- ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 Days
- Marriage License Validity Period: 30 Days
- Marriage License Return Period: By Expiration
- Documents Required: Letter of Good Standing, Ordination Kit
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Louisiana
If you haven't yet become ordained with the Universal Life Church, that is the first step. Anyone willing can become a legal minister of the ULC, one of the world's largest religious organizations. Online ordination is fast, easy, and completely free. Once you have your minister license, you'll be eligible to officiate a wedding. To become a minister, start by clicking the button below!
How to Officiate a Wedding in Louisiana
Contact the Parish Clerk's office in the county where the ceremony will take place. Introduce yourself as a minister officiating a wedding, and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Rest assured that any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.
Select your parish to view contact information for each office:
Assumption Parish
4809 Hwy 1
Napoleonville, LA
(985) 369-6653
(985) 369-2032
Assumption Parish website »
Avoyelles Parish
301 North Main Street
Marksville, LA 71351
(318) 253-7523
Avoyelles Parish website »
Caldwell Parish
201 Main Street, Suite 1
Columbia, LA 71418
(318) 649-2272
Caldwell Parish website »
Catahoula Parish
301 Bushley St., Room 101
Harrisonburg, LA
(318) 744-5222
Catahoula Parish website »
Concordia Parish
4001 Carter Street, Suite 5
Vidalia, LA 71373
(318) 336-4204
Concordia Parish website »
De Soto Parish
101 Texas Street
Mansfield, LA
(318) 925-6655
(318) 925-6658
De Soto Parish website »
East Baton Rouge Parish
222 St. Louis Street, Room B115
Baton Rouge, LA
(225) 389-3950
East Baton Rouge Parish website »
East Carroll Parish
400 First St., Suite 3
Lake Providence, LA
(318) 559-2399
East Carroll Parish website »
East Feliciana Parish
12305 St. Helena St.
Clinton, LA 70722
(225) 683-5145
(225) 683-3556
East Feliciana Parish website »
Evangeline Parish
200 Court St., Suite 104
Ville Platte, LA 70586
(337) 363-5671
Evangeline Parish website »
Jackson Parish
500 East Court Avenue
Jonesboro, LA 71251
(318) 259-2424
(318) 395-0386
Jackson Parish website »
Jefferson Davis Parish
300 North State Street, Room 106
Jennings, LA 70546
(337) 824-1160
(337) 824-1354
Jefferson Davis Parish website »
Livingston Parish
Livingston Courthouse
20300 Government Blvd
Livingston, LA 70754
(225) 686-2216
Livingston Parish website »
Madison Parish
100 North Cedar Street
Tallulah, LA 71282
(318) 574-0655
(318) 574-3961
Madison Parish website »
Natchitoches Parish
200 Church St., Suite 104
Natchitoches, LA 71458
(318) 352-8152
Natchitoches Parish website »
Orleans Parish
3929 Tulane Ave, Room 104
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 593-5103
Orleans Parish website »
Ouachita Parish
301 South Grand Street, Suite 104
Monroe, LA 71202
(318) 327-1444
Ouachita Parish website »
Plaquemines Parish
301 Main St., Suite 108
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
(504) 934-6610
(504) 934-6629
Plaquemines Parish website »
Rapides Parish
701 Murray Street
Alexandria, LA 71301
(318) 473-8153
(318) 473-4667
Rapides Parish website »
Red River Parish
615 E Carroll Street
Coushatta, LA
(318) 932-6741
(318) 932-3126
Red River Parish website »
Richland Parish
708 Julia St., Suite 103
Rayville, LA 71269
(318) 728-4171
Richland Parish website »
St. Bernard Parish
1101 W. St. Bernard Highway
Chalmette, LA 70043
(504) 271-3434
St. Bernard Parish website »
St. Charles Parish
15045 River Road
Hahnville, LA 70057
(985) 783-6632
(985) 783-2005
St. Charles Parish website »
St. Helena Parish
369 Sitman St, Suite 101
Greensburg, LA 70441
(225) 222-4541
(225) 222-3443
St. Helena Parish website »
St. James Parish
5800 LA Hwy 44, 2nd Floor
Convent, LA 70723
(225) 562-2275
(225) 562-2383
St. James Parish website »
St. John the Baptist Parish
2393 Hwy 18
Edgard, LA
(985) 497-3331
St. John the Baptist Parish website »
St. Landry Parish
118 South Court St, Suite 207
Opelousas, LA 70570
(337) 942-5606
St. Landry Parish website »
St. Mary Parish
500 Main St. 2nd Floor
Franklin, LA 70538
(337) 828-4100 ext 200
St. Mary Parish website »
St. Tammany Parish
701 North Columbia St. Basement Level
Covington, LA 70433
(985) 809-8740
St. Tammany Parish website »
Tangipahoa Parish
318 NW Railroad Ave, Suite 100
Hammond, LA 70401
(985) 549-1638
Tangipahoa Parish website »
Terrebonne Parish
7856 Main St., Room 100
Houma, LA 70360
(985) 873-8376
(985) 868-5143
Terrebonne Parish website »
Union Parish
100 East Bayou, Suite 105
Farmerville, LA
(318) 368-3055
(318) 368-3861
Union Parish website »
Vermilion Parish
100 North State Street, Suite 101
Abbeville, LA 70510
(337) 898-1992
Vermilion Parish website »
West Baton Rouge Parish
850 8th Street
Port Allen, LA
(225) 383-0378
West Baton Rouge Parish website »
West Carroll Parish
305 East Main St., Room 101
Oak Grove, LA
(318) 428-3281
West Carroll Parish website »
West Feliciana Parish
4785 Prosperity Street
St. Francisville, LA
(225) 635-3794
West Feliciana Parish website »
Winn Parish
110 West Main Street, Room 103
Winnfield, LA 71483
(318) 628-3515
(318) 628-3527
Winn Parish website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Louisiana
Once you've determined what you need, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. Ministerial registration is required in Louisiana, and the Parish Clerk will ask you to present proof of your ordination. To allow for a smooth registration process, ministers in Louisiana should order an Ordination Kit along with a Letter of Good Standing. Please try to place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid complications.
How to Get a Louisiana Marriage License
Licenses are issued by the Parish Clerk, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to understand how marriage licenses work in Louisiana and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get an Orleans Parish marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Orleans Parish.
In the state of Louisiana, the license is valid for 30 days. There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between the time it is picked up, and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Finally, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office before it expires.
How to Perform a Wedding
Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
Finalizing the Marriage
After you perform the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license along with the couple and their witnesses. Your title is 'minister', the ceremony type is 'religious', and the denomination is 'non-denominational'. You will not be required to provide a license number. You may also wish to give the couple a commemorative gift, like a marriage certificate to mark their special day. Last thing: make sure the signed license gets resubmitted to the marriage office before the deadline!
Louisiana Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Louisiana are primarily directed by Chapter 1 of Title 9 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Louisiana, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
§202. Authority to perform marriage ceremony
A marriage ceremony may be performed by:
(1) A priest, minister, rabbi, clerk of the Religious Society of Friends, or any clergyman of any religious sect, who has attained the age of majority and is authorized by the authorities of his religion to perform marriages, and who is registered to perform marriages;
(2) A state judge or justice of the peace.
Acts 1987, No. 886, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1997, No. 73, §1; Acts 2014, No. 651, §1.