Birth & Death Certificates

DUE TO THE PROCESSING TIME OF THE APPLICATION, PLEASE ARRIVE AT

OUR OFFICE NO LATER THAN 3:30 p.m.

Individuals born in the State of Louisiana may obtain a birth certificate or family members for those whose death occurred in the State of Louisiana may obtain a death certificate from the Donaldsonville or Gonzales Offices. Birth and Death Certificates are issued Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) between the hours of 8:30 a.m and 3:30 p.m.

Birth Certificates are available for persons born in 1903 to the present.
Birth Certificates for persons born prior to 1983 may have to be updated by the Vital Records Office. This process may take 30 minutes to one hour.
Death Certificates are available from 2013 to the present.

Birth Certificates and Death Certificates are printed directly from a Vital Records link and cannot be altered or amended by the Clerk of Court’s Office.

For all out of state birth and death certificates, you must contact that states Vital Record’s office.

If you need a death certificate before 2013, you must contact the Vital Record’s office in New Orleans, LA. Those who seek to alter or amend a birth/death certificate must also do so through the Vital Record’s office in New Orleans.

Louisiana Vital Records Office

Telephone: 504-593-5100

Requirements for Obtaining a Marriage License

Marriage licenses are issued at the Gonzales and Donaldsonville offices. A marriage license issued in Ascension Parish is valid in any parish within the State of Louisiana.

An application for a marriage license may be submitted by either party; however, only one applicant is required to appear in person, provided all required documents for both parties are presented. If an applicant has not been issued a Social Security Number, that applicant must appear in person to sign a statement to that effect.

Applicants must present a valid, unexpired driver’s license, government-issued identification card, or passport.

Due to the processing time required, applicants must arrive no later than 4:00 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BIRTH/DEATH CERTIFICATE APPLICATION

Age Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

If an applicant is 16 or 17 years of age, the following are required:

Written consent from a judge
Both parents must appear with valid photo identification to sign a consent form

Applicants who are 16 or 17 years of age may not marry a person who is three or more years older than them.

Applicants under the age of 16 may not contract marriage under Louisiana law.

2: Birth Certificates / Birth Records

Applicants must present an original or certified copy of their birth certificate or birth record.

If either applicant was born outside of the United States, the original birth certificate must be presented. If the birth certificate is not written in English, applicants must also provide a notarized English translation that includes the translator’s sworn declaration.

A Certificate of Naturalization may be accepted in place of a birth certificate.

If a birth certificate cannot be provided, the applicant must obtain a court order signed by a judge waiving the birth certificate requirement.

3. Social Security Numbers

Both applicants must provide their Social Security numbers.

If an applicant has not been issued a Social Security Number, that applicant must appear in person and sign a statement to that effect.

4. Prior Marriages

If either applicant has previously been married, the applicant must provide:

The number of prior marriages
A certified copy of the final judgment of divorce, or
A dated copy of the death certificate if the former spouse is deceased

5. Waiting Period / Validity

Applicants must obtain the marriage license at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony.

This waiting period may be waived by a judge or justice of the peace authorized to perform the ceremony.

A marriage license is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.

6. Covenant Marriage

Applicants seeking a Covenant Marriage must provide all information and documents listed above, in addition to proof of premarital counseling.

Applicants must also submit:

A Declaration of Intent
An Affidavit
An Attestation

7. Additional Information Required

The following information is required for both applicants:

Highest level of education completed
Father’s full name and state of birth
Mother’s full maiden name and state of birth

8. Fees

The fee for obtaining a marriage license is $35.00.

This fee includes one certified copy of the marriage license, which will be mailed to the applicants after the ceremony.

ALL FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.