Get your certified Louisiana Marriage Certificate

A marriage license is the document you obtain before your wedding that legally authorizes you to marry in Louisiana. A marriage certificate is the official record proving your marriage took place. After your ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the appropriate office for filing. Once recorded, it becomes the official marriage certificate. You need the certificate for legal purposes like name changes, insurance benefits, tax filing, and immigration applications.

You can obtain a certified copy of a Louisiana marriage certificate from the state vital records office, the county clerk or recorder where the marriage was filed, or online through VitalRecordsOnline.com. For older records, you may need to contact the county directly or the state archives. Processing times vary by method, with online and in-person requests typically being the fastest options.

A certified copy of a Louisiana marriage certificate costs $5 from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. Additional fees may apply for expedited processing. You can also obtain copies from the parish clerk of court where the marriage license was issued, with fees varying by parish.

Yes, you can order a Louisiana marriage certificate online through an approved service provider. You can also apply by mail or in person at the Louisiana Vital Records Registry or at the parish clerk of court where the marriage license was issued.

In Louisiana, eligible requesters include either spouse named on the certificate, immediate family members, or a legal representative. If you need someone else to request the certificate on your behalf, they may use a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA) or a signed affidavit from an authorized applicant.

Louisiana marriage certificate become public records 50 years after the date of the marriage. For records less than 50 years old, access is restricted to eligible individuals with a direct interest.

The Louisiana Health Department’s Office of Public Health (LDH-OPH) does not handle amendments or corrections to marriage records. For information on how to request an amendment, contact the Louisiana clerks of court in the parish where the marriage took place. The required forms may vary depending on the specific changes needed. To make changes to a Louisiana marriage certificate, you will typically need to provide the following:

1. A completed amendment application or a letter detailing the necessary changes.
2. Supporting documentation, such as a government-issued ID.
3. The appropriate fees may vary by parish.
4. A notarized, sworn statement from an authorized individual.

If you lose your marriage certificate:

1. Submit an application for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through VRO. You will need to complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the LDH-OPH.
2. 1. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to a county health department.
   2. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the LDH-OPH at:
      Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics,
      P.O. Box 60630,
      New Orleans, LA 70160
      
   3. For online submissions: Complete the application and upload your documents through the VRO website (payable by credit card online).
2. LDH-OPH will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.

Vital Records Online (VRO) and the Louisiana Secretary of State's Division are the only options for obtaining an apostille for Louisiana's vital records. VRO offers comprehensive apostille services for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees).

To manually mail a request, you will need to provide the following information:

• A written request for the apostille or certificate stating the country to which the document will be sent. The Secretary of the Commission's Division will determine the appropriate authentication for the receiving documents. Make sure to include a daytime telephone number. You can find the Authentication Request Form for reference.
• Include the original notarized document with the printed name of the notary below their signature.
• The notarization must fully comply with the Louisiana Notary Law. If it doesn’t, the document will be returned for correction.
• The fee for each issued marriage certificate is $20.00, except for adoptions, which are $10.00 per certificate.

For express shipping (UPS, DHL, or Federal Express), submit the request to the physical address below:

For standard mail, use the following address: