St. Martin Parish Marriage Records
St. Martin Parish marriage records are held by the Clerk of Court in St. Martinville. If you need to get a marriage license, find a past record, or request a certified copy, the Clerk of Court office is where you start. The 16th Judicial District serves St. Martin Parish, and the office handles all filings for marriage records in the parish. This guide walks you through the process and the resources available to search St. Martin Parish marriage records online and in person.
St. Martin Parish Quick Facts
St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court for St. Martin Parish is Laura B. Blanchard. Her office issues all marriage licenses and keeps the official marriage records for the parish. If you need to apply for a license, get a copy of an old record, or look up a filing, this is the office you contact. The address is 415 St. Martin Street in St. Martinville, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582.
One thing that sets this office apart: staff serve customers in both English and French. That is a nod to the Cajun heritage of the area, and it means French speakers do not have to struggle through the process in a second language. The office makes it clear: "We speak both English and French." You can ask questions or fill out forms in either language.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Note the early closing time. This office closes nearly an hour earlier than many other parish clerks. If you are driving in from out of town, plan to arrive by 3:00 p.m. to make sure you have time to complete the process. The office is closed on state and federal holidays.
You can reach the office by phone at (337) 394-2210. The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court website has more details on services and requirements.
The page above from the St. Martin Parish Clerk's website shows current information on obtaining copies of marriage licenses in the parish.
| Office Address | 415 St. Martin Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582 |
| Phone | (337) 394-2210 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:45 PM |
| Website | smpcoc2.com |
Getting a St. Martin Parish Marriage License
Both parties must appear in person to apply for a marriage license in St. Martin Parish. You cannot mail in the application or send someone on your behalf. Both people must show up at the same time and bring their documents. Missing a required item means a return trip, so check the list before you go.
Under Louisiana law at R.S. 9:222, a marriage license can be issued in any Louisiana parish regardless of where the couple lives or where the ceremony will take place, as long as the ceremony is performed in Louisiana. So if you live outside St. Martin Parish but plan to marry here, you can still get your license from this office. The license is good for 30 days from the date of issue. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires and you must apply again.
St. Martin Parish requires a 24-hour waiting period between when the license is issued and when the ceremony can take place. That is shorter than some other parishes. Plan your timeline so you apply at least one full day before the wedding.
The fee is $35.00. You can pay with cash, check, or money order. Credit and debit cards are accepted but carry a 4% processing fee. The $35.00 fee includes a certified copy of the marriage record mailed to you after the ceremony. That is a useful benefit. You do not need to come back for the copy. It comes to you.
All applicants must be 18 years old. Both parties must complete the full application as required under R.S. 9:241.
Note: The certified copy mailed after the ceremony is included in the $35.00 fee, so no extra trip is needed to retrieve it.
Documents for St. Martin Marriage Records Applications
Bring the right documents or expect a second trip. The clerk cannot issue a license without the required paperwork. Here is what each applicant needs to have ready before coming to the St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court office.
Each person must show a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or state ID card. You also need a certified copy of your birth certificate. A photocopy will not work. It must be a certified original. Both parties must have their Social Security numbers available. The application also asks for both parents' names and birthplaces and the mother's maiden name for each applicant.
If either person was previously married, you need to bring proof that the prior marriage ended. That means a certified copy of the final divorce decree or, if the former spouse is deceased, a certified copy of the death certificate. Louisiana law requires you to show this before a new license can be issued. Do not assume the clerk can look it up. Bring the document with you.
The services page on the St. Martin Parish Clerk website lists what the office provides and how to access records, including marriage license information.
Search St. Martin Parish Marriage Records Online
You can search St. Martin Parish marriage records through eClerksLA, the statewide online portal operated by Louisiana clerks of court. This system is available any time and lets you look up marriage records without going to the courthouse in St. Martinville. It is a good first step if you need basic record information fast or you are searching from out of the area.
eClerksLA allows you to search by name, date range, or record type. Results include marriage license indexes and documents from participating parishes. For many searches, this will give you what you need right away.
The 16th Judicial District serves both St. Martin and St. Mary parishes. Keep that in mind if you are searching for records that may span the two parishes. For certified copies that carry legal weight, you still need to contact the Clerk of Court directly at (337) 394-2210.
The Louisiana State Archives holds older marriage records and historical vital records. If you are searching for a St. Martin Parish record from the early 1900s or earlier, the archives may have what the parish clerk does not.
Louisiana Marriage Record Resources
Several state-level resources can help when you need marriage records from St. Martin Parish or from Louisiana more broadly. Each one serves a different purpose.
The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal gives statewide access to court records from parish clerks. Marriage license indexes from St. Martin Parish may appear there. This is a good option if you are not sure which parish filed the record you are looking for.
The Louisiana Department of Health issues certified copies of marriage certificates for events recorded after 1946. A certificate from the health department is shorter than a full court record. It confirms the marriage took place but does not include the full application details. For genealogy or legal purposes where you need the complete record, the Clerk of Court is the better source.
Note: The LDH marriage certificate and the Clerk of Court marriage record are two different documents. Know which one you need before you request it.
Cities in St. Martin Parish
St. Martin Parish has a population of around 52,000 spread across several communities. St. Martinville is the parish seat and where the Clerk of Court office is located. Other communities in the parish include Breaux Bridge, Parks, Cecilia, Arnaudville, and Henderson. No cities in St. All marriage licenses for St. Martin Parish residents are handled by the Clerk of Court in St. Martinville.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border St. Martin Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court for marriage records. Click a parish below to see its specific office details and search options.