New Orleans Marriage License Information
 

Fig Street Chapel
New Orleans Weddings

ORLEANS PARISH MARRIAGE LICENSE INFORMATION

New Orleans Fig Street Weddings
504/617-6359

 
  ORLEANS PARISH MARRIAGE LICENSE INFORMATION
  From Informational Packet 17 DHHS Louisiana
   
  The New Orleans Marriage Office is open Monday-Friday 8:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. except state holidays, for purchase of Orleans Parish Marriage Licenses and birth cards. The Orleans Parish Marriage License Office is located at Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 407, in downtown New Orleans. Licenses are issued between 8:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding state holidays). The licenses are valid in any parish in the State of Louisiana. PHONE 504/539-5116
  This list includes the following:
  1. Orleans Parish Marriage License Information
  2. Summary of Requirements for Obtaining a Louisiana Marriage License
  3. Application for Orleans Parish Marriage License
  4. Statement of No Social Security Number (Must be completed by applicants who have not been
  assigned a U.S. Social Security number)
  5. Marriage Officiant Registration Affidavit Form
  6. Waiver of 72 Hour Delay
   
   
  The law governing the issuance of Louisiana Marriage Licenses is found in the Louisiana Revised Statutes (LSA – R.S. 9:201 et seq.). It tells you who may marry, who may officiate at a ceremony, the requirements for obtaining a Marriage License, and other information and instructions related to marriage in general. A marriage license from any Louisiana parish may be used in the same parish or any other Louisiana parish to get married. Your officiant must file your completed marriage certificate in the parish where the license was obtained, and you must obtain certified copies of your marriage certificate from that parish.
   
  In Orleans Parish, licenses are issued at the New Orleans State Marriage Office 1010 Commn St., and at the First City Court, Section D.,Algiers Court House, 225 Morgan Street in Algiers, LA.
  Marriage Licenses are also issued by the Office of the Clerk of Court in each parish. If you would like to obtain a Marriage License in a parish other than Orleans, you need to contact the Office of the Clerk of Court in that parish. Please note that the marriage will be recorded in the parish where the marriage license was purchased. The Marriage License fees vary from parish to parish. You may access the Louisiana Clerk of Court directory at their web site http://www.lafayetteparishclerk.com/district.html
   
  Packet 17 Revised 08/04
   
  REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A MARRIAGE LICENSE
  ORLEANS PARISH, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
   
  The Orleans Parish Marriage License Office is located in the 1010 Common Building. Licenses are issued between 8:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., MONDAY through
  FRIDAY. The licenses are valid in any parish in the State of Louisiana .
  Application for a marriage license may be made by the bride or groom in Louisiana, as only one of the parties must be present if you have all your documents. Applicants must present the following:
  1) A current driver's license, photo ID or their equivalent.
  A list of other acceptable identification documents is available upon request.
  2) A certified copy of a birth certificate or a certified birth card for both parties.
  Louisiana residents may purchase a birth card for this purpose six days a week in the marriage
  office.
  Non-residents may apply to have this requirement waived Monday-Friday during normal
  business hours ONLY by a Judge of the First City Court. A valid passport is acceptable as
  proof of ID and birth (items 1 and 2).
  3) Applicants must provide both Social Security numbers.
  If no number has been issued, that person must sign a statement to that effect and must appear
  in person. This form is available in the marriage office and on our web-site.
  4) If either party has been divorced, s/he must provide the date of the final divorce decree. A
  widow/er must provide the date of death of the former spouse when they apply for a license to
  marry.
  A seventy-two hour waiting period is required by law between the time of issuance of the license and
  the ceremony. Judges of the First or Second City Courts are authorized by law to waive the waiting
  period for Louisiana residents and they can do this during their Monday-Friday hours of operation. A 72 Hour Waiver is not needed to secure a license. It is submitted with the license after the ceremony.
  ONLY. Also, if either the bride or groom is from OUT-OF-STATE, the services will occur in Orleans
  parish AND be performed by a registered Orleans officiant, that officiant can waive this waiting
  period. The waiver MUST be attached to the completed marriage certificate when it is returned to
  Vital Records.
  Louisiana does not require a pre-marital medical examination or a blood test.
  Marriage under the age of eighteen (18) is prohibited by law, except as follows: Applicants over the
  age of sixteen (16) but less than eighteen (18) must have the signed consent of both parents, or an
  order from a Judge of Juvenile Court. Females under sixteen (16) will be issued a license ONLY upon
  the written order of the Juvenile Court Judge.
  A marriage license expires and becomes invalid at midnight thirty (30) days after the date of issuance.
  If the service is postponed, you must turn in the old license and purchase a new one.
  You are encouraged to purchase one or more certified copies of your final Marriage Certificate when
  you apply for your license. Certified copies of a Marriage Certificate cost $5.00 + a $.50 mailing
  charge per transaction.
  PRICE OF A LICENSE: $27.50
  (by statute $12.50 of this fee goes to the Family Violence Trust Fund)
  ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
  SAMPLE
   
