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Louisiana Marriage License Requirements 2026: $27.50, 24-Hour Wait

Independently fact-checkedBy Recording Law Editorial Team15 min read

Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 7, 2026). · 37 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Louisiana Marriage License Requirements 2026: $27.50, 24-Hour Wait

In Louisiana, the parish clerk of court issues marriage licenses, except in Orleans Parish, where the state registrar of vital records or a city court judge issues them (La. R.S. 9:221). You wait 24 hours after issuance before the ceremony, the license is good for 30 days, and the fee is $27.50. Bring certified birth certificates and valid ID.

For other states, see our guide to marriage license requirements by state.

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers getting a marriage license and marrying in Louisiana under Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 9:201 and following), the Louisiana Civil Code articles on marriage, Children's Code art. 1545, and the published procedures of the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Vital Records Registry and the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court. It does not cover divorce, ordering older marriage records, other states' rules, or matrimonial regimes beyond the notice described below.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Louisiana

Outside New Orleans, you apply to the clerk of court of a parish. In Orleans Parish, La. R.S. 9:221(A)(1) gives the job to "The state registrar of vital records, or a judge of the city court." In practice that means the LDH Vital Records Registry at Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras St., Suite 407, New Orleans. An older LDH handout also lists the Second City Court at the Algiers Courthouse, but the current LDH page does not, so call ahead before going there.

You do not have to apply where you live or where you will marry. La. R.S. 9:222 says "A marriage license may be issued in any parish, regardless of where the ceremony is to be performed or the parties reside." LDH adds: "The licenses are valid in any parish in the State of Louisiana." None of the statutes reviewed for this page requires Louisiana residency.

Both applicants normally sign the application in person before the clerk or a notary (La. R.S. 9:224). You do not have to sign at the same time if each of you signs before a notary. A member of the armed forces may be excused from signing in person by attaching a copy of the military ID, and in extenuating circumstances a judge can order a license issued on one applicant's notarized signature. In Orleans, LDH says you can fill out the application ahead of time, and an absent party's signature must be separately notarized.

Documents You Need

Under La. R.S. 9:225 and 9:226, each applicant brings:

  • A certified copy of your birth certificate. If you were born in Louisiana, a short-form birth certification card works. If you were born in another state, bring a copy under raised seal. If you were born abroad, bring a birth certificate under seal (with a sworn English translation if needed) plus a valid passport, or a visa with Form I-94.
  • Photo identification. La. R.S. 9:225 calls for "A valid and unexpired driver's license, a government issued identification card, or a valid and unexpired passport from the country of his birth or an unexpired visa accompanied by Form I-94 as issued by the United States."
  • Your Social Security number, if you were born in a US state or territory or were naturalized (La. R.S. 9:224(A)(6)). The clerk keeps it confidential if you ask in writing when you apply.

If no birth certificate exists, a judge can order the license issued without it under La. R.S. 9:228, after a hearing, for good cause, on a "no record" letter from the birth registrar (La. R.S. 9:227) plus other competent evidence that you were born in a US state or territory.

The application also asks for your parents' names, the number of prior marriages and whether they ended in divorce, your relationship to each other, race and age (La. R.S. 9:224).

Divorced applicants: offices handle divorce decrees differently. LDH's Orleans office asks any divorced applicant for a certified copy of the final divorce decree, and a death certificate if you are widowed. Calcasieu says: "If you have been divorced within 30 days of applying for a license, then a Certified Copy of 'Judgement of Divorce' MUST be provided." Check with the office you will use.

When you apply, the official must give each of you a printed summary, prepared by the attorney general, of the law on matrimonial regimes and covenant marriage (La. R.S. 9:237).

How Much a Louisiana Marriage License Costs

The license costs $27.50, built from two statutes. La. R.S. 13:841(D) lets the clerk charge fifteen dollars "for issuing a marriage license," and La. R.S. 40:40 sets the same fifteen dollars for licenses the state registrar issues in Orleans. La. R.S. 46:2126(A) adds a mandatory $12.50 on "each marriage license," which funds family-violence programs.

OfficeLicense feePaymentCertified copies
Orleans Parish (LDH Vital Records Registry)$27.50Cash (exact amount), check, money order, or credit or debit card, per the LDH web page$5.00 each, plus $0.50 mailing per transaction
Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court$27.50Cash or credit card only ($2 card processing fee); no bills larger than $20$10 each

Fees and payment rules can change, and each office's own page is the final word. An older LDH handout says Orleans does not accept cards, which conflicts with the LDH web page, so confirm payment with LDH before you go.

