Ascension Parish Marriage Records
Ascension Parish marriage records are filed with the Clerk of Court, which has offices in both Gonzales and Donaldsonville. The 23rd Judicial District Court covers this parish. Whether you need to apply for a marriage license, search for a past record, or obtain a certified copy of a marriage document, the Clerk of Court handles all of it. Online search tools are also available for those who want to look up records without visiting in person.
Ascension Parish Quick Facts
Ascension Parish Clerk of Court
Bridget Hanna is the Clerk of Court for Ascension Parish. Her office is self-supporting and operates entirely from statutory fees rather than tax money. The main office is at the courthouse in Gonzales. There is a second office in Donaldsonville for residents in the southern part of the parish. Both offices handle marriage license applications.
Ascension Parish is one of the faster-growing parishes in Louisiana. The Gonzales courthouse on East Worthey Street is the primary location for most filings. The Donaldsonville office on Houmas Street serves the historic parish seat and surrounding area. If you are not sure which office is closer, check the addresses below or call ahead before you drive out.
The office has an online record search system called ACCESS, which stands for Ascension Clerk Electronic Search System. It covers mortgage, conveyance, maps, criminal, traffic, civil, and marriage records. This means you can look up marriage license records online without going to the courthouse.
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court marriage licenses page explains the full process, what documents you need, and how the license works. Read it before you apply.
The page above has current information about the marriage license application process in Ascension Parish, including what to bring and how the waiting period works.
| Gonzales Office (Main) |
607 E. Worthey Street, 1st Floor Gonzales, LA 70737 Phone: (225) 621-8400 opt 7 Fax: (225) 621-8403 Email: bhanna@ascensionclerk.com |
|---|---|
| Donaldsonville Office |
300 Houmas St. Donaldsonville, LA 70346 Phone: (225) 473-9866 Fax: (225) 473-0758 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 192, Donaldsonville, LA 70346 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | ascensionclerk.com |
Getting a Marriage License in Ascension Parish
Both parties must appear in person at either the Gonzales or Donaldsonville office to apply for a marriage license. There is no online application option for the actual license issuance. You both need to be present and bring the required documents. The clerk will not issue the license if only one person shows up.
One thing to keep in mind: the online marriage license worksheet on the Ascension Parish website starts with a clear notice. It says that if you are not getting married in Louisiana, you should stop, because you cannot apply for a Louisiana marriage license for a ceremony outside the state. If your ceremony is in Louisiana, you are good to go.
Under R.S. 9:222, a marriage license issued in Ascension Parish is valid for use anywhere in Louisiana. You are not locked in to having the ceremony in Ascension Parish. The license is good for 30 days from the date of issue. Do not let it expire. If you miss the 30-day window, you have to start over.
Louisiana requires a waiting period between when you get the license and when the ceremony can happen. Under R.S. 9:241, that wait is typically 24 to 72 hours depending on the parish. A judge can waive it under R.S. 9:242 for good cause. Contact the Ascension Parish clerk to confirm the current waiting period before you schedule your ceremony.
What to bring when you apply:
- Valid photo ID for each applicant
- Certified birth certificate for each person
- Social Security numbers for both parties
- Parents' names, birthplaces, and mother's maiden name
- Proof of prior marriage dissolution if applicable
Under R.S. 9:225, if either party was previously married, you must show that the prior marriage ended before a new license is issued. Bring a certified divorce decree or death certificate. Both parties must be at least 18, or 16 to 17 with both parents present to give consent.
Search Ascension Parish Marriage Records Online
Ascension Parish has its own online search system called ACCESS. You can reach it through the Ascension Clerk records search page. The system covers marriage records, mortgage records, conveyance filings, maps, criminal cases, traffic matters, and civil cases. It is a broad tool that makes searching for multiple record types straightforward.
Marriage records in the ACCESS system include license indexes. You can search by name to see if a marriage license was filed. For the full document or a certified copy, you need to contact the clerk office directly. The online system shows you the record exists; the office gives you the official document with the clerk's seal.
The eClerksLA statewide portal also covers Ascension Parish. This is useful if you want to check multiple parishes at once or if you are not sure which parish holds a specific record. eClerksLA is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court website above is the main hub for record searches, office information, and the online ACCESS system for marriage records and other filings.
Note: The Clerk of Court's office is entirely self-supporting and funded through fees for services, not tax revenue.
Louisiana Marriage Record Resources
Beyond the parish clerk, several state resources can help you search for Ascension Parish marriage records or obtain certified copies of marriage documents.
The Louisiana Department of Health keeps certified marriage certificates for events from 1946 forward. A certificate from the health department shows that the marriage took place but does not include the full license details. It is often used to change a name or to show marital status. For the complete license document with all applicant information, the Clerk of Court is the right source.
The Louisiana State Archives holds historical vital records and parish documents going back many generations. If you are doing genealogical research or looking for a very old marriage record, the archives may have what the parish clerk does not. The collection includes records from across Louisiana's 64 parishes.
The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority portal provides a statewide index of court records from participating clerks, including Ascension Parish. It is a good tool for broad searches across multiple parishes or for finding where a record was originally filed.
The eClerksLA eVault portal above provides statewide access to Louisiana marriage license records and other court documents from participating parish clerks of court.
Cities in Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish includes several communities. Prairieville is a qualifying city in Ascension Parish. All marriage licenses for residents of Ascension Parish are issued by the Clerk of Court. Visit the Prairieville marriage records page for city-specific information. Other communities in the parish include Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Sorrento, and Lutcher.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Ascension Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records. If you are unsure which parish handles your records, check the address of your residence or where the marriage took place.