  APPLICATION FOR ORLEANS PARISH MARRIAGE LICENSE
  DHH-OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, DIVISION OF VITAL RECORDS & HEALTH STATISTICS
  PHS 4 REVISED 8/02/04
  DATE OF ANTICIPATED MARRIAGE: ___________________________
  MAIDEN NAME OF BRIDE FIRST NAME SECOND OR MIDDLE NAME
  ____________________________________________, _______________________________ ____________________________________
  STREET ADDRESS APT #/OTHER CITY IN LIMITS ZIP CODE
  ______________________________________ _______________, _______________________________ YES OR NO __________
  PARISH OR COUNTY STATE//COUNTRY
  __________________________________, ____________________________________________________________
  RACE BIRTH DATE STATE /COUNTRY OF BIRTH
  __________________________________ _____________________________ ________________________________________
  NUMBER OF THIS MARRIAGE LAST MARRIAGE ENDED BY : LAST MARRIAGE END DATE
  _____________________________ DEATH DIVORCE ANNULMENT ______________________________
  EDUCATION – CIRCLE HIGHEST COMPLETED : ELEMENTARY 0, 1, 2, 3, 4… H.S. 1, 2, 3 OR 4 COLLEGE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+
  SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: _______________________________ IF NONE, ATTACH COMPLETED AND SIGNED STRAT#EMENT OF NO SSN .
  FATHER' LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE STATE OF BIRTH * MOTHER' MAIDEN NAME, FIRST, MIDDLE STATE OF BIRTH
  _________________________________________ ________________ * ____________________________________________ ___________________
  LAST NAME OF GROOM GENERATION FIRST NAME SECOND OR MIDDLE NAME
  ______________________________________, ______________. ______________________________ ____________________________________
  STREET ADDRESS APT #/OTHER CITY IN LIMIT ZIP CODE
  _________________________________________, _______________, _______________________________ YES OR NO _______________
  PARISH OR COUNTY STATE//COUNTRY
  __________________________________, ______________________________________________
  RACE BIRTH DATE STATE /COUNTRY OF BIRTH
  _________________________________ __________________________________ ____________________________________________
  NUMBER OF THIS MARRIAGE LAST MARRIAGE ENDED BY : LAST MARRIAGE END DATE
  _________________________ ___ DEATH DIVORCE ANNULMENT
  EDUCATION – CIRCLE HIGHEST COMPLETED : ELEMENTARY 0, 1, 2, 3, 4… H.S. 1, 2, 3 OR 4 COLLEGE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+
  SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: ________________________________ IF NONE, ATTACH COMPLETED AND SIGNED STATEMENT OF NO SSN .
  FATHER' LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, MIDDLE STATE OF BIRTH * MOTHER' MAIDEN NAME, FIRST, MIDDLE STATE OF BIRTH
  ________________________________________ __________________ * ______________________________________________ _________________
  State of Louisiana
  Parish of Orleans
   
   
  STATEMENT OF NO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
  TO APPLY FOR A LOUISIANA MARRIAGE LICENSE
  I, ____________________________________________________________________ (Groom)
  and/or
  _______________________________________________________________________ (Bride)
  state that I/we have never been issued a Social Security Number, and that this statement is
  made to comply with R.S. 9:224(A)(6) and R.S. 9:22(B), as they relate to the requirements for
  issuance of a marriage license.
  ________________________________________ _________________________________
  Signature of Groom Date
  ________________________________________ _________________________________
  Signature of Bride Date
  ________________________________________ _________________________________
  Signature of Marriage Clerk Date Accepted at Marriage Office
  Marriage License applicants in Louisiana are required to submit their Social Security Numbers
  on the Application for Marriage License.
  This Statement must be completed and submitted with the Louisiana Marriage License
  Application in cases where a Social Security Number has not been issued to the Bride and/or the
  Groom.
   
