Louisiana Marriage Records

A marriage in Louisiana is a civil contract between two individuals that requires both parties' mutual consent and must be solemnized by a recognized officiant. Louisiana law provides two forms of marriage: a standard marriage and a covenant marriage. Covenant marriages are more restrictive than standard ones and limit the grounds for divorce between couples. Marriages in the state are defined and governed under the Louisiana Civil Code - the procedures for these marriages are further expanded on in the Louisiana Civil Code – Ancillaries.

The minimum age for marriage in Louisiana is 16. However, 16 and 17-year-olds looking to get married must meet specific conditions, which include getting both parental consent and a court order authorizing the age requirement waiver – these restrictions do not apply to individuals aged 18 and older. Intended couples also cannot be related by blood or adoption and must not be already married. They must also obtain a marriage license from a Clerk of Court before their marriage ceremony. These marriage licenses are valid in any parish in Louisiana for 30 days (after being issued). Couples who do not use their marriage license within these 30 days must obtain a new one. Proxy marriages are prohibited in Louisiana, and both parties must be physically present at the marriage ceremony.

Despite declining marriage rates, tens of thousands of marriages are still recorded annually in Louisiana – reports indicate that more than 16,700 weddings occurred across the state in 2023 alone. Local Clerks of Court maintain Louisiana marriage records; however, records of marriages that occur in Orleans Parish are managed by the Louisiana Vital Records Registry and the Louisiana State Archives. These records are generally considered public and can be accessed by anyone.

What are Marriage Records?

Louisiana marriage records are vital records that serve as official proof of a legally recognized marital union between two individuals within the state. These records have several important uses, which include processing name changes, tax filings, insurance claims, and inheritance matters and providing valuable information for genealogical research and demographic studies. The most common examples of these records are marriage licenses and marriage certificates. Note that while these documents are often referred to interchangeably, there is a clear distinction between them. Marriage licenses are documents that grant couples legal permission to marry and must be obtained before their wedding ceremony. On the other hand, marriage certificates are issued after the ceremony and serve as official proof of the marriage.

The Clerk of Court typically maintains Louisiana marriage records in the parish where the marriage license was originally issued, except for Orleans Parish, where the Louisiana Vital Records Registry and the Louisiana State Archives maintain them. These records typically contain details on the couple and information related to their wedding, such as:

The full names of both parties
Their race, ages, and residential addresses at the time of the marriage
The date, time, and location of the marriage
Prior marital history of both parties
The names of the parents of both parties
The names of the wedding officiant and witnesses

Louisiana records are generally accessible to anyone, meaning that interested members of the public can view them and obtain copies if necessary. Note that sensitive personal information contained in these records is typically redacted before copies are issued.

Marriages in Louisiana

According to recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics, Louisiana had a marriage rate of approximately 3.7 marriages per 1,000 residents in 2023, reflecting a continued decrease in the number of marriages over the years. On the other hand, divorce rates have flip-flopped, dropping to a record low of 0.7 per 1,000 in 2020, the lowest rate recorded across the country for that year.

A separate report on the marital trends within Louisiana highlights slight differences across racial groups. The White and Asian populations both have the highest marriage rates among the various racial groups, with approximately 59% married and 41% unmarried (for each). The Black population has a lower marriage rate, with about 33% married and 67% unmarried. Likewise, among Louisiana’s Hispanic population, about 48% are married, while 52% are unmarried. Mixed-race individuals in the state show a marriage rate of around 37%, with 63% remaining unmarried, similar to marriage rates observed among the Black population.

Couples who wish to get married in Louisiana must first obtain a marriage license from a Clerk of Court. Louisiana marriage licenses are available to residents and non-residents and do not have to be used in the parish issuing them. However, couples who wish to obtain these licenses must meet certain eligibility criteria, which include:

They must not be directly or collaterally related by blood or by adoption within the fourth degree. This means that marriage is prohibited between close family members, up to first cousins.
They must not be married to someone else. Individuals who have been previously married will be required to submit a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate of their previous spouse.
They must both be at least 16 years old. Individuals who are 18 and older can obtain a license without restrictions. However, minors aged 16 or 17 will only be issued one if written parental consent and a court order authorizing the marriage are provided, and the age gap between both parties is not more than three years.

To obtain a license, intending couples must complete an application form – this usually has to be done in person, but some parishes offer online options for completing the form. Similarly, some parishes may require both parties to be present when submitting the completed application form, while others may allow only one person to do this. Louisiana does not require couples to undergo blood tests before issuing a marriage license; licenses are typically issued immediately after the application is correctly submitted.

However, the couple must wait 24 hours before performing the marriage ceremony – couples who wish to waive the wait time must obtain a court order to this effect. Note that a Louisiana marriage license is only valid for 30 days and can only be used within the state. Couples who do not use theirs within this period must apply for a new one.

Under state law, marriage ceremonies in Louisiana must be officiated by an authorized individual and performed in the presence of two competent witnesses who are at least 18 years old. Authorized wedding officiants in the state include:

Priests, ministers, and rabbis
Clerks of the Religious Society of Friends
Clergy members of any recognized religious denomination, provided they are at least 18 years old, authorized by their denomination, and registered to perform marriages in Louisiana
Justices, judges, and justices of the peace. Supreme Court justices can solemnize weddings in any location across the state, while judges and justices of the peace are typically limited to their respective judicial circuits, districts, or parishes. Retired judges and justices of the peace who have served for at least 18 years may also officiate marriages
Any person aged 18 or older who has duly registered with the Clerk of Court in the parish where the marriage is to take place or with the state registrar for ceremonies in Orleans Parish

After the marriage ceremony, the officiant must complete a marriage certificate in triplicate. One copy is given to the couple (note that this is not a certified copy), while the remaining two copies must be returned to the Clerk of Court in the parish where the marriage license was issued for recording. This must be done within 10 days. Officiants who fail to properly complete and return the certificates face a $20 fine the first time this happens; repeat offenses carry stiffer penalties, including being barred from officiating weddings in the state.

