Guide to Louisiana Marriage Records

A Louisiana marriage record is the official documentation confirming that two people entered into a legal marriage in the state. Typically, it shows the spouses' full names, the date of the marriage, the parish where the marriage took place, the marriage license number, and the name of the officiant.

A marriage license and a marriage certificate are examples of marriage records, but the terms do not mean the same thing. A marriage license is the legal permission couples must obtain before their wedding can be authorized in the state. However, a marriage certificate is a completed, signed document proving the marriage took place. The umbrella term for any official documentation of a marriage, including the application, license, and certificate, is a marriage record.

Louisiana marriage records are used by requesters to prove marital status for benefits, insurance, immigration, or court proceedings. They are also needed for name changes with government agencies and tracing ancestry.

Types of Marriage Records in Louisiana

Individuals seeking Louisiana marriage records can find them in the following forms:

Marriage Certificates

A marriage certificate is the official legal document that states that a marriage has taken place. Basic details of the marriage are usually included in the certificate, such as the couple's names, the parish of marriage, the date of marriage, the name of the officiant, and the signatures of the couple and witnesses.

A certified copy of the marriage certificate is the typical document required to prove marriage for many legal purposes. For example, this copy is needed when changing a name with the Social Security Administration, updating a passport, or settling an estate. An uncertified or informational copy may be used for personal recordkeeping or genealogy research, but is not accepted for legal uses.

In Louisiana, certified copies of marriage certificates are issued by the clerk of court in the parish where the marriage license was purchased. However, for marriages licensed in Orleans Parish, certified copies of marriage certificates are issued by the Vital Records Registry in the Louisiana Department of Health.

Marriage Licenses

A marriage license is official paperwork that makes it legal for two people to get married. While a marriage certificate signifies that the wedding took place, a marriage license authorizes the wedding ceremony. The license becomes a certificate only after it has been signed by the officiant and witnesses and returned for filing after the marriage.

In Louisiana, a marriage license is obtained from the clerk of court in any parish. Orleans Parish is the only exception, as marriage licenses there are obtained from the Vital Records Central Office rather than the parish clerk. The validity of the Louisiana marriage license is 30 days from the date of issue.

Are Marriage Records Public in Louisiana?

Louisiana marriages are public records. These records are exempt from the state's vital records confidentiality statutes. Hence, any member of the public may inspect and copy a marriage record.

However, not all information provided by couples in their marriage license applications is publicly accessible. Details such as Social Security numbers are not made available in public searches. In rare cases, a court can also order a portion of a marriage record sealed or redacted, such as when a party demonstrates a privacy interest that outweighs the public right of access.

Note that the age of a record can affect where an Orleans Parish marriage record is held. In this parish, marriages less than 50 years old are handled by Louisiana Vital Records, while records older than 50 years are transferred to the Louisiana State Archives. Marriage records from other parishes remain with their respective clerks of court.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

A standard Louisiana marriage record generally includes:

• Full names of both spouses (including maiden name where applicable)
• Marriage date and location
• Parish where the marriage occurred
• Marriage license number
• Officiant's name and title
• Witness names and signatures

Depending on the parish and the era in which the record was created, additional details, such as the couple's ages, occupations, residence, and their parents' names, may be available. Certain information, such as Social Security numbers, remains unavailable for public disclosure.

How to Find Marriage Records in Louisiana

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

Before contacting the office to maintain the record, collect all relevant information that will aid the search. This includes the full names of both spouses (including any maiden or previously registered names), the approximate date of the marriage, and the city or parish in which the marriage was celebrated.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

The next step is to find out which office is responsible for maintaining the record. In the case of a marriage license issued in a parish besides Orleans, the clerk of the court where the license was issued should be contacted. However, if the marriage took place in Orleans Parish within the last 50 years, its record can be accessed through the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. For marriages older than 50 years, records can be obtained from the Louisiana State Archives.

Step 3: Choose How to Search

Available search options include:

• Online: Use the Louisiana eClerks Portal to browse statewide marriage indexes, or use the state-approved VitalChek Network for Orleans Parish orders.
• By Mail: Obtain the paper application from the relevant clerk of court's website, complete it, and send it to the address listed on the form.
• In Person: Visit the parish courthouse clerk’s records window for immediate indexing and walk-in service.
• Through approved third-party databases: Use the state's approved third-party vendor (VitalChek) or genealogy platforms that compile historical Louisiana marriage indexes.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

Ensure that you include as much detail as possible in your application, especially the full names of the married couple and the date of marriage. To request an Orleans Parish certificate, you must complete the application for Louisiana Vital Records and submit a valid photo ID.

