Louisiana Marriage Records

Initially, marriage records in Louisiana were maintained at the parish level, with parishes like Orleans beginning documentation as early as 1831. However, in 1918, the state established a statewide system for recording vital records, including marriage records, standardizing the process across all parishes.

Louisiana marriage records refer to legal documents that chronicle the legal union of two individuals. At 3.7 marriages per 1,000 residents, Louisiana has the lowest marriage rate in the U.S. Louisiana's marriage rate is over 40% below the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people. Louisiana issues two main types of marriage records:

• Marriage Licenses: A marriage license is a legal document obtained before the wedding ceremony, granting the couple permission to marry. Marriage licenses contain information about the couple planning to get married. Typically, it includes their names, current addresses, date of birth, license number, signature of the issuing officer, issue date, and expiry date.
• Marriage Certificates: After the wedding ceremony, the officiant and witnesses sign the marriage license, which is filed with the appropriate parish clerk's office. After filing, the couple receives a marriage certificate as official proof of the marriage. This document is valid for legal, administrative, and genealogical use. Marriage certificates contain information about the wedding, including the couple's full names, date and parish of marriage, witness signature, officiant information, and license number.

Marriage records in Louisiana may also be certified or informational copies. The certified copy of a marriage record is an official reproduction of the original marriage record, bearing the signature of the issuing authority and an official seal. A certified marriage record is legally recognized for all official and administrative use.

An informational copy is a non-certified reproduction of the marriage record. Although it contains the same information as the certified copy, it lacks the official seal and signature, rendering it unsuitable for legal purposes. It is suitable for personal records, historical studies, and genealogy research.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Louisiana?

You can look up marriage records in Louisiana through the following official sources:

• For marriage licenses purchased in Orleans Parish, the Louisiana Department of Health Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics issues its marriage certificates.
• The clerk of the court in the parish where the license was issued for all other parishes.
• The Louisiana State Archives for Orleans Parish marriage records that are over 50 years old.

Persons who purchased their marriage license from Orleans Parish may obtain a certified marriage certificate from the state Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics by completing the Application for Certified Copy of Orleans Parish Marriage Certificate form. You may order the record online through a third-party vendor, by mail, or in person. The physical address is:

Persons ordering the record via mail may send their application to:

For marriage licenses obtained outside of Orleans, you may purchase a certified copy of your marriage record at the clerk of court in the parish where the marriage license was issued. To order the record, download the marriage certificate application form from the parish's website or visit the office to obtain the form. You may mail or submit the record request in person.

Irrespective of where you apply to obtain your certified marriage certificate, all requests may include the following:

• Full names of both spouses
• The exact date of marriage
• Parish where the license was issued
• A valid government-issued photo ID
• The fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Louisiana?

Marriage records in Louisiana are public records. Under Louisiana law, vital records, including marriage certificates, are public records and can be viewed, inspected, or copied by the general public. While some states make their marriage records accessible to the public after a predetermined period, Louisiana marriage records become public records as soon as it is filed by the parish clerk of courts.

How Much Do Louisiana Marriage Records Cost?

The cost of a certified copy of a marriage certificate obtained from the state Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics is $5 per copy, with an additional $0.50 charge that applies to mail or online requests. For marriage records obtained outside of Orleans, the cost of purchasing certified marriage certificates varies by parish but typically ranges between $5 to $10 per copy.

It takes 8 - 10 weeks for the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics to process mail requests for marriage certificates. If you need the document faster, you may visit the office in person if your marriage license was purchased in Orleans. Walk-in requests are typically processed on the same day.

The processing times for marriage certificates outside of Orleans differ by parish. You may contact the respective Clerk for a specific timeframe. However, walk-in requesters obtain the record on the same day.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Louisiana?

Marriage records are public records in Louisiana. Louisiana does not permit couples to purchase confidential marriage licenses or enter into confidential marriages, which essentially hides your marriage record from the public. To this end, all marriage records are open to the public.

