Rapides Parish Clerk of Court

MARRIAGE LICENSE

: Recorder : Marriage License

MARRIAGE LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS

Marriage Licenses are issued by the Clerk. A license may be issued in any parish, regardless of which parish the ceremony is to be performed or where the parties reside. (R.S. 9:222)

APPLICATION FORM INFORMATION REQUIRED - (R.S. 9:224)

Must provide all information contained on application form. For your convenience a Marriage License Application can be filled out and printed here. Present this form to speed the processing of your marriage license. (R.S. 9:223)

Each parties’ social security number or one of the following if not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.:
- Valid and unexpired passport from the country of birth, or
- Unexpired visa with Form I-94 as issued by the U.S.

Must be signed in one of the following manners:
- Both parties before a notary or deputy clerk;
- One party before a notary and one party before a deputy clerk;
- Waiver signed by judge or justice of the peace (they must be in the territorial jurisdiction of the court) valid only for the absent party;
- Military exception – individual appearing attaches a copy of the other’s military ID; only appearing party needs to sign application.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED - (R.S. 9:225)

1. Birth Certificate: (R.S. 9:226)

If born in Louisiana:
- Certified copy of each party’s birth certificate (short form acceptable), or
- Order waiving birth certificate(s) WITH letter from proper registration authority that a thorough search was made and no birth record was located. (R.S. 9:227 & 228)
If born outside of Louisiana but in a U.S. state or territory, (American Samoa, Guam, N Marianas Islands, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands):

Certified copy of each party’s birth certificate (short form not allowed), or
Order waiving birth certificate(s) WITH letter from proper registration authority that a thorough search was made and no birth record was located. (R.S. 9:227 & 228)

If born outside U.S. or its territories:
- Certified copy of party’s birth certificate and a valid and unexpired passport, or
- Certified copy of party’s birth certificate and unexpired visa accompanied by Form I-94 as issued by the U.S.
- Order waiving birth certificate(s) WITH letter from proper registration authority that a thorough search was made and no birth record was located. (R.S. 9:227 & 228)
Certified translation of birth certificate if certificate is in a language other than English:
- Must include sworn declaration of translator.

2. Identification:

Valid and unexpired driver’s license, or
A government issued identification card, or
A valid and unexpired passport from the country of his birth, or
An unexpired visa accompanied by Form I-94 as issued by the U.S.

3. Written consent or court’s authorization for minor(s) to marry (if applicable)

Applicants 16 or 17 years of age must also bring:
- Both parents to sign consent forms. Both parents must bring their driver's license.
- If one parent has full custody, that parent must come in to sign consent forms with his/her driver's license and custody papers showing full custody. Joint custody requires both parent's consent.
- No marriage license for a minor of the age of 16 or 17 shall be issued where there is an age difference of three years or greater between the persons seeking the marriage license. (R.S. 9:221)
No marriage license for a minor under 16 years of age may be issued. (R.S. 9:221)

4. Covenant Marriage Declaration (if applicable)

If applying for a covenant marriage, applicants must also bring the original notarized Declaration of Intent and Affidavit with Attestation from their counselor.

5. Waivers (if applicable)

24-Hour Waiver, no change to process; (R.S. 9:242 - Revised pursuant to ACT No. 276 of the 2018 Regular Session)
Birth Certificate Waiver as described above; (R.S. 9:227 & 228)
Waiver of Notarized Application as described above. (R.S. 9:224)

6. Additional Requirements (if applicable)

If either party is divorced, he/she must present a certified copy of the final divorce decree.
If either party is widowed, he/she must present a certified copy of a death certificate.
Know the address for each party. (Street, city, state, parish/county).
Know father's full name and mother's full maiden name for each party and the city, state, and country in which each parent was born.
Know the highest grade completed in school for each party.

Fees (for new Marriage License)

The fee for obtaining a marriage license is $27.50, cash only non-refundable.

Fees (for previously recorded Marriage License)

Certified copies of previously recorded marriage license cost $6.00 each and regular copies are $1.00 each. (Cash, check, or money order)

General Information

A Louisiana marriage license is valid in any parish in Louisiana for a period of 30 days from issuance. There is a 24-hour waiting period between the time of issuance of the license and the ceremony. The waiting period can be waived by a district judge or justice of the peace.
After the wedding, wait at least 10 days, then one party must bring in their white copy to be recorded and sealed. This copy may be used to make appropriate name changes (from maiden to married name) on all legal documents such as social security documents and drivers' licenses. A form to obtain a copy or copies by mail is available here.
A marriage ceremony may be performed by: (R.S. 9:202)
- A priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, or any clergyman of any religious sect, who is authorized by the authorities of his religion to perform marriages, and who is registered to perform marriages; click here for a copy of the Marriage Officiant Registration Affidavit;
- A state judge or justice of the peace. Acts 1987, No. 886, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1997, No. 73, §1.
A register of the clergy authorized to perform marriages in Rapides Parish is also available.

Justices of the Peace

Ward	Name	Address	Phone Number
2	Terry Kitchen	3870 Highway 457 Alexandria, LA 71302-9294	318.563.8421 318.308.1714
3	Alicia Beaver	P.O. Box 106 Cheneyville, LA 71325	318.201.6891
3	Currently Vacant
4	Laney Strange	P.O. Box 194 Woodworth, LA 71485	318.201.1989
4	Parrish W. Giles Does NOT perform marriages	50 Carl Giles Road Glenmora, LA 71433	318.613.2905
5	Sonya Holt Rachal Does NOT perform marriages	373 Hwy 465 Sieper, LA 71472-9756	318.308.3244
5	Jerry Gordy	1838 Hwy 121 Hineston, LA 71438-9702	318.613.7471
6	Troy Thibodeaux	257 West River Road Glenmora, LA 71433	318.748.4493
7	Deirdre Beebe	1681 Lena Flatwoods Road Lena, LA 71477-9787	318.715.4891
7	Joe Nichols Does NOT perform marriages	P.O. Box 45 Boyce, LA 71409	318.880.8341
8	Marsha Stevens-Marcantel	3530 England Drive Alexandria, LA 71301	318.623.1743
10	Mike Byrnes Does NOT perform marriages	131 Deerbrook Trail Pineville, LA 71360	318.664.6232 318.640.5543
11	Donald Wayne Kendrick, Jr.	62 Credeur Road Pineville, LA 71360	318.201.9587
*Retired Justice of the Peace	Artie Cole	1006 Windy Drive Pineville, LA 71360	318.473.9216 318.308-3317

* Retired Justices of the Peace can also waive the 24-hour waiting period. R. S. 9:242