Ouachita Parish Marriage Records
Ouachita Parish marriage records are filed and maintained at the Clerk of Court office in Monroe. The 4th Judicial District Court serves Ouachita Parish. Whether you need to apply for a marriage license, search for a past record, or get a certified copy, the Clerk of Court office at 301 St. John Street handles all of it. Records go back to 1805, and both in-person and online search options are available for Ouachita Parish marriage records.
Ouachita Parish Quick Facts
Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court
Dana Benson is the Clerk of Court for Ouachita Parish. Her office is responsible for issuing marriage licenses and keeping all marriage records in the parish. The main courthouse is at 301 St. John Street in Monroe. You can call the office at (318) 327-1300 during regular business hours. Staff can help you apply for a license, request copies of records, or search for past filings.
The Clerk's office handles a high volume of records. Ouachita Parish is the largest urban area in northern Louisiana, so the office sees significant activity. If you come in to apply for a marriage license, bring all your documents. Missing paperwork means a return trip. Office hours run Monday through Friday. Plan to arrive with enough time before closing to complete your application.
Records go back to 1805, making Ouachita one of the older court systems in the state. That long history means the office holds marriage records from before Louisiana became a state. Older records may be in different formats or partially indexed. Staff can point you to the right source depending on the time period you need.
| Office Address | 301 St. John Street Monroe, LA 71201 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (318) 327-1300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday |
| Judicial District | 4th Judicial District Court |
| Records From | 1805 |
Getting a Marriage License in Ouachita Parish
Both people must appear in person to apply for a marriage license in Ouachita Parish. You cannot apply online or send a proxy. Both applicants show up at the same time, bring their documents, and pay the fee. The license costs $35. Bring cash, check, or money order. Ask the clerk about card payments when you call ahead.
Under R.S. 9:222, a marriage license issued in any Louisiana parish works statewide. You do not have to get your license in the parish where the ceremony takes place. So if you live in Monroe but plan to marry elsewhere in Louisiana, you can still apply at the Ouachita Parish Clerk's office. The license stays valid for 30 days from the issue date.
There is a 72-hour waiting period between getting the license and holding the ceremony. That waiting period is set by R.S. 9:241. A judge can waive it in limited cases, but that is not common. Factor those three days into your planning. If you apply on a Monday, you cannot marry until Thursday at the earliest.
Note: Same-sex marriage licenses are issued in Ouachita Parish on the same terms as all other marriage licenses.
Documents Needed for Ouachita Marriage License
Both applicants must bring valid photo ID. A driver's license or state-issued ID works. You also need a certified birth certificate for each person. Regular copies are not accepted. The birth certificate must be certified. Have your Social Security numbers ready as well. The clerk also collects both parents' full names, birthplaces, and the mother's maiden name for each applicant.
If either person was married before, you must show proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse is required. Louisiana law demands this before a new license is issued. Do not leave this document at home if it applies to you. The clerk cannot issue the license without it.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Anyone between 16 and 17 years old needs parental consent. Both parents must be present or provide notarized written consent. Anyone under 16 cannot get a license in Louisiana under any circumstances.
Search Ouachita Parish Marriage Records Online
Ouachita Parish participates in eClerksLA, the statewide online records portal. You can search marriage records through this system without visiting the courthouse. It is available any time and covers indexes and documents from participating parishes across Louisiana. This is a useful starting point if you need basic record information or are searching from out of town.
The eClerksLA portal above provides online access to marriage record indexes for Ouachita Parish and other participating Louisiana parishes.
Clerk Connect is another online option. That system connects to participating parish clerks of court and lets you search records remotely. Both platforms give you index-level information. For certified copies, you need to contact the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court directly at (318) 327-1300. The office issues certified records that carry legal weight for court proceedings, name changes, and other official purposes.
Clerk Connect provides another route to access Ouachita Parish marriage record indexes through an online subscription service.
Historical Ouachita Parish Marriage Records
Ouachita Parish has marriage records going back to 1805. That is a long time, and not all older records are available online. For research into older records, the Louisiana State Archives is a key resource. The archives hold historical vital records and court documents that may not appear in the online clerk portals.
The Louisiana State Archives above maintains historical marriage records and other vital documents that can supplement what the parish clerk has on file.
The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal is another statewide tool. It gives access to court records from multiple parish clerks of court. If you are searching across parishes or not sure which parish holds a record, the LCRAA portal is worth checking. The Louisiana Department of Health issues certified marriage certificates for events after 1946. That certificate shows the marriage occurred but does not include the full license details.
Note: For full license documents with applicant details, the Ouachita Parish Clerk of Court is the right source, not the Department of Health.
Cities in Ouachita Parish
Monroe is the parish seat and the main city in Ouachita Parish. All marriage licenses for the parish are issued by the Clerk of Court in Monroe. Monroe qualifies as a major city in this area. You can visit the dedicated city page for more information.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Ouachita Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records. If you are searching across the region or not sure which parish to contact, start with the one where the license was issued or the ceremony took place.