LaSalle Parish Marriage Records

LaSalle Parish marriage records are filed and kept by the Clerk of Court in Jena. The 28th Judicial District Court serves this parish. Steve Andrews is the current Clerk of Court. Whether you need to apply for a marriage license, look up a past LaSalle Parish marriage record, or get a certified copy, the Clerk's office at 1050 Courthouse Street in Jena handles all of it. Online access through eClerksLA has been available since August 8, 2022, covering land records, marriage license indexes, and historical records.

LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court

The duties of the Clerk of Court include serving as the Parish Recorder of Deeds, Mortgages, Marriage Licenses, Civil, Criminal and Probate records. Being kept permanently, the preservation and security of these records is a priority and requires constant attention. The office at 1050 Courthouse Street in Jena handles all of these record types, including marriage license applications and copies.

The Clerk's office can be reached at (318) 992-2158 or by fax at (318) 992-2157. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on state and federal holidays. If you plan to apply for a marriage license, arrive with time to spare before the 4:30 p.m. close. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1316, Jena, LA 71342.

The Clerk of Court's office operates from statutory fees it collects, not from taxes. This means that the fees paid when you file a record or request a copy go directly to funding office operations, not the general government budget.

The LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court website above provides information on office services, record types, and how to access land and marriage records for this parish.

Getting a Marriage License in LaSalle Parish

To get a marriage license in LaSalle Parish, both parties must appear in person at the Clerk of Court office in Jena. You cannot send someone else, and you cannot complete the process entirely online. Both people must be present at the same time with their documents.

Each applicant must bring a valid photo ID, a certified birth certificate, and Social Security number. The clerk uses all of this to complete the license application. If either person was previously married, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the former spouse's death certificate. Under Louisiana law, proof that a prior marriage ended is required before a new license can be issued.

Under R.S. 9:222, a marriage license issued in LaSalle Parish is valid throughout Louisiana. You can get the license in Jena even if your ceremony will be in another parish. The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. Under R.S. 9:241, a waiting period applies before you can use the license. Contact the Clerk's office to confirm the current requirement.

Note: The license is only valid for ceremonies held in Louisiana. It does not transfer to other states, and you must reapply if the 30-day window expires.

Search LaSalle Parish Marriage Records Online

LaSalle Parish moved to eClerksLA on August 8, 2022. LaSalle's customers are now able to go to a one-stop site for land records and marriages. You can search marriage license indexes online without going to the courthouse in Jena. The portal is available at all hours and is the fastest way to do a basic record search from anywhere.

The eClerksLA portal above provides online access to LaSalle Parish marriage license records and land records since August 2022. Use it to search before making a trip to the Jena courthouse.

For records prior to August 2022, the Clerk's office in Jena maintains physical records going back to 1910 when the parish was created. Contact the office directly at (318) 992-2158 to ask about older records and how to access them.

The LaSalle Parish land records page above also covers marriage license records and explains what types of documents the Clerk maintains and how to search them through the eClerksLA system.

Historical Marriage Records in LaSalle Parish

LaSalle Parish was created in 1910 from the western section of Catahoula Parish. Marriage records for this parish begin from that year. For marriages in this geographic area before 1910, you would need to check Catahoula Parish records.

The Louisiana State Archives holds historical vital records from many Louisiana parishes. If you are searching for a marriage from several generations back, the archives may have supplementary documents. Their collection can be a useful starting point for genealogical research involving LaSalle Parish families.

The Louisiana Department of Health issues certified marriage certificates for events after 1946. These are shorter documents that confirm a marriage took place. They do not include the full license application details. For the complete record, the LaSalle Parish Clerk of Court is the right contact.

Note: For full marriage license documents with all applicant details, contact the Clerk of Court in Jena. The health department certificate is useful for some legal purposes but does not contain the same information as the complete license record.

Cities in LaSalle Parish

LaSalle Parish includes Jena, Olla, Urania, and other small communities spread across the parish. All marriage licenses for residents of LaSalle Parish are issued by the Clerk of Court in Jena.

Nearby Parishes

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