The Clerk of Court is able to aid couples in their marriage preparation by providing the marriage license. The license, which expires thirty days from the date of issuance, must be obtained at least seventy-two hours prior to the wedding ceremony. The cost of acquiring a license is twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents.

 

Only one party need be present to obtain the license. However, the following information and documentation is required of both applicants for the completion of the marriage license:

 

Certified birth certificates and or birth cards.

Social security numbers.

Full names, places of residence, race, and ages.

Names and birth places of the applicants’ parents.

The number of previous marriages and, if applicable, whether divorced or not. You must know the month and year of any prior divorce. Widows and widowers must know the month and year of the death of their former spouse.

Louisiana law states both parties must be eighteen years of age to marry without parental consent. Applicants sixteen and seventeen years of age must have the written consent of both parents. Applicants under the age of sixteen must have authorization from a district court judge in addition to the written consent of both parents.

 

While marriage licenses may be obtained from any parish Clerk of Court’s office throughout the state of Louisiana, West Baton Rouge Parish is unique in its offering of the Poydras Fund dowry. The program, sponsored by the West Baton Rouge Parish Council, is available to females who have resided in West Baton Rouge Parish for the previous five years prior to their marriage. Additional information is available upon request.