Search Terrebonne Parish Marriage Records
Terrebonne Parish marriage records are kept by the Clerk of Court in Houma, Louisiana. The office has multiple locations in Houma and also accepts online marriage license applications. If you need to apply for a license, look up a record, or get a certified copy, the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court handles it all. The 32nd Judicial District serves Terrebonne Parish. This page explains how to find and access Terrebonne Parish marriage records online and in person.
Terrebonne Parish Quick Facts
Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court
The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court operates from multiple locations in Houma. The main office is at 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361-1569. The main phone number is (985) 868-5660. Two additional locations in Houma are at 415 Goode Street, phone (985) 868-6802, and 310 Church Street, phone (985) 873-8376. All locations are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. That includes all offsite locations.
If you need to fax documents, the civil pleadings fax is (985) 227-4971. Criminal fax is (985) 868-0239. For general questions about marriage records, calling the main office at (985) 868-5660 is the fastest way to get answers.
The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court website offers online tools including civil e-filing, criminal e-filing, and a marriage license pre-application form. You can fill out the application online before your visit to save time at the counter. The office also participates in the eClerksLA statewide portal for online record searches.
The official Terrebonne Parish Clerk website above has links to the online marriage license application, office locations, hours, and the statewide records portal for searching marriage records.
| Main Office | 7856 Main Street, Houma, LA 70360 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 1569, Houma, LA 70361-1569 |
| Main Phone | (985) 868-5660 |
| Additional Locations | 415 Goode Street: (985) 868-6802 | 310 Church Street: (985) 873-8376 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (all locations) |
| Website | terrebonneclerk.org |
Getting a Terrebonne Parish Marriage License
Both parties must appear in person to get a marriage license in Terrebonne Parish. You cannot mail the application or send someone else. Both people must show up together. The Terrebonne Parish Clerk does offer a useful option: you can fill out the marriage license application online before your visit. Submitting it online ahead of time can speed up the process at the counter. However, you must still appear at the office with the proper documents within 10 days of submitting your online application. The online form is a head start, not a replacement for the in-person requirement.
Under Louisiana law at R.S. 9:222, a marriage license issued in any Louisiana parish is valid statewide. You can get your license in Terrebonne Parish even if you do not live there, as long as the ceremony will take place in Louisiana. The license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. Louisiana law under R.S. 9:241 requires at least a 24-hour wait between when the license is issued and when the ceremony can take place. Plan your timeline with both the 24-hour wait and the 30-day expiration in mind.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Everyone applying must complete all required fields on the form. The online pre-application makes this easier, but you still need the documents in hand when you show up.
Note: Submitting the online application starts a 10-day window. You must appear at the office in person within those 10 days or the pre-application lapses.
Documents for Terrebonne Parish Marriage Records
Bring all required documents when you visit any of the Terrebonne Parish Clerk locations. Missing something means another trip. Here is what each applicant needs to have ready.
Each person must show a valid government-issued photo ID. You also need a certified copy of your birth certificate. A photocopy is not enough. It must be an official certified copy from the state where you were born. Both parties need their Social Security numbers. The application also asks for both parents' full names, birthplaces, and the mother's maiden name for each applicant.
If either person was previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce decree is what you need, or a certified death certificate if the former spouse is deceased. Louisiana law requires this before a new license can be issued. The clerk cannot issue your license without it, no matter how long ago the prior marriage ended.
The Terrebonne Clerk's office also offers a fraud alert service through the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association. It is free and alerts you if someone tries to file a property or mortgage document in your name. It is not related to the marriage license process, but it is worth signing up for while you are at the office.
Search Terrebonne Parish Marriage Records Online
Terrebonne Parish marriage records can be searched for free through eClerksLA, the statewide online portal operated by Louisiana clerks of court. The portal covers land, civil, criminal, and marriage records from all parishes across the state. You can search Terrebonne Parish records by name, date range, or record type without making a trip to Houma. The system is available any time and free to use.
eClerksLA gives you access to marriage license indexes and documents from Terrebonne Parish. For many searches, the portal will have what you need right away. If you need a certified copy of a marriage record, you have to contact the Clerk directly. Online access shows you the record, but certified copies must come from the office.
The eClerksLA portal above provides free statewide online access to marriage records and other court filings from Terrebonne Parish and all Louisiana parishes.
The LCRAA portal is another free option for searching Terrebonne Parish marriage records online. It covers civil, criminal, and marriage records from parish clerks across Louisiana. If eClerksLA does not have what you need, LCRAA is worth trying as well.
The LCRAA portal above allows you to search Terrebonne Parish marriage license records alongside filings from all other Louisiana parishes in one statewide system.
Louisiana Marriage Record Resources
State-level agencies provide additional avenues for finding marriage records when you need historical documents or a different type of certified copy.
The Louisiana State Archives holds historical vital records and older marriage documents. If you are searching for a Terrebonne Parish marriage from many decades ago, the archives may have it when the online portals do not. The collection goes back to the 1800s for some parishes and includes microfilmed records that are being digitized over time.
The Louisiana Department of Health issues certified copies of marriage certificates for events after 1946. The LDH certificate is shorter than the full Clerk of Court record. It confirms the marriage but does not have all the application details. Know which document you need before you request it. For most legal purposes such as name changes, insurance, or immigration, both types are accepted, but check with the receiving agency to confirm.
Note: For full marriage license records with all applicant information, the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court is the correct source, not the Louisiana Department of Health.
Cities in Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish has a population of around 111,000.
- Houma - the parish seat and location of the main Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Court office
Other communities in Terrebonne Parish include Thibodaux (which is in Lafourche Parish), Gray, Schriever, Montegut, Chauvin, and Gibson. All marriage licenses for Terrebonne Parish are issued at the Clerk of Court offices in Houma.
Nearby Parishes
These parishes border Terrebonne Parish. Each has its own Clerk of Court that handles marriage records and license applications.