Before you say I do
How to get a marriage license in New Orleans
What to bring, what it costs, how long it lasts — and how the 24-hour waiting period waiver lets visiting couples marry the same week they arrive.
Step by step
The license process, in order
1. Gather your documents
Both of you appear together in person with a valid government photo ID (passport or driver's license) and your Social Security numbers. If either of you has been married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate for the most recent marriage. Anyone born outside the United States should bring a certified birth certificate.
2. Apply in person at a Louisiana Vital Records office
Licenses are issued by the Louisiana Department of Health's Vital Records Registry. In New Orleans the office is downtown; a Louisiana license is valid anywhere in the state, so you can also apply at any parish clerk's office if that is easier on your travel days.
3. Pay the license fee
Expect a license fee plus any certified-copy fee at the counter. Fees and accepted payment methods change from time to time, so confirm the current amount on the state page before you go.
4. Mind the timing
Louisiana licenses carry a 24-hour waiting period before the ceremony and are valid for 30 days from issue. Plan your appointment at least a day before your ceremony unless you're using the waiver below.
5. Bring the license to your ceremony
I sign and file the completed license after your ceremony. Louisiana no longer requires witnesses, but I provide them if you'd like signatures on your keepsake certificate.
Requirements and fees are set by the state and can change. Always confirm the current details on the Louisiana Department of Health marriage license page before your trip.
The 24-hour waiver
Marrying on a short trip
Most couples I marry fly in for a few days. Louisiana's 24-hour waiting period can be waived for non-residents through a judge's order, which means you can collect your license and hold your ceremony without losing a day of your trip. Tell me your travel dates and I'll tell you exactly when to be at the office and what to ask for.
Send me your datesQuick facts
- Both partners apply together, in person
- Valid photo ID and Social Security numbers required
- Divorce decree or death certificate for a prior marriage
- No blood test required in Louisiana
- License valid statewide for 30 days
- 24-hour wait, waivable for non-residents
Common questions
Can we get married the same day we get our license?
Only with a waiver. Louisiana imposes a 24-hour waiting period between issuing the license and the ceremony. Non-residents can request a judicial waiver, and I help couples arrange this for same-day and next-morning French Quarter elopements all the time.
Do we need to be Louisiana residents?
No. Most of the couples I marry travel here. Out-of-state and international couples get the same license; the waiver option exists specifically for non-residents on short trips.
How long is the license valid?
Thirty days from the date of issue. If your trip is longer than a month out, wait to apply until you're closer to your wedding date.
Do we need witnesses or blood tests?
Louisiana requires neither a blood test nor witnesses. I can still provide witnesses so your ceremony feels complete and your keepsake certificate is signed.
Who files the license after the wedding?
I do. After your ceremony I complete and return the license to the issuing office, and you request certified copies from Vital Records afterward.