Evangeline Parish Marriage Records
Evangeline Parish marriage records are filed and kept at the Clerk of Court office in Ville Platte. The 13th Judicial District Court serves Evangeline Parish, and the Clerk handles all marriage licenses, certified copies, and record searches for this area. Whether you are applying for a new license or trying to find an older marriage record, the office in Ville Platte is where you start. Online access through eClerksLA is available for many record types, including marriage license indexes from Evangeline Parish.
Evangeline Parish Quick Facts
Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court in Evangeline Parish handles all marriage records for the parish. This office issues licenses, stores the documents, and provides certified copies to anyone who needs them. It is part of the 13th Judicial District Court. The office sits at 200 Court Street, Room 100, in Ville Platte. If you need a marriage license or need to look up an existing record, this is the only office in the parish that handles it. Staff there can walk you through the steps and tell you what to bring.
Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on state and federal holidays. If you are applying for a license, arrive with enough time before closing to finish the paperwork. For quick questions, call (337) 363-5671 before making the trip out. The fax number is (337) 363-5673 for written inquiries sent by fax.
Mail requests go to P.O. Box 347, Ville Platte, LA 70586. Written requests for certified copies should include the names of both parties, the approximate date of the marriage, and your contact information. Allow extra time for mail processing compared to an in-person request.
The eVault Louisiana portal gives online access to Evangeline Parish court records, including marriage license indexes. This system lets you search without going to the courthouse. It is part of the broader eClerksLA network that serves many Louisiana parishes.
The portal above connects to Evangeline Parish marriage records through the statewide eClerksLA system. Use it to search indexes and confirm a record exists before contacting the office for a certified copy.
| Office Address |
200 Court Street, Room 100 Ville Platte, LA 70586 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 347, Ville Platte, LA 70586 |
| Phone | (337) 363-5671 |
| Fax | (337) 363-5673 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 13th Judicial District Court |
Getting a Marriage License in Evangeline Parish
Both people applying must appear in person at the Clerk of Court office. You cannot apply by mail or online. Both parties must show up together and bring the right documents. Missing something means a second trip, so check what you need before you go.
Under Louisiana law at R.S. 9:222, a marriage license issued in any Louisiana parish is valid throughout the entire state. You do not have to get your license in the parish where the ceremony will take place. Couples who live in Evangeline Parish can get their license here and use it anywhere in Louisiana. The license is good for 30 days from the date it is issued. If you do not use it in that window, it expires and you have to start over.
There is a 72-hour waiting period in Evangeline Parish before the ceremony can take place. Under R.S. 9:241, the waiting period begins when the license is issued. A judge can waive it in limited circumstances, but that is not standard. Factor in the full 72 hours when you pick your ceremony date. Do not plan to apply the day before and get married the next morning.
The fee falls in the standard Louisiana range of roughly $27.50 to $32. Bring cash or a check payable to the Clerk of Court. Confirm current payment options when you call the office. Certified copies of the marriage record cost extra and are purchased separately if you need them after the wedding.
Note: Same-sex couples may apply for a marriage license in Evangeline Parish on the same terms as all other applicants.
Documents Needed for Evangeline Parish Marriage Records
You need to bring the right paperwork when you apply. The clerk cannot issue a license without it. Both people must bring their own documents. Do not assume the other person has everything covered.
Each applicant needs a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or state ID card. You also need a certified birth certificate. A regular copy will not work. Certified means it carries the official seal from the issuing office. Social Security numbers are required for both parties. The clerk also asks for both parents' full names and birthplaces, plus each mother's maiden name.
If either person was married before, Louisiana law under R.S. 9:225 requires proof that the prior marriage ended. Bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse. A plain photocopy will not be accepted. The clerk needs the certified version with an official seal or stamp. This applies whether the previous marriage ended by divorce or by death of the former spouse.
Applicants between 16 and 17 years old need consent from both parents. No one under 16 can get a marriage license in Louisiana. If parental consent is required, both parents must either appear in person or provide notarized written consent. Bring proof of age for any minor applicant.
The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority portal above provides statewide access to parish clerk records. Use it to search Evangeline Parish marriage license indexes or look up other court records from this parish.
Search Evangeline Parish Marriage Records Online
The main online option for Evangeline Parish marriage records is eClerksLA. This statewide portal for Louisiana parish clerks of court runs around the clock. You can look up marriage license indexes from Evangeline Parish without going to the courthouse. It covers other court record types as well. Results from eClerksLA give you index-level information to confirm a record exists.
The LCRAA portal is another statewide tool that lets you search records from participating Louisiana parishes. Marriage records from Evangeline Parish may appear in this system too. If one search comes up short, try the other. Both are free to use for basic searches, though fees may apply for document access.
For historical Evangeline Parish marriage records, check the Louisiana State Archives. The archives hold vital records from parishes across the state, including old marriage documents that may go back many decades. If the Clerk of Court does not have the record you need, the archives are the next place to look.
The Louisiana State Archives holds records from parishes across the state. If you are searching for an older Evangeline Parish marriage record, the archives may have what the parish clerk no longer keeps on file.
The Louisiana Department of Health issues certified marriage certificates for events recorded after 1946. These certificates are shorter than the full license but are accepted for many legal purposes. If you only need proof that a marriage occurred, LDH can be a faster option than the parish clerk. For the complete license application with all details, the Clerk of Court in Ville Platte is the right place.
Note: Online portals provide index information. For certified copies with legal standing, contact the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court directly at (337) 363-5671.
Cities in Evangeline Parish
Evangeline Parish includes several communities, with Ville Platte serving as the parish seat and largest city. All marriage licenses for residents and ceremonies in Evangeline Parish are handled by the Clerk of Court in Ville Platte. Communities in the parish include Ville Platte, Mamou, Basile, Turkey Creek, and Pine Prairie.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border or sit near Evangeline Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records. If you are not sure which parish to contact, go by where the ceremony will take place or where you live.