Covenant Marriages

Covenant marriages in Louisiana are special types of marriages designed to emphasize lifelong commitments between couples and make it more challenging for them to seek divorce compared to standard (conventional) marriages. Couples who enter a covenant marriage can only get a legal separation or divorce under specific conditions, including:

Adultery by the other spouse
The other spouse commits a felony that leads to hard labor or death
Physical or sexual abuse of the spouse or their children (including children from previous marriages)
Severe mistreatment or cruelty by the other spouse
They have lived separate and apart for more than two years
They are legally or judicially separated and have lived separately and apart for over 18 months if they have minor children. The duration is reduced to a minimum of one year for separations due to child abuse and all other cases

Couples who choose to enter a covenant marriage must complete premarital counseling before obtaining a marriage license. The counselor must provide the couple with an informational pamphlet on covenant marriages (issued by the Louisiana Attorney General's Office), and all parties (including the counselor) must sign an affidavit and attestation form stating that the following topics were discussed:

The understanding that a covenant marriage is a lifelong commitment and the implications of entering into one
The obligation to seek marital counseling if the couple faces challenges in their relationship

During their wedding ceremony, the couple must recite and sign a declaration of intent stating that

They have chosen to live together as a couple forever
They have chosen each other carefully and have disclosed any issues that could negatively impact their marriage to each other
They have received premarital counseling
They are committed to taking all reasonable actions and efforts to preserve their marriage in the face of difficulties and marital issues

Already married couples in Louisiana can also apply to convert their standard marriage into a covenant one. This usually involves filing a signed and notarized declaration of intent with the Clerk of Court who issued their original marriage license; couples who married outside the state must file this in their parish of residence and attach a copy of their marriage certificate. Note that the couples looking to convert their marriage must also complete the premarital counseling requirement.

Louisiana Marriage Certificate

Louisiana marriage certificates are official records that document marriages performed within the state. These documents generally contain information such as the full names and ages of the couple, the date and location of the marriage ceremony, and the names of the officiant and witnesses. After a marriage ceremony, the officiant is responsible for completing and signing triplicate copies of the marriage certificate issued with the marriage license. One copy is issued to the couple, while the other copies must be submitted to the Clerk of Court (who initially issued the license) within 10 days for processing, recording, and filing.

Note that the copy given to the couple is considered an uncertified copy and cannot be used for legal purposes. Certified copies of marriage certificates are usually sent to the couple only if requested at the time of obtaining a marriage license. Couples who do not do this during the license application process must wait at least ten days after their ceremony before submitting a request. Keep in mind that there may be an additional fee for obtaining these certified copies of marriage certificates separate from the marriage license cost.

How To Find and Access Louisiana Marriage Records

Louisiana marriage records can be accessed by contacting the Clerks of Court in the state’s various parishes and either the Louisiana State Registrar or Secretary of State for Orleans Parish marriage records.

Accessing Louisiana Marriage Records Online

The Louisiana State Registrar partners with a third-party provider to facilitate online requests for Orleans Parish marriage records less than 50 years old and deliver copies of the requested documents to interested parties. Requesters must provide a valid ID and pay a $5 fee per copy requested. Note that an additional security fee may be charged.

Individuals looking to access copies of Orleans Parish marriage records older than 50 years online may do so through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Vital Records Index database. Copies of marriage records requested via this option cost $5 per copy for photocopies and $10 per copy for certified copies.

Likewise, many Louisiana Clerks of Court offer online platforms through which interested members of the public can view and request copies of marriage records. Note that these Clerks of Courts only maintain records for marriage licenses issued in their respective parishes and a fee is usually charged to obtain copies of these records. The Clerks of Court also provide free access to marriage indexes that cover most of the state through a centralized eClerksLA platform; however, requesters must set up a user account (at no cost) to use this platform.

Accessing Louisiana Marriage Records Offline

Interested parties can access Louisiana marriage records (excluding Orleans Parish marriage records) offline by contacting the Clerk of Court that originally issued the marriage license. The procedure for accessing these records varies by parish but typically involves submitting a written request, providing a valid ID, and paying a fee.

Copies of Orleans Parish marriage records less than 50 years old can be accessed in person at the Louisiana Vital Records Registry located at:

1450 Poydras Street

Suite 400

New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone: (504) 593-5100

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays

Requesters will be required to complete an Application for Certified Copy of Orleans Parish Marriage Certificate form and pay a $5 fee for each copy required. Note that this fee will not be refunded if the requested record is not found. The completed form, along with the required fees and a copy of a valid photo ID, can also be mailed to the Registry at:

Vital Records Registry

P.O. Box 60630

New Orleans, LA 70160

To access Orleans Parish marriage records that are older than 50 years, contact the Louisiana State Archives at:

3851 Essen Lane

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Phone: (225) 922-2012

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays

References

Counties in Louisiana

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in Louisiana
1. Louisiana Marriage Certificate
How To Find and Access Louisiana Marriage Records