Waiting Period and How Long the License Lasts

24 hours. La. R.S. 9:241 says "An officiant may not perform a marriage ceremony until twenty-four hours have elapsed since the issuance of the marriage license." If you get the license on a Friday morning, the earliest ceremony is Saturday morning.

Waivers. A judge, justice of the peace or retired justice of the peace who is authorized to perform the marriage may waive the 24 hours when the couple shows "serious and meritorious reasons" (La. R.S. 9:242). The waiver certificate is attached to the license. In Orleans Parish, an officiant authorized there may waive the delay for nonresident couples on the same showing. LDH says First or Second City Court judges can waive the wait for Louisiana residents, Monday through Friday only. Any other officiant who ignores the wait, unless it is an Orleans officiant entitled to waive it under La. R.S. 9:242(B), can have his or her authority revoked by the state registrar for up to a year (La. R.S. 9:243).

30 days. La. R.S. 9:235 says "A marriage license is valid for thirty days from the date of issuance." LDH says the license "expires and becomes invalid at midnight thirty (30) days after the date of issuance." No officiant may perform a marriage on an expired license. If yours expires, surrender it to the issuing official and you can be issued a new one (La. R.S. 9:236).

Minimum Age to Marry in Louisiana

Louisiana does not ban marriage under 18, but it sets a floor of 16 and adds conditions. La. R.S. 9:221(B) says:

"No marriage license for a minor under the age of sixteen shall be issued. No marriage license for a minor of the age of sixteen or seventeen shall be issued where there is an age difference of three years or greater between the persons seeking the marriage license."

The ceremony has its own rule. Under Children's Code art. 1545(A), "An officiant may not perform a marriage ceremony in which a minor sixteen or seventeen is a party unless the minor has judicial authorization and the written consent to marry" of both parents, the minor's tutor, or a person awarded custody, as that article lists. A parent's signature alone is not enough; the court must also authorize the marriage.

These rules come from Act 401 of 2019 (SB 172), which amended R.S. 9:221(B) and Children's Code art. 1545. Older printed handouts may predate that change; the statute controls. For more on a minor's legal status, see Louisiana emancipation laws.

Who Cannot Marry in Louisiana

Relatives. La. C.C. art. 90 bars marriage between ascendants and descendants, and between "Collaterals within the fourth degree, whether of the whole or of the half blood." The bar applies to relationships by blood or adoption. Collaterals related only by adoption may marry with written judicial authorization.

First cousins. Civil Code art. 901 counts collateral degrees this way: "the number of degrees is equal to the number of generations between the heir and the common ancestor, plus the number of generations between the common ancestor and the deceased." First cousins share grandparents, two generations up on each side, which places them in the fourth degree and inside the art. 90 bar. No provision reviewed for this page names first cousins outright, so first cousins should confirm with the clerk of court before applying.

Married people. La. C.C. art. 88 says "A married person may not contract another marriage."

A marriage contracted in violation of an impediment is absolutely null (La. C.C. art. 94).

Blood Tests

Louisiana requires no blood test or medical certificate. The medical certificate sections, La. R.S. 9:229 to 9:233, were repealed by Acts 1988, No. 345 and No. 808.

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Under La. R.S. 9:202, two groups may officiate:

  • Religious officiants: "A priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, or any clergyman of any religious sect, who has attained the age of majority and is authorized by the authorities of his religion to perform marriages, and who is registered to perform marriages."
  • Judges and justices of the peace, within the territory La. R.S. 9:203 assigns. A supreme court justice may officiate anywhere in the state, an appeals judge within the circuit, a district judge within the district, and family, juvenile, parish and city judges within their parish. A justice of the peace may officiate in his or her parish, in other parishes in the same supreme court district, and in a parish with no justice of the peace court, except Orleans. Retired judges keep this authority, and a retired justice of the peace with 18 years of service keeps it after registering. Federal judges may officiate only where their court has adopted a rule allowing it.

