Are Louisiana Marriage Records Available to the Public?
Marriage records in Louisiana become available to the general public after 50 years. This means that a Louisiana Marriage Record becomes public 50 years from the date it was issued. Louisiana is a “closed records” state, and public records are, usually, only available to a specified set of people. Typically, these are the parties named on the records, their immediate families, and their authorized legal representatives.
Family Court records can include marriage records and divorce records. These records contain personal information of those involved, and their maintenance is critical should anyone involved wish to make changes. Because of this, both marriage and divorce records can be considered more difficult to locate and obtain than other public records, and may not be available through government sources or third-party public record websites.
How to Find Louisiana Marriage Records
Marriage records encompass all the legal documents establishing union of two people as a couple in a family unit. Louisiana prepares marriage records for unions between men and women as well as same-sex unions. The state keeps both court and public marriage records.
How to Find Out if Someone is Married in Louisiana
Louisiana law grants access to marriage records for interested requesters. To gain access to this, the interested party must send a request to the court's office for vital records. Alternatively, they can use third-party aggregate sites.
What is Considered a Marriage Record in Louisiana?
Louisiana marriage records refer to legal documents that retain all the information about marriages approved in the state. In Louisiana, for marriages outside the Parish of Orleans, these Louisiana public marriage records are maintained by the Court Clerks of the various parishes where marriage licenses were issued. Copies of records for marriages that occurred in Orleans parish are retained by the Louisiana Department of Health.
Both government websites and organizations may offer divorce and marriage records. Similarly, third-party public record websites can also provide these types of records. But because third-party organizations are not operated or sponsored by the government, record availability may vary. Further, marriage and divorce records are considered highly private and are often sealed, meaning the availability of these types of records cannot be guaranteed.
How to Change Your Name After Marriage in Louisiana
The first step to performing a name change after marriage in Louisiana is locating the marriage license that certified the wedding occurred. To facilitate the name change, parties should fill out and submit an SS-5 form to the Louisiana Social Security Administration (SSA) office. The SSA typically mails new cards displaying the updated name after two to three weeks.
It is also necessary for parties to inform authorities, such as the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles, of their name change. To do this, parties must submit their current driver's license, a certified copy of their marriage certificate, proof of insurance, and a $13 cash payment.
What is Considered a Marriage Certificate in Louisiana?
A Louisiana marriage certificate is a legal document that verifies that two persons are legally married in the state. Typically, a marriage license will include the following information:
- Names of the two married individuals (including maiden names)
- Where and when the marriage ceremony occurred
- Name of the official who conducted the ceremony
- Names of witnesses
A Louisiana marriage certificate is available from the Office of the Clerk of Court in the parish where the marriage license was issued. The Louisiana Department of Health provides copies of marriage certificates for Orleans parish.
How Do I Obtain a Marriage Certificate in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, while a couple is applying for their marriage license, they can also pre-pay for their marriage certificate. The marriage certificate is completed by the official who performed the marriage ceremony and returned to the Office of the Clerk of the Court where the license was issued. Couples who pre-paid for their certificates will be mailed the number of copies they paid for, once the certificates become available. Orleans parish charges $5 for each copy of a marriage certificate plus a 50-cent mailing fee. The fees will differ in other parishes.
To obtain a copy of a marriage certificate in Orleans parish, that is less than 50 years, send a request to the Vital Records Registry of the Louisiana Department of Health. Record requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person.
Submit a mail request to:
Vital Records Registry
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70160
Include a completed Orleans Parish Marriage Certificate Application form, a check or money order for the complete fee, and a copy of a valid photo ID when submitting the request.
Submit a request in person by taking a completed Orleans Parish Marriage Certificate Application form; cash, check, or money order for the copy fee; and a valid photo ID to:
Vital Records Central Office
Suite 400
1450 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
To obtain a copy of a marriage certificate that is over 50 years, contact the Louisiana State Archives.
To obtain a copy of a marriage certificate from a parish other than Orleans, contact the Clerk of the Court in the parish where the marriage license was issued.
What is Considered a Marriage License in Louisiana?
A Louisiana marriage license is a document that must be obtained before two persons can legally get married in the state. It represents an approval by the state for both parties, registered on the license, to enter a formal union. For a marriage to be officially recognized by the State of Louisiana, a marriage license must be obtained. Louisiana marriage licenses can be obtained from the Offices of the Clerks of the Court by persons considered eligible to be married and who pay the required fee.
Louisiana Formal Marriage License
A formal marriage license is the typical marriage license issued in Louisiana by a Court Clerk when an eligible couple files an application and satisfies all requirements.
Louisiana Common-Law Marriage License
Common-law marriage is an arrangement between two persons wherein they live together and present themselves as a married couple to the public, despite having no legal documentation which establishes this. Louisiana does not have common-law marriage laws and a common-law marriage cannot be legally enacted in the state. However, a common-law marriage enacted in a state where it is legal will be recognized in the State of Louisiana.
How Do I Obtain a Marriage License in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, a marriage license can be obtained by any two eligible persons, who can provide acceptable IDs, and pay the required fee. To be eligible to receive a marriage license in the state, applicants must be at least 18 years old. Persons younger than 18 years (but over the age of 16) must have written consent from their parents, legal guardians, or possess court orders from juvenile court judges.
To obtain a marriage license in Louisiana, apply to the Clerk of the Court in any parish in the state. Both parties are to be present when submitting the marriage license application at the Clerk’s Office. If one party is unavoidably absent, the application will only be accepted if the signature of the absent party has been separately notarized on the application. When submitting the completed application, applicants must provide:
- Acceptable photo IDs (current driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
- Certified copies of their birth certificates (or birth cards)
- Social security numbers, if born in the U.S. (applicants not born in the U.S. must present valid passports)
- Certified copy of a final divorce decree, if one party is divorced
- Certified copy of a death certificate (of former spouse), if one party is widowed.
The fee for a marriage license will vary from parish to parish but is, typically, between $25 and $35. Applicants should verify the exact fee beforehand. In the State of Louisiana, applicants can also pay for copies of their certified marriage certificate, which will then be mailed to the couple when available.
There is a 24-hour waiting period between the time of issuance of the marriage license and when the ceremony can be held, though this can be waived by a judge. The marriage license is valid for 30 days, from the date it was issued. If 30 days elapsed before the ceremony is held, then the license becomes invalid. It must be returned and a new one obtained. There are no refunds.
After the marriage ceremony, the official who performed the ceremony will fill out a marriage certificate. This document must be signed by the officiant, the couple, and two witnesses. The certificate is then returned to the Clerk’s Office where the license was obtained, where it will be certified and stored.
Are Prenups Public Record in Louisiana?
No. Prenups are considered private agreements signed by two intending parties ready for marriage. Hence, the agreement rests in their bosom and their attorneys. It is not revealed for public access.
