you are 16 or 17, you also cannot marry someone 18 or older if the age gap is three years or more.17FindLaw. Louisiana Civil Code Tit IV Art 90.1 Minors who qualify still need parental consent, and the parish clerk’s office can explain the specific paperwork.

If You’re Considering a Covenant Marriage

Louisiana is one of three states that offers covenant marriage, a legally distinct form with stricter entry requirements and limited grounds for divorce. It cannot be ended by mutual consent, only through the exclusive grounds set in state law.18Justia. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9-272 – Covenant Marriage Intent To enter one, you must complete premarital counseling with a clergyman or licensed marriage counselor, sign a notarized affidavit and Declaration of Intent, and present those documents when you apply for the license.19Louisiana Department of Health. Covenant Marriage The license is then marked as a covenant marriage. A standard Louisiana marriage license does not create a covenant marriage, so if that is what you want, raise it with the clerk at the application stage.

Changing Your Name After Marriage

A Louisiana marriage certificate does not change your name on its own. If you plan to take your spouse’s surname, start with the Social Security Administration. Apply for a corrected Social Security card, either online through a “my Social Security” account where available or by submitting Form SS-5 at a local SSA office. You will need proof of identity, your marriage certificate as evidence of the name change, and proof of citizenship or lawful status.20Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Number Card Once SSA processes the change, wait at least 24 hours, then update your driver’s license at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles with the SSA confirmation letter and a certified copy of your marriage certificate. If you hold both a driver’s license and a state ID, you must update both or cancel one.