Find Marriage Records in Plaquemines Parish
Plaquemines Parish marriage records are handled by the Clerk of Court located at the Plaquemines Parish Courthouse in Pointe à la Hache. The 25th Judicial District Court serves this parish. If you need a marriage license, a certified copy of a marriage record, or want to search past filings, the Clerk of Court is where you start. Online search options through eClerksLA and LCRAA are also available for Plaquemines Parish marriage records.
Plaquemines Parish Quick Facts
Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court
The Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court is the official keeper of marriage records in this parish. The courthouse is in Pointe à la Hache, which sits along the Mississippi River on the east bank. You can reach the office by phone at (504) 934-6610. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Try to arrive before 4:00 p.m. if you plan to apply for a license or pick up copies.
Plaquemines Parish is long and narrow, stretching south from the New Orleans metro area down to the Gulf of Mexico. Most people dealing with parish records come in from the northern part of the parish. The Clerk of Court handles marriage licenses, maintains the record index, and issues certified copies when requested. Staff can walk you through the steps if this is your first time applying.
Because the parish is geographically remote in places, many residents choose to start their search online before making the drive to Pointe à la Hache. The online tools described below can save you a trip if you only need basic record information.
| Office Address | Plaquemines Parish Courthouse Pointe à la Hache, LA |
|---|---|
| Phone | (504) 934-6610 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 25th Judicial District Court |
Marriage License Process in Plaquemines Parish
Both applicants must appear in person to get a marriage license. You cannot apply by mail or online. Both people need to show up at the same time with their documents. Come prepared so you do not have to make a second trip.
Under R.S. 9:222, a license issued in Plaquemines Parish is valid throughout Louisiana. You do not need to get your license in the parish where the ceremony will take place. The license is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. If you don't use it in time, you have to apply again and pay the fee again.
Louisiana law at R.S. 9:241 sets a 72-hour waiting period between the time the license is issued and when the ceremony can occur. Plan for that gap. If you need a waiver in an emergency, a judge can approve one under limited circumstances, but it is not a routine process.
Both people must bring valid photo ID, certified birth certificates, and their Social Security numbers. If either person was married before, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. That means a certified divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. The clerk needs this before a new license can be issued.
Search Plaquemines Parish Marriage Records Online
Plaquemines Parish participates in eClerksLA, the statewide online records system for Louisiana clerks of court. You can use this portal to look up marriage record indexes without driving to the courthouse. The system is available around the clock and covers parishes throughout the state.
The eClerksLA portal above gives you online access to marriage record indexes for Plaquemines Parish and other participating Louisiana parishes.
The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal is another statewide tool for searching across parish clerk records. If you need to search across multiple parishes or are not sure which parish filed a record, LCRAA is a good option to try first.
The LCRAA portal above connects to clerk records across Louisiana, including those filed in Plaquemines Parish.
Both online tools provide index-level access. For certified copies with legal weight, you must contact the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court directly at (504) 934-6610. Online indexes show the record exists; the clerk issues the official document.
Louisiana Marriage Record Resources
State-level resources can help when parish records are not enough. The Louisiana State Archives holds historical marriage records and vital documents going back many generations. If you are searching for older Plaquemines Parish marriage records that may not be in the online clerk system, the archives is worth a look.
The Louisiana State Archives maintains historical marriage documents and vital records collections that go back well before modern record-keeping systems were in place.
The Louisiana Department of Health can provide certified marriage certificates for events after 1946. The health department certificate is shorter than the full clerk record. It confirms the marriage happened but does not include the detailed license application. For genealogical or detailed legal research, the Clerk of Court is a better source.
Note: The Department of Health only has records from 1946 forward. For older events, contact the Plaquemines Parish Clerk of Court or the Louisiana State Archives.
Cities in Plaquemines Parish
Plaquemines Parish Communities in the parish include Belle Chasse, Port Sulphur, Venice, and Buras. All marriage licenses for Plaquemines Parish residents are issued by the Clerk of Court at the parish courthouse in Pointe à la Hache.
Nearby Parishes
The parishes listed below are closest to Plaquemines Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records. If you are unsure which parish has the record you need, start with the parish where the license was issued.