Find Marriage Records in Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish marriage records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Gretna. The 24th Judicial District Court serves this parish. Jon Gegenheimer is the current Clerk of Court. Whether you need to apply for a license, get a certified copy of a past record, or search historical marriage license indexes, the Clerk's office has two locations to serve residents on both sides of the Mississippi River. Online access through eClerksLA covers marriage license indexes from January 1, 1933 to the present.

Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court

The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court operates two offices to serve this large parish. The main office is on the West Bank in Gretna. An East Bank office is at the Joseph S. Yenni Building in Jefferson. The marriage department email is marriageinfo@jpclerkofcourt.us. Both offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Public servants serving the public is how the clerk's office describes its mission. The office handles marriage license applications, record searches, and certified copy requests. If you have a question about what you need to bring or how the process works, the staff can help. Contacting the marriage department directly by email before your visit is a good way to get answers fast.

Jefferson Parish is the second largest parish in Louisiana by population. The clerk's office processes a high volume of license applications and record requests. Plan ahead, and have your documents ready when you arrive.

The official Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court website above has current information on office locations, hours, and the marriage license process for this parish.

Jefferson Parish Marriage License Process

The marriage license fee in Jefferson Parish is $27.50. There is a 24-hour waiting period before the license can be used for a ceremony. If you need to waive the wait, the fee is $4.00 per waiver. The license is valid for 30 days from the date and time it is issued. If you do not use it within that window, it expires.

Under Louisiana law at R.S. 9:222, a marriage license from any Louisiana parish is valid statewide. You can get your license in Jefferson Parish even if your ceremony is elsewhere in Louisiana. The license is not valid for ceremonies held outside the state. Certified copies of the marriage record cost $10.00 each.

The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court marriage license page above outlines the current requirements, fees, and steps for applying in Jefferson Parish.

Both parties must appear in person to apply. Bring a valid photo ID, certified birth certificate, and your Social Security number. If either party was previously married, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate. Under R.S. 9:241, the 24-hour waiting period begins at the time of issuance.

Note: The 24-hour waiting period can be waived by a judge in certain cases, but this requires a separate filing and a $4.00 fee per waiver.

Search Jefferson Parish Marriage Records Online

Jefferson Parish marriage license indexes are available online through eClerksLA. This statewide portal gives you access to records from January 1, 1933 to the present. You can search by name or date range without going to the courthouse. It is available any time and does not require a login for basic index searches.

The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal also covers Jefferson Parish. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court joined LCRAA on August 1, 2018. LCRAA was established in 2014 as a bold initiative of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association to provide the public with access to all Louisiana clerks of court indices. Through LCRAA, you can access mortgage and conveyance indices from January 1, 1967 to present, civil indices from May 1, 1977, and marriage license indices from January 1, 1933 to present.

The eClerksLA portal above provides online access to Jefferson Parish marriage license indexes from 1933 forward. Use it to search before contacting the office for certified copies.

The LCRAA fee assists clerks of court to acquire and maintain technology infrastructure needed for back-imaging records, data preservation, and e-recording and e-filing initiatives. For certified copies with full legal standing, contact the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court directly.

The LCRAA portal shown above provides statewide court record access including Jefferson Parish marriage license indexes dating back to January 1933.

Louisiana Marriage Record Resources

Beyond the clerk's office and online portals, several state resources can help you search or obtain Jefferson Parish marriage records.

The Louisiana State Archives holds historical vital records and older marriage documents. For records predating 1933, the archives may have materials that supplement what eClerksLA covers. Their collection reaches back to the 1800s in many parishes.

The Louisiana Department of Health issues certified marriage certificates for events after 1946. These are shorter than full court records. They confirm a marriage happened but do not include the complete license application details. For full records, the Clerk of Court is the right source.

Note: If you need a marriage record for legal purposes such as a name change, immigration, or benefits, a certified copy from the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court is typically the document required.

Cities in Jefferson Parish

Jefferson Parish is home to several large communities. Marriage licenses for all residents of Jefferson Parish are issued by the Clerk of Court. Qualifying cities in this parish with their own pages on this site include Metairie, Kenner, Marrero, and Terrytown. Other communities include Gretna, Westwego, Harahan, and Bridge City.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes border Jefferson Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records. Use the location where the license was issued or where you plan to marry to find the right office.