Orleans Parish Marriage Records
Orleans Parish marriage records are handled differently from every other parish in Louisiana. Instead of the Clerk of Court, marriage certificates in Orleans Parish are filed with the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, part of the Louisiana Department of Health. If you need to get a marriage license, find a past marriage record, or request a certified copy of an Orleans Parish marriage certificate, this guide explains exactly where to go and who holds the records.
Orleans Parish Quick Facts
Orleans Parish Marriage Records: The Only Exception in Louisiana
Orleans Parish is the only parish in Louisiana where the standard rule does not apply. In all other 63 parishes, marriage certificates are filed with the local Clerk of Court. In Orleans Parish, they are not. Under Louisiana law, "marriage certificates of persons married in Louisiana are filed with the clerk of court in the parish where the marriage license was purchased, except in Orleans Parish, where the marriage certificates are filed with the Vital Records Registry."
The Vital Records Registry is part of the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). It functions as the official keeper of Orleans Parish marriage records for marriages less than 50 years old. If you were married in Orleans Parish within the last 50 years, this is the office you need. If you are looking for an older record, see the Louisiana State Archives section below.
This distinction matters when you are searching for records. Going to the wrong office can waste time. If you contact the Orleans Parish Civil District Court Clerk looking for a marriage certificate, they will direct you to the Vital Records Registry. Save that step and go directly to the right source from the start.
The LDH page above explains the Orleans Parish exception and provides current information on marriage license and record procedures specific to Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
Louisiana Vital Records Registry - Orleans Parish Marriage Records
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry is the primary office for Orleans Parish marriage records less than 50 years old. The main location is in downtown New Orleans at Benson Tower. "The Orleans Parish Marriage License Office is located at Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 407, in downtown New Orleans." This is where you go to apply for a license or request a certified copy of a marriage record.
Licenses are issued between 8:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you arrive after 3:15 p.m., the office will not issue a license that day. Plan to arrive with enough time to complete the paperwork. The office is closed on state and federal holidays.
There is also a second location. "Orleans Parish Marriage Licenses may also be purchased at the Second City Court of New Orleans in the Historic Algiers Courthouse at 225 Morgan Street in Algiers." Hours there are 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. If Benson Tower is more difficult to reach, the Algiers Courthouse is a convenient option for residents on the West Bank.
The Louisiana Department of Health vital records page above is the official source for information on Orleans Parish marriage records, including how to request certified copies and where to apply for a new license.
| Main Office | Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 407, New Orleans, LA 70112 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160 |
| Phone | (504) 593-5100 |
| Fax | (504) 568-8716 |
| dhh-vitalweb@la.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM (licenses issued until 3:15 PM) |
| Algiers Satellite Office | 225 Morgan Street, Algiers, LA (Second City Court of New Orleans) |
| Algiers Hours | 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday |
| License Fee | $27.50 |
| Certified Copy Fee | $5.50 |
Getting a Marriage License in Orleans Parish
Both parties must appear in person to get a marriage license in Orleans Parish. You cannot send someone else. You cannot complete the application online. Both people must show up together at either the Benson Tower office or the Algiers Courthouse satellite.
Under Louisiana law at R.S. 9:222, a marriage license can be issued in any Louisiana parish regardless of where you live or where the ceremony will happen. The ceremony must take place somewhere in Louisiana. So you can get your license in Orleans Parish and marry anywhere in the state, or you can get your license in any other parish and marry in New Orleans.
The standard waiting period under R.S. 9:241 is 24 hours from the time the license is issued. You cannot hold the ceremony until 24 hours have passed. However, in Orleans Parish specifically, a First or Second City Court Judge may waive the 24-hour waiting period. If your timing is urgent, you can ask the judge at the office when you apply.
The fee for a marriage license in Orleans Parish is $27.50. A certified copy of the marriage certificate costs $5.50 each. Bring cash or check, and confirm payment methods with the office before your visit.
Note: The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. If you do not use it within that window, it expires and you must apply again.
Orleans Parish Marriage Records: Historical and Older Documents
Under Louisiana law, the Vital Records Registry maintains Orleans Parish marriage records for 50 years. Once a record is more than 50 years old, it transfers to the Louisiana State Archives. So the line is clear: records from the last 50 years go to LDH Vital Records, and older records go to the State Archives.
The Louisiana State Archives Orleans Parish Marriage Records page is the dedicated resource for historical Orleans Parish marriage records from 1870 to 1971. This index is available online and gives researchers access to records spanning more than a century of marriages in New Orleans.
The Louisiana State Archives page above provides access to the Orleans Parish marriage records index covering 1870 to 1971, a key resource for genealogy and historical research in New Orleans.
For records beyond the 1870-1971 index, the Louisiana State Archives general historical resources page can guide you to other collections. The Archives hold a wide range of historical documents from Orleans Parish and across Louisiana.
Documents Needed for Orleans Parish Marriage License
Both applicants must bring valid photo identification. A driver's license or state-issued ID card works for most people. You also need a certified birth certificate for each person. A photocopy will not do. The birth certificate must be an original certified copy from the issuing state.
Each applicant needs to provide their Social Security number. The application also asks for both parents' names and birthplaces, and the mother's maiden name for each person. If either party was previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate of a former spouse is required by state law before a new license can be issued.
Applicants between 16 and 17 need both parents to give consent. No one under 16 can receive a license in Louisiana. Parental consent must be given in person or by notarized statement. Bring proof of age for any minor applicant.
The New Orleans wedding planning page above provides useful guidance on marriage license requirements, timing, and logistics for couples planning to marry in Orleans Parish.
Cities in Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish and the City of New Orleans share the same boundaries. The parish is coterminous with the city. New Orleans is the only qualifying city in Orleans Parish, and it has its own page on this site.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Orleans Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records, following the standard Louisiana system. Unlike Orleans Parish, all other Louisiana parishes file marriage certificates with the local Clerk of Court.