Registration. La. R.S. 9:204 says "An officiant, other than a judge or justice of the peace, may perform marriage ceremonies only after he registers to do so." The officiant files an affidavit with his or her lawful name, denomination and address with the clerk of court of the parish where he or she will principally officiate, or, in Orleans, with the state registrar of vital records. The officiant may not perform a ceremony before receiving the license (La. R.S. 9:205).

No official source reviewed for this page addresses online ordination. The statute asks whether the officiant "is authorized by the authorities of his religion," so an online-ordained officiant should check with the clerk of court before registering.

Witnesses. "The marriage ceremony shall be performed in the presence of two competent witnesses of full age" (La. R.S. 9:244).

Couples cannot marry themselves. Civil Code art. 91 requires a ceremony performed by a third person who is qualified, or reasonably believed to be qualified, to perform it.

Proxy Marriage Is Not Allowed

La. C.C. art. 91 says "The parties must be physically present at the ceremony when it is performed." Art. 94 adds that "A marriage is absolutely null when contracted without a marriage ceremony, by procuration, or in violation of an impediment." Procuration means proxy. You can sign the license application separately before a notary, but you both must attend the ceremony.

Louisiana marriage license: remote and proxy weddings

Covenant Marriage in Louisiana

Louisiana offers covenant marriage under La. R.S. 9:272 through 9:275. La. R.S. 9:272 says "A man and woman may contract a covenant marriage by declaring their intent to do so on their application for a marriage license." The couple also signs a declaration of intent, filed with the license-issuing official, that contains (La. R.S. 9:273):

  1. A recitation signed by both parties.
  2. An affidavit that they received premarital counseling from a priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, clergyman or professional marriage counselor. The counseling covers the seriousness of covenant marriage, its lifelong commitment and the duty to seek counseling in times of trouble, and the couple attests that they received and read the attorney general's "Covenant Marriage Act" pamphlet.
  3. The counselor's signed attestation.
  4. Both signatures, notarized.

A covenant marriage can end only on the exclusive grounds in Civil Code art. 101 and La. R.S. 9:307, which are fault grounds, living separate and apart for two years, or living separate and apart for a set period after a judgment of separation from bed and board. Couples who are already married can convert to a covenant marriage by declaration (La. R.S. 9:275). In Calcasieu, "both parties must be present to submit your Declaration of Intent & Affidavit."

After the Ceremony

The officiant signs the marriage certificate in triplicate (La. R.S. 9:245). Under La. R.S. 9:253, "The officiant shall give one copy of the marriage certificate to the married parties. Within ten days after the ceremony, he shall file the other two copies of the certificate of marriage with the clerk of court who issued the marriage license." For Orleans licenses, the copies go to the state office of vital records. The clerk records the certificate and forwards a copy to the state registrar by the 15th of the following month.

Louisiana marriage license: returning the license

An officiant who misses the 10-day filing deadline faces fines of at least $20 for a first offense, $50 for a second and $100 for a third, plus loss of authority to perform marriages in Louisiana (La. R.S. 9:254). If a 24-hour waiver was granted, the waiver certificate is attached when the license is returned.

For certified copies later, see Louisiana marriage and divorce records. If you are changing your surname, see Louisiana name change laws and our guide to changing your name after marriage.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about marriage licenses under Louisiana law (La. R.S. Title 9, the Louisiana Civil Code and Children's Code art. 1545), verified on October 7, 2026. It is not legal advice. Fees and office procedures change; for your situation, contact the clerk of court of the parish issuing your license (in Orleans, the LDH Vital Records Registry) or a lawyer licensed in Louisiana.

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get a marriage license in Louisiana?

From the clerk of court in any parish. In Orleans Parish, licenses come from the state registrar of vital records (LDH Vital Records Registry) or a city court judge under La. R.S. 9:221(A).

How much is a marriage license in Louisiana?

$27.50 at the offices we checked: a $15 issuing fee under La. R.S. 13:841(D) (La. R.S. 40:40 in Orleans) plus a $12.50 fee under La. R.S. 46:2126(A). Accepted payment methods vary by office.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Louisiana?

Yes. La. R.S. 9:241 bars the ceremony until 24 hours after the license is issued. A judge or justice of the peace may waive it for serious and meritorious reasons under La. R.S. 9:242.

How long is a Louisiana marriage license valid?

30 days from the date of issuance under La. R.S. 9:235. LDH says it expires at midnight 30 days after issuance.

Can I get my license in one parish and marry in another?