All mail requests must also include a photocopy of your photo ID. The standard fee for obtaining an Orleans Parish marriage certificate is $5. Mail and VitalChek transactions also carry a $0.50 state charge, and VitalChek charges additional service fees.

Fees and processing procedures for the other parishes vary by clerk.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Louisiana

Louisiana's statutory restrictions on who can obtain certified copies of vital records limit access to birth and death certificates but exclude marriage records.

Still, the Orleans Parish clerk of court requires submission of a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or other government-issued ID, when applying for a certified copy of a marriage certificate. The application must also include a request form and payment of the required fee. This condition applies to obtaining a certified marriage record from the Vital Records Registry of the Louisiana Department of Health, even though the records are open.

For an Orleans Parish marriage within the Louisiana Vital Records retention period, the applicant must complete the Application for Certified Copy of Orleans Parish Marriage Certificate. The Vital Records office charges $5 for each Orleans Parish marriage certificate. Additional fees may apply, such as a $0.50 state transaction charge and VitalChek service fees.

Applicants can obtain the records they seek via the following methods:

• In person: Submit the application, photo ID, and fee at the Vital Records Central Office in New Orleans.
• By mail: Send the completed application, a copy of photo identification, and payment to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry.
• Online or telephone: Order through VitalChek, Louisiana's authorized outside provider.

The processing time for mail orders is approximately 8-10 weeks.

For marriages licensed in other parts of Louisiana, certified copies of their certificates must be obtained through the issuing parish clerk of court. Fees for copies, ordering procedures, and processing times may differ from parish to parish.

Certified copies of marriage certificates are printed on security paper and embedded with an official state or parish seal. Hence, they serve as primary legal evidence for updating names with the Social Security Administration, adjusting passport profiles, settling estate distributions, or enrolling spouses in corporate health insurance plans.

How to Get a Marriage License in Louisiana

Louisiana allows couples to apply for a marriage license at any clerk of court office in the state. For applicants in Orleans Parish, a marriage license may be obtained through the state registrar of vital records or an authorized city court judge. Once obtained, this license is valid for use in any Louisiana jurisdiction, regardless of where the parties reside.

To apply, both parties must attest to and sign the application before an authorized notary, deputy clerk, or deputy registrar. Louisiana laws do not require both applicants to execute the application at the same time, as long as the applicable notarization requirements are met.

The minimum legal age to marry without parental intervention is 18 years. Minors between the ages of 16 and 17 require the physical presence of both parents, parental consent forms, and explicit judicial authorization from a juvenile judge.

Generally, applicants for a Louisiana marriage license must provide the following:

• A certified copy of each applicant's birth certificate or an authorized waiver
• A valid, unexpired driver's license, government-issued ID, passport, or other qualifying document
• Social Security numbers, when required
• Written consent and judicial authorization when an applicant is a 16- or 17-year-old minor
• A covenant-marriage declaration, when applicable
• Documentation of a previous marriage's termination when required by the issuing office
• A certified divorce decree from a divorced applicant or a qualifying death certificate from a widow or widower (applicable for Orleans Parish applications)

Although marriage license fees are set by each parish, the cost ranges from $27.50 to $43.50. This fee is generally payable by cash, check, or money order. Some parishes may also accept credit or debit cards.

Under R.S. 9:225, there is a mandatory 24-hour waiting period between the issuance of the license and the ceremony. However, for good cause, a district judge, or in Orleans Parish, a First or Second City Court judge, may waive this waiting period. The marriage license expires 30 days after issuance.

The marriage must be solemnized by an authorized officiant, such as a clergy member, judge, or justice of the peace, with at least two competent adult witnesses present. After the ceremony, the marriage officiant must sign the certificate and return it to the appropriate parish clerk or, for Orleans Parish, to the Vital Records Registry within 10 days.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

The public-record status of marriage licenses in Louisiana means that anyone can request them from the appropriate custodians. Therefore, in addition to the spouse named in the records, family members, attorneys, genealogists, and members of the public can request Louisiana marriage records.

