Find Marriage Records in St. Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Franklin, Louisiana. Whether you need to apply for a new marriage license or look up an old record, the Clerk of Court is the office that handles it. The 16th Judicial District, shared with St. Martin Parish, covers St. Mary Parish. This page explains how to search St. Mary Parish marriage records, what to bring when applying, and what online resources are available.

St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court

The St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court is based at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin, Louisiana. This office issues all marriage licenses for the parish and keeps the official marriage records. If you need to apply for a license, get a certified copy, or search for a past marriage filing, this is where you go. Franklin is the parish seat and the home of the main courthouse.

The 16th Judicial District covers both St. Mary and St. Martin parishes. That means the two parishes fall under the same judicial circuit, though each has its own Clerk of Court office. Records are filed at the parish level. A marriage license obtained in St. Mary Parish stays on file with the St. Mary Parish Clerk, not in a shared district office.

For specific office hours, phone numbers, and contact details, check directly with the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court. Hours and staffing can change, and calling ahead before you visit is always a good idea. The eClerksLA statewide portal also gives you a way to search records without making the trip to Franklin.

The eClerksLA portal above provides online access to marriage records and other court filings from St. Mary Parish and parishes across Louisiana.

Getting a Marriage License in St. Mary Parish

To get a marriage license in St. Mary Parish, both parties must appear in person at the Clerk of Court office in Franklin. You cannot apply by mail or have someone apply on your behalf. Bring all required documents with you, or you will need to return.

Under R.S. 9:222, a Louisiana marriage license can be issued in any parish in the state, no matter where the couple lives or where the ceremony will take place, as long as the ceremony happens in Louisiana. That means you are not required to get your license in your home parish. You can apply in St. Mary Parish even if you live elsewhere.

The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. Louisiana law under R.S. 9:241 sets a 24-hour waiting period. You must wait at least one full day after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. Plan your timeline with that in mind. If the 30-day window passes without a ceremony, the license expires and a new application is needed.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Each person must complete all required fields on the application form. Missing information delays the process. Bring everything at once to avoid a second trip to the Franklin courthouse.

Note: Louisiana marriage licenses are only valid for ceremonies performed within Louisiana. The license cannot be used in another state.

Documents Required for St. Mary Parish Marriage Records

Both applicants must bring the correct documents when they apply. The clerk cannot issue the license without all required items. Missing a document means you have to come back, so check this list before you make the drive to Franklin.

Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license or state-issued ID card works. You also need a certified copy of your birth certificate. A photocopy is not accepted. The birth certificate must be an official certified copy. Both parties need their Social Security numbers. The application also asks for the names and birthplaces of both parents and the mother's maiden name for each applicant.

If either person was previously married, proof that the prior marriage ended is required. Bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or, if the former spouse died, a certified death certificate. This applies even if the prior marriage ended many years ago. Louisiana law requires it before a new license can be issued. Do not assume the clerk can verify it another way.

The LCRAA portal above provides statewide access to court records from Louisiana parishes, including St. Mary Parish marriage license indexes.

Search St. Mary Parish Marriage Records Online

Two main online portals give you access to St. Mary Parish marriage records without visiting the courthouse. Both are free to use and available any time.

eClerksLA is the statewide online portal operated by Louisiana clerks of court. You can search by name, date range, or record type. Marriage license indexes and documents from St. Mary Parish appear in the system. This is the most direct way to look up a St. Mary Parish marriage record online. Results come back quickly, and the system covers records from many years back.

The Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA) portal is another statewide option. It gives access to civil, criminal, and marriage records filed with parish clerks across the state. If you are not sure which parish holds the record you are looking for, LCRAA lets you search across multiple parishes at once.

For certified copies of a marriage record from St. Mary Parish, online searches are not enough. You need to contact the Clerk of Court directly in Franklin. Online portals show you the record information, but only the clerk can issue a certified copy with legal standing.

The Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds historical vital records including older marriage records from St. Mary Parish that may not appear in the online clerk portals.

Louisiana Marriage Records Resources

Beyond the parish clerk, several state agencies hold marriage record information that may be useful depending on what you need.

The Louisiana State Archives keeps historical records going back to the 1800s in some cases. If you are searching for a very old St. Mary Parish marriage record, the archives may have it when the clerk does not. The collection includes microfilmed records and digitized documents from many parishes.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) issues certified copies of marriage certificates for events recorded after 1946. The LDH certificate is shorter than the full court record. It confirms the marriage but does not include the full application details. For legal purposes like name changes or immigration cases, either document may work depending on what the receiving agency requires. Check before you order.

Note: For the most complete marriage record including all application details, the St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court is the right source.

Cities in St. Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish has a population of around 51,000. Franklin is the parish seat and where the Clerk of Court is located. Other communities in the parish include Morgan City, Patterson, Berwick, Centerville, and Baldwin. No cities in St. All marriage license applications for St. Mary Parish are handled by the Clerk of Court in Franklin.

Nearby Parishes

These parishes share a border with St. Mary Parish. Each one has its own Clerk of Court that handles marriage records for that area.