While marriage records are public, there are limited circumstances under which specific portions of these records can be sealed or redacted. Louisiana law allows for the sealing or redaction of parts of civil court records, including marriage records. However, the couple must show that the privacy interest outweighs the public's right to access the information. Even if the courts approve, only parts of the marriage record may be sealed.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Louisiana Marriage Records?

Verifying the authenticity of your Louisiana marriage record is essential for a wide range of personal, legal, and administrative purposes. These typically include securing visas and passports, establishing genealogical proof, obtaining insurance or Social Security benefits, filing taxes, changing your name, asserting inheritance rights, or providing evidence in divorce proceedings.

You may verify the authenticity of your marriage at the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics for Orleans Parish and at the parish clerk of court for all other parishes. A genuine marriage record bears features such as a raised, embossed state seal, the signature of the registrar or parish clerk, an official certification statement, and a unique identification number. In addition, a certified marriage record is printed on security paper, guaranteeing its authenticity and acceptance for any official purpose.

Can I Find Louisiana Marriage Records Online for Free?

While government portals often require fees for certified copies of marriage records, several non-governmental sites provide free search and index access to these records.

Louisiana marriage records dating from 1787 through 1958 are fully indexed on FamilySearch.org. The site provides a name and date index with scanned marriage license and certificate images for most parishes at no cost.

The Louisiana Secretary of State's Online Public Vital Records Index hosts a free searchable card index for Orleans Parish marriages over 50 years old. The site allows users to look up names and licenses at no cost.

Trusted third-party websites like PublicRecords.us are a free public records database. The platform aggregates public records from governmental sources and provides access to basic information on Louisiana marriage records. The website is ideal to start your search for both historical and recent marriage records.

What Is Required to Get a Louisiana Marriage License?

Couples intending to get married in Louisiana must meet the following requirements and submit appropriate documentation to obtain marriage licenses, including:

• Both parties must appear together at the parish clerk's office or the state registrar for Orleans Parish
• Be at least 18 years old
• Minors aged 16 - 17 may submit written consent from both parents to get married
• Submit a valid government-issued ID
• If either party was previously married, a copy of the final divorce decree or certified death certificate
• The stipulated fees

The cost to obtain a marriage license differs by parish. Typically, the fee ranges between $27.50 and $35. Although the marriage license is issued immediately, there is a 24-hour waiting period after issuance before the couple can get married. Once the license becomes active, the marriage must be solemnized within 30 days, or the license expires.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Louisiana?

You may amend your marriage license or certificate if there are errors in the document. Generally, you may correct the following types of errors in Louisiana:

• Clerical errors such as misspelled names, incorrect dates, wrong place of marriage, or errors in addresses
• Factual errors caused by inaccuracies in the information provided by the applicants, such as incorrect birthplaces, wrong parental information, or mistaken previous marital status

Amending the Louisiana Marriage License

If you discover an error on your marriage license before the ceremony, contact the issuing parish clerk's office where the license was issued to request an amendment. The clerk may allow on-the-spot correction and issue you another marriage license. Ensure you have supporting documents to verify the correct information. A correction fee may apply depending on the parish. For parishes that charge a fee to amend a marriage license, the average cost to amend a marriage license is $10.

Amending the Louisiana Marriage Certificate

To amend your marriage certificate, contact the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics if your marriage license was issued in Orleans, and the parish clerk of court if the license was issued outside of Orleans.

To amend the error, complete the amendment form downloadable online from the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics or accessible at the parish clerk of court's office. Fill out the form, specifying the error and the corresponding correct information. Attach the original certificate to your request and any supporting evidence, such as hospital records or a valid government-issued ID, that verifies the correct information.

You may mail the record request to the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics if the license was purchased from Orleans. If purchased outside of Orleans, you may mail or drop off the request at the courthouse where the license was issued. There is a $18 fee to amend marriage certificates in Louisiana.