How to Search Jefferson Parish Marriage and Divorce Records
The Clerk of Court is the office for both record types. Marriage license indices go back to the 1840s in the Clerk's JeffNet system, and license images run from 1825 to 1950. Divorce records are district court files, so you search them in the civil category on JeffNet or inspect them in person. The marriage department answers questions on both banks of the parish.
Reach the marriage desk at 504-364-2922 or 504-364-2923 on the West Bank, or 504-736-6390 on the East Bank. The email is marriageinfo@jpclerkofcourt.us, and hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
- For a license, contact the Clerk's marriage department and start an application.
- For an older marriage record, search the JeffNet index by name.
- For a divorce, search the civil category on JeffNet or inspect the file in person.
- Order certified copies from the Clerk when you need them for legal use.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The Clerk issues the marriage license for couples marrying in the parish. You can complete the application online or print it and bring it in. The process is straightforward once you have the right documents in hand.
The official marriage license page is shown below.
- Complete the online or printed application, using legal-size paper if you print it.
- Bring one valid, unexpired ID for each person.
- Both parties sign before a deputy clerk, or use one of the notary options.
- Provide Social Security numbers, or a passport, visa, or court waiver.
- Bring a certified birth certificate and proof of any prior marriage ending.
- Pay the license fee and observe the 24-hour waiting period.
Identification and Birth Certificate Rules
The Clerk accepts one valid, unexpired ID per person. That can be a driver's license, a government-issued ID, a passport, or a visa with an I-94. You also need a certified birth certificate. The rules shift a little by birthplace.
- Louisiana-born: a certified copy of the state birth certificate.
- Another U.S. state or territory: a certified copy from that place.
- Foreign-born: a birth certificate plus a passport, visa, or naturalization certificate.
- Not in English: a certified translation is required.
If either person was married before, bring proof the prior marriage ended, such as a divorce judgment, a death certificate, or a judgment of annulment.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for set items. Some are always required, and some depend on your situation. The table lists each field and when it applies.
| Field / Item | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant names | Text | Yes | Online or printed application. |
| Identification | Document | Yes | One listed valid ID per person. |
| Signatures | Signature / notary | Yes | Deputy clerk, notary, JP or judge order, or military exception. |
| Prior marriage | Date + document | If applies | Divorce, death, or annulment proof. |
| Social Security numbers | Text | Yes, unless alternate | Passport, visa, or court waiver instead. |
| Birth certificate | Document | Yes | Rules differ by birthplace. |
| Translation | Document | If applies | Needed if the birth certificate is not in English. |
Waiting Period and Validity
Louisiana sets a 24-hour waiting period before the ceremony. A district judge or an authorized justice of the peace can waive it, and that waiver must be attached when the license is returned. Once issued, the license is valid anywhere in Louisiana for 30 days.
Age rules are firm. A person 18 or older needs no consent. A 16 or 17 year old needs judicial authorization and written consent. A person under 16 cannot marry.
Marriage License Fees
The license fee is set, and copies carry their own charges. Part of each license fee, $12.50, goes to state family-violence victim programs. The Clerk takes cash, card, money order, personal check, or a certified check.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $27.50 |
| Certified copy | $10.00 |
| Uncertified copy | $5.00 |
| 24-hour waiting-period waiver | $4.00 |
The official Clerk fee schedule is shown below.
Order certified copies about two weeks after the ceremony so the marriage has time to record.
Historical Marriage Records
The Clerk's records reach far back. Marriage license indices start in the 1840s, and license images cover 1825 to 1950. Images from 1950 forward are kept offline because of the sensitive data they hold, though the index entries remain searchable. For genealogy or old family records, the JeffNet index is the place to start.
Note: Marriage license images from 1950 to the present are not online, but the index entries can still be searched through the Clerk.
Divorce Records in Jefferson Parish
Divorce is a court matter, not a Clerk-issued license. Divorce actions file in the district court family and domestic divisions, and the Clerk keeps the records. You search them in the civil category on JeffNet or inspect the file in person, unless the record is sealed. A certificate of divorce is listed in the civil fee schedule at $18.00.
The Clerk's online application portal also handles related filings.
The official Clerk online application portal is shown below.
For pleading-specific divorce costs, call the Clerk's civil desk at 504-364-3740. The Jefferson Parish court records page covers the civil search in detail.
Certified Copies
Legal steps such as a name change, a passport, or a benefits claim often need a certified copy, not a printout. The Clerk issues certified marriage copies for $10.00 and uncertified copies for $5.00. Divorce judgments are certified through the civil records desk. Plan ahead, since certified copies take a little longer than a plain copy.
See the probate records page for related certified documents in succession matters, and the Clerk of Court page for the full fee list.
Common Marriage and Divorce Record Questions
A few questions come up for almost every couple and every person tracking down an old record. The short answers below cover the basics.
How much is a marriage license? The Clerk charges $27.50 for the license. A certified copy is $10.00, and an uncertified copy is $5.00. A waiver of the waiting period costs $4.00.
How long is the license good for? It is valid anywhere in Louisiana for 30 days from the day it is issued, after a 24-hour wait.
Where do I get a divorce record? Divorce records are district court files kept by the Clerk. Search the civil category on JeffNet, or inspect the file in person unless it is sealed.