Shreveport Marriage Records

Shreveport marriage records are filed and kept at the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, located in downtown Shreveport. The clerk's office is the only place to get a marriage license or a certified copy of a marriage record for Shreveport and all of Caddo Parish. This page covers the office location, what to bring, fees, and how to search records online or by mail.

Caddo Parish Clerk of Court - Shreveport

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court, currently Mike Spence, is responsible for all marriage records in Shreveport. The clerk's office has kept Caddo Parish marriage records since 1835, making it one of the older record collections in northern Louisiana. If you need a marriage license, a certified copy, or want to search historical records, this is where you go.

The office is at 501 Texas Street, Room 103, Shreveport, LA 71101. They are on the first floor of the Parish Courthouse in downtown Shreveport. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The main phone line is (318) 226-6780. Fax is (318) 226-6779. For copy requests specifically, you can call the Copy Department at (318) 226-6642 or email copies@caddoclerk.com.

The clerk's office handles marriage licenses, mortgages, conveyances, civil suits, criminal cases, and court minutes for the First Judicial District Court. Marriage licenses are just one part of what this office manages. The staff are familiar with record requests and can help you search by name or date if you do not have a case number.

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court website above has current information on marriage licenses, certified copies, fees, and contact details for the Shreveport office.

Getting a Marriage License in Shreveport

Both parties must appear in person at the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court to get a marriage license. You cannot send a proxy or complete the process entirely online. Both people must show up at the same time with all required documents. If you are missing anything, you will need to come back.

Louisiana law requires a 24-hour waiting period between the time the license is issued and the time of the ceremony. Plan your schedule with this in mind. The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. It is valid anywhere in Louisiana but not outside the state. You do not have to be a Caddo Parish resident to get your license in Shreveport. Anyone can apply here.

Certified copies of a marriage record cost $6.00 each, plus any applicable postage and credit card processing fees. To request copies by phone, call (318) 226-6642. To request by email, write to copies@caddoclerk.com. Include the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, and a mailing address for delivery.

The Caddo Parish Clerk marriage license page above lists the full requirements, fees, and process for getting a marriage license in Shreveport at the courthouse on Texas Street.

Documents Needed for Shreveport Marriage Records

Both parties must bring valid photo identification when they apply. A driver's license, state-issued ID card, or passport works. Each person also needs a certified birth certificate. Uncertified copies are not accepted. Bring Social Security numbers for both parties and be ready to provide both parents' names and birthplaces, including the mother's maiden name.

If either person was previously married, you must bring proof that the marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse is required. Louisiana law requires this before a new license can be issued. This applies regardless of where the prior marriage or divorce occurred.

Note: Any person under 18 must have judicial authorization before a marriage license can be issued in Louisiana.

Search Shreveport Marriage Records Online

The Caddo Parish Clerk of Court participates in Clerk Connect, a statewide system that allows full inquiry and e-recording for court documents. Civil e-filing is also available through Clerk Connect for applicable case types. This is one of the more accessible systems for searching Shreveport marriage records without visiting the courthouse.

You can also search through eClerksLA, the statewide portal that covers marriage license indexes from participating Louisiana parishes. Caddo Parish records are available through this system. You can search by name and date range. Results show what is in the index, and you can follow up with the clerk's office for certified copies.

The City of Shreveport website above can help you find general city services information, including referrals to parish offices that handle marriage records and vital documents.

The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) provides another avenue for statewide record searches. If you need an older record or are researching genealogy, the Louisiana State Archives is the best resource for records going back to the 1800s. Caddo Parish marriage records have been kept since 1835, and some of that collection is accessible through the archives.

Caddo Parish Marriage Records and Shreveport

Shreveport is the parish seat of Caddo Parish. All marriage records for the city are Caddo Parish records. There is no separate city marriage record office. The parish clerk handles everything from the courthouse on Texas Street. Residents of Bossier City, located just across the Red River in Bossier Parish, use a different clerk for their marriage licenses.

For the Louisiana Department of Health certified marriage certificates, which cover events after 1946, you can contact LDH directly. These certificates are shorter than the full clerk record but are accepted for most legal purposes. For the complete marriage license application and all details, the Caddo Parish Clerk is the right source.

Note: The Caddo Parish Clerk's office handles both in-person requests and mail-in copy requests through the Copy Department.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Shreveport. Bossier City is directly across the Red River and uses the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court for marriage licenses.