Marriage records in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, are available through several channels. The LafayetteParishCourt.org website provides public access to marriage records for this parish. Additionally, records are maintained at the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court's office and can be requested in person, by mail, or through state online portals. The Louisiana Department of Health also provides access to certain state-level marriage records.
Lafayette Marriage Records Search
In Louisiana, marriage licenses are issued and maintained by the Clerk of Court of each parish. For Lafayette Parish, this function is performed by the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court. The collection of records includes issued marriage licenses, filed marriage certificates, and historical records dating back to the parish's founding.
The Clerk of Court maintains a registry of all marriages conducted within the parish. These documents are typically public records under Louisiana law. To search for older records, it may be necessary to contact the Louisiana State Archives, which preserves historical documents from various parishes.
Contact information for the office:
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
Additional contact details for local agencies can be found on the official Lafayette Parish page.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Lafayette
The cost of obtaining copies of marriage records depends on the type of document and the method of ordering. Below are the approximate fees set by the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court and the Louisiana Vital Records Registry.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified Copy (via Clerk of Court) | Contact the office for current rates |
| Certified Copy (via Louisiana Vital Records) | $9.00 |
| Additional Copy (same order, Vital Records) | $5.00 |
| Search Fee | Included in the copy cost |
State fees are set according to the rates of the Louisiana Department of Health. The Clerk of Court may charge different amounts—check current rates directly with the office. Processing time for mail requests through Vital Records is typically 4–6 weeks.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Lafayette
There are several ways to order a marriage certificate, depending on how urgently the document is needed.
Online
The state of Louisiana allows ordering certified copies of vital records through the state online services portal. Note: Marriage records for parishes outside of Orleans Parish are stored at the local Clerk of Court, so state-level online ordering may be limited. Check availability through the portal or contact the office directly.
In Person
Visit the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court office at the address listed above. Bring with you:
- A valid photo ID
- The names of the spouses and approximate date of marriage
- Payment in an acceptable form (check if cards are accepted)
An appointment is usually not required, but there may be a wait during peak hours.
By Mail
To order by mail, send a request to the Clerk of Court's address. Include in the envelope:
- A written request with the full names of the spouses and the date of marriage
- A copy of the applicant's ID
- A check or money order for the appropriate amount
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
If you need a state-level copy, the request can be directed to the Center for Vital Records and Statistics at the Louisiana Department of Health. There is a separate procedure for submitting a public records request through the Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Additional information about Lafayette Parish records can always be checked on LafayetteParishCourt.org.