   
  MARRIAGE OFFICIANT REGISTRATION AFFADAVIT
  SAMPLE
   
   
  STATE OF LOUISIANA, PARISH OF _________________________
  BEFORE ME, the undersigned notary, personally came and appeared
  ______________________________, who being first sworn by me deposed and stated:
  (Print Officiant' Name)
  That he (she) is a priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, or
  any clergyman or any religious sect, who is authorized by the authorities of his religion
  to perform marriages and officiates principally at
  _____________________________________,
  (Name of church or location)
  That he (she) is a resident of ______________________________________,
  (Street address)
  ____________________________, ___________________, __________,
  (City) (State) (Zip code)
  And, that he (she) makes this affidavit for the purpose of registering as a person
  authorized to celebrate marriages in the State and Parish as required by LSA-R.S. 9:202
  (1).
  Signature of Officiant: _____________________________________
  Sworn and subscribed before me this ___________day of _______________, _______
  _________________________________________________________
  (Printed Name, then Signature of Notary Public)
  My Notary State Registration Number ________________Expires on ___________
  Revised 8/04
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  STATE OF LOUISIANA
  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS
  Date: July 10, 2003
  To: Orleans Parish Marriage Officiant
  From: State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health
  Vital Records Registry
  Marriage License Office
  An officiant may not perform a marriage ceremony until seventy-two (72) hours have elapsed since the issuance of the marriage license (R.S. 9:241).
  However, a judge or justice of the peace authorized to perform the marriage may waive the 72 hour delay upon application of the parties giving " and meritorious reasons" the waiver is not needed to secure a license. The officiant' ""
  authorizing the immediate performance of the ceremony must be attached to the marriage license (R.S. 9:242(A)).In Orleans Parish, an officiant may waive the 72 hour period for NON-RESIDENT parties upon application of the parties giving " and meritorious reasons" (R.S. 9:242 (B).
  (Note that a "" is a person domiciled or residing in a jurisdiction other than the State of
  Louisiana).
  The Vital Records Registrar suggests that you use the following format, on your letterhead, for the non-resident, 72 hour waiver. The waiver is attached to the returned license.
 
  SAMPLE
   
  To: Louisiana Vital Records Registrar
  Re: Louisiana Marriage License # __________________________
  Application has been made this____ day of _______________, 200__
  by _________________________________________ and ______________________________________,
  who are non-residents of Louisiana, to waive the R.S. 9:241 et. seq. delays.
  I find that serious and meritorious reasons exist/existed for the immediate performance of the
  marriage between the above-mentioned parties and, therefore, I have waived the 72 hour
  requirement and I have performed the ceremony.
  Signed this ________ day of ___________________, 200___ in Orleans Parish.
  ________________________________________________
  Chaplain Jerry Schwehm Fig Street Ministry

 

Helpful Wedding Planning Links:
  1. New Orleans Weddings Information
  2. New Orleans Wedding Planning Links
  3. New Orleans Marriage License Information
  4. New Orleans Sample Wedding Ceremony
  5. New Orleans Wedding Rental Halls
  6. References for Chaplain Jerry Schwehm
  7. New Orleans Marriage License: Packet of Sample Forms

  Chaplain Jerry Kenneth Schwehm, a native of New Orleans,  served as as Justice of the Peace in 1990 to 1994 in  Slidell, La. and was ordained in 1989 as a Lay Minister after serving as Elder and Deacon in his church for many years. He has a BA and JD from Louisiana State University (1972) and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from a  local Bible Church in 1990. He has performed numerous wedding ceremonies over 18 years and is available in the Greater New Orleans area to perform your personalized marriage ceremony. He will go to your location or at his office in Fig Street Art Studio now in St. Tammany Parish. Chaplain Schwehm is President and Moderator of the American Association of Wedding Officiants, a professional officiants group.

Members of the American Association of Wedding Officiants.

      
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NOTICE Vital Records Central Office will offer walk-in services at Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras St, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA beginning on Monday, February 28, 2011. Vital Records services at the Jefferson Parish Health Unit - Metairie will not be available after Friday, February 25, 2011. The Orleans Parish Marriage Office will move from 1010 Common Street to Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras St, Suite 407, New Orleans, LA beginning on Monday, February 28, 2011. Effective Monday, February 28, 2011 the Vital Records Customer Serivce Call Center can be reached at 504-593-5100 .