Although access to marriage records is open, information such as Social Security numbers is redacted.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

Although certified copies of marriage records require a fee, you can access basic marriage verification index data online for free via the following sources:

• Louisiana Clerks' Portal: The eClerks LA Statewide Portal provides public search access to historical marriage indexes across participating parishes.
• Historical and Genealogy Databases: Platforms like FamilySearch Louisiana Records Collection provide free index transcripts and digitized historical books spanning from 1787 to 1958. Also, the Louisiana State Archives Marriage Search provides free online index searching.

Note that when you perform a free search, you can only access basic information and confirm that a record exists. Available information from free online searches includes the couple's names and the filing date of the marriage record. If an official or legally acceptable record of a marriage is required, you must apply to the relevant custodian to obtain a certified copy.

When the exact parish or date is unknown, search using one spouse's name first. Then try the other spouse's name, maiden names, alternate spellings, partial surnames, and adjacent years.

Common Law Marriage in Louisiana

Louisiana does not recognize common-law marriages, regardless of the length of cohabitation or the property a couple may share. Nevertheless, Louisiana recognizes the validity of common-law marriages legally established and recognized in other states.

A couple seeking to prove a common-law marriage must provide the appropriate documentation confirming the legal formalities under the law of the state where it took place.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

Marriage record amendments typically include corrections to misspelled names, incorrect dates, incorrect biographical data, or errors identified during the marriage license application or certificate preparation period. Generally, either spouse named on the record or their legal representative may submit a correction request.

To amend a marriage license issued in a location apart from Orleans Parish, contact the parish clerk of the court that issued the marriage certificate. For a marriage record in Orleans Parish, which is stored with the Louisiana Vital Records, modification requests must be submitted to the Center for Vital Records and Statistics.

When requesting corrections to marriage records, applicants typically need a notarized affidavit describing the error and the correct information, along with supporting documents (such as a birth certificate, passport, or Social Security card) that prove the correct spelling or date. Louisiana law allows the state registrar to deny an amendment request when the supporting documentation is not provided or the submitted evidence is inadequate. In such a case, the applicant may seek an appropriate court order.

The Louisiana Department of Health charges a $23.50 fee for a marriage license amendment application. However, the fees and processing times for applications submitted to parish offices vary.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

The certified copy of the marriage certificate is a key legal document required to change a surname after marriage. It provides legal proof of the change in marital status of a person and makes it possible to update identity documents with government agencies, such as:

• Social Security Administration (SSA): To update a federal record and secure a new Social Security card after marriage, the SSA requires a certified copy of the applicant's marriage certificate in addition to the SS-5 application form.
• Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicle Agency (OMV): After the SSA has amended an applicant's record, they must present their certified copy of the marriage certificate together with the new social security card to the local Louisiana OMV office to update their driver’s license.
• U.S. Department of State: To update their travel documentation after marriage, applicants must submit a certified copy of their marriage certificate alongside their current passport book.

Note that changing a surname with government agencies after marriage does not correct errors on the original marriage record. If there is a mistake in the marriage record, a separate administrative process is required to correct it.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Older marriage record collections in Louisiana are a rich source of information for historians and genealogical researchers seeking to trace relationships and build family trees.

The principal online collection of Orleans Parish historical marriage records is the Louisiana State Archives. This database contains indexes for marriage records between 1831 and 1975, while certified copies of the available microfilmed records can be obtained for marriages occurring between 1870 and 1975. Note that for marriages that occurred between 1831 and 1869, the Archives index may show only spouses' names and marriage dates; it does not contain the corresponding individual marriage record.

Older marriage records from Louisiana's other parishes are primarily maintained by the parish clerk of court. Beyond the state archives and parish clerk of court archives, researchers may also use genealogy platforms such as FamilySearch to perform a historical marriage record lookup.

Most historical marriage record archives allow searching by either spouse's name, with filters available for parish and a date range. This is useful when the exact marriage date is unknown. Hence, when searching by name, start with one spouse and then try the other spouse's name or the bride's maiden name.

Older records may be incomplete or only remain as indexes. Spelling variations, damaged records, and missing individual documents may make historical searches difficult. Searchers may test alternative phonetic spellings, as parish clerks frequently transcribed names based on sound.

Frequently Asked Questions