Yes. La. R.S. 9:222 lets a license be issued in any parish regardless of where the ceremony will take place, and LDH says licenses are valid in any parish.

Do you need witnesses to get married in Louisiana?

Yes. La. R.S. 9:244 requires two competent witnesses of full age at the ceremony.

Can a 16-year-old get married in Louisiana?

Only with judicial authorization and the written consent of both parents (or a tutor or custodian) under Ch.C. art. 1545, and only if the other person is less than three years older (La. R.S. 9:221(B)). No one under 16 may marry.

Does Louisiana allow proxy marriage?

No. La. C.C. art. 91 requires both parties to be physically present, and art. 94 makes a marriage contracted by procuration absolutely null.

Do you need a blood test to get married in Louisiana?

No. The medical certificate sections, La. R.S. 9:229 to 9:233, were repealed in 1988.

Can first cousins marry in Louisiana?

La. C.C. art. 90 bars marriage between collaterals within the fourth degree, and the art. 901 counting method places first cousins in the fourth degree. No provision we reviewed names first cousins outright, so confirm with the clerk of court.

Updates

Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources

Sources and References

  1. La. R.S. 9:221, issuance of marriage licenses; minors(legis.la.gov).gov
  2. Louisiana Department of Health, Marriage Licenses (Orleans Parish)(ldh.la.gov).gov
  3. La. R.S. 9:222, license may be issued in any parish(legis.la.gov).gov
  4. La. R.S. 9:224, application for marriage license(legis.la.gov).gov
  5. La. R.S. 9:225, documents to accompany application(legis.la.gov).gov
  6. La. R.S. 9:226, birth certificate requirements(legis.la.gov).gov
  7. La. R.S. 9:228, waiver of birth certificate(legis.la.gov).gov
  8. Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, Marriage Licenses(calcasieuclerk.gov).gov
  9. La. R.S. 9:237, attorney general's summary for applicants(legis.la.gov).gov
  10. La. R.S. 13:841, clerks of court fees(legis.la.gov).gov
  11. La. R.S. 46:2126, marriage license fee for family violence programs(legis.la.gov).gov
  12. La. R.S. 9:241, 24-hour delay(legis.la.gov).gov
  13. La. R.S. 9:242, waiver of the delay(legis.la.gov).gov
  14. La. R.S. 9:243, violation of the delay(legis.la.gov).gov
  15. La. R.S. 9:235, duration of license(legis.la.gov).gov
  16. La. R.S. 9:236, expired license(legis.la.gov).gov
  17. La. Children's Code art. 1545, marriage of minors(legis.la.gov).gov
  18. La. Civil Code art. 90, impediment of relationship(legis.la.gov).gov
  19. La. Civil Code art. 901, degrees in the collateral line(legis.la.gov).gov
  20. La. Civil Code art. 88, impediment of existing marriage(legis.la.gov).gov
  21. La. Civil Code art. 94, absolutely null marriage(legis.la.gov).gov
  22. La. R.S. 9:229, medical certificate (repealed)(legis.la.gov).gov
  23. La. R.S. 9:202, persons authorized to officiate(legis.la.gov).gov
  24. La. R.S. 9:203, judges and justices of the peace(legis.la.gov).gov
  25. La. R.S. 9:204, registration of officiants(legis.la.gov).gov
  26. La. R.S. 9:205, officiant must receive license(legis.la.gov).gov
  27. La. R.S. 9:244, witnesses(legis.la.gov).gov
  28. La. Civil Code art. 91, marriage ceremony(legis.la.gov).gov
  29. La. R.S. 9:272, covenant marriage(legis.la.gov).gov
  30. La. R.S. 9:273, declaration of intent(legis.la.gov).gov
  31. La. R.S. 9:307, divorce or separation in a covenant marriage(legis.la.gov).gov
  32. La. R.S. 9:275, existing marriages; conversion to covenant marriage(legis.la.gov).gov
  33. La. R.S. 9:245, marriage certificate(legis.la.gov).gov
  34. La. R.S. 9:253, disposition and recordation of marriage certificates(legis.la.gov).gov
  35. La. R.S. 9:254, penalties for officiants(legis.la.gov).gov
  36. La. R.S. 40:40, vital records fees (Orleans marriage license)(legis.la.gov).gov
  37. La. R.S. 9:227, no-record letter in lieu of birth certificate(legis.la.gov).gov
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