Marriage Department

Marriage Licenses are issued from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday except for legal holidays, at the Lafayette Parish Courthouse located at 800 South Buchanan Street, Lafayette, La 70501.

The license is valid for ceremonies performed in Louisiana only and must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony. It expires 30 days from the date and time of issuance.

In order to serve you as efficiently as we can, you can complete your marriage application online, prior to coming into our office. Simply type in all of the requested information and then click submit. You will then have a confirmation screen that provides you with a confirmation number. Bring this confirmation number with you to our office within 30 days of completing the online application, along with all the required documents listed below. We will not issue Marriage Licenses without the proper documentation. You can fill out an online marriage application using the link on the sidebar.

Pursuant to applicable Louisiana Statutes, only one party is required to come in to purchase the marriage license. The applying party must provide items 1 through 4 for both parties.

  1. Proof of Birth (one of the following must be presented):

    • Certified Birth Certificate

    • Certified Birth Card

    • Certified Birth Registration

    • Certified Certificate of Birth Abroad

    • Certified Certificate of Naturalization

    • Letter of No Record of Birth from Vital Records

    • Waiver from a Judge or Justice of the Peace

    Louisiana birth records are available in our office. See link to the right for more information.

    In addition, a photocopy of the birth record must be retained by the Clerk of Court. You may provide the photocopy. If one is not provided, the copy fee is $1.00 per page.

  2. Social Security Numbers

    Social Security numbers must be provided or a statement by the applicable party that no social security number has been issued to him as required by R.S. 9:224. Our office provides a Statement of No Social Security Number in the event you do not have one.

  3. Prior Marriages/Documentation

    If you were previously married, you will have to provide the date of your most recent spouses' death or the date the final divorce judgment was signed. It is recommended that you bring a copy of these documents to guarantee accuracy.

  4. Fees

    The marriage license fee is $27.50 plus $4.00 per page for each attachment, which includes waivers, statements of no social security number and parental consent forms payable in cash or credit/debit card.

    A certified copy of the marriage license is $5.00. If the fee is paid when the marriage license is purchased, you will receive the certified copy by mail once the legal document has been recorded.

Age Requirements

To purchase a marriage license, you must be of the age of majority, which is 18 years old. A marriage license cannot be issued to a minor under the age of 16. A minor 16 or 17 years of age may not marry a person of the age of majority where there is an age difference of three years or greater between them. If a minor is 16 or 17 years of age, both the father and mother of the minor, or the person having legal custody of the minor, or the tutor of the minor must be present with identification to sign a consent waiver. In addition to the parental consent requirement, a judicial authorization signed by a Judge is required before a marriage license can be issued.

Relationship

State law (CC Art. 90) prohibits the marriage of persons who are related by blood or adoption with the fourth degree collateral.

Blood tests are no longer required.

A convenience fee of 3.00% will be assessed to each credit/debit card transaction. There is a minimum convenience fee of $1.00 for all transactions under $33.00.