Judge Michael Keith

Judge Mike Keith - Justice of the Peace for Bossier Parish District 6
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE  |  BOSSIER PARISH, DISTRICT 6

Weddings


As Justice of the Peace in Bossier Parish, I have the State of Louisiana authority to

perform wedding ceremonies within the following six (6) parishes:

Bossier http://www.bossierclerk.com/go/rainbow/3336/en-US/DesktopDefault.aspx
Caddo http://www.caddoclerk.com/marriage.htm
Webster http://www.websterclerk.org/marriagelicense.html
Bienville http://clerk.bienvilleparish.org/marriage.php
DeSoto http://www.desotoparishclerk.org/documents/marriage-license/
Red River http://redriverclerk.com/info


In General

Marriage licenses may be obtained in any Clerk's Office in the State of Louisiana and are valid for all parishes; however, the license must be returned for filing to the office from which it was issued.

Requirements

Either party may purchase the license; however, there is a great deal of information that must be included about both parties. Some of the information which is required is as follows:

  • Father's name, mother's maiden name;
  • Mothers & fathers state of birth;
  • Social Security Number for both bride & groom;
  • A valid driver's license or ID card;
  • Birth certificates must be submitted for both parties;
  • If this is not a first marriage for either party, you must know the month and year of any prior divorce;
  • Widows and widowers must know the month and year of the death of their spouse;


Other Information

  • There is a 72 hour waiting period from the time the license is purchased until the ceremony may be performed - if required, I can waive this period;
  • Once purchased, the license must be used within thirty (30) days;
  • 18 is the legal age in Louisiana to obtain a marriage license without parental consent. If younger than 18 then please consult the Parish Clerk of Court for more information;
  • A Covenant Marriage requires special handling and the Clerk of Court should be consulted;
  • The cost of a marriage license varies by Parish.

 

How do you find the perfect JP for your wedding?

Know what you want.

As a future couple, talk about the kind of ceremony you envision. The characteristics of the JP who will officiate is an important first step in the process. Like most major decisions you will face in marriage, coming to a consensus about your goals ensures that you are on the same track.

Factors regarding the ceremony:

  • Does either of you want to include religious elements in the ceremony?
  • Will you write your own vows?
  • Will you exchange rings?
  • Will your parents or other relatives be part of the ceremony?


Factors regarding the officiant:


  • Does either of you have a gender preference?
  • Is the age of the JP important? 
  • Does experience count?
  • Does the JP “get” your vision for the ceremony or is he eager to help you create one?


Answers to these questions, though not written in stone, can go a long way to selecting the JP who is right for you. It’s a good idea to write down your criteria as a check list for when you evaluate prospective JPs.

The process of selecting a Justice of the Peace should begin just after you have chosen a wedding date and confirmed your location. Just like popular wedding venues, in-demand officiants book weddings nine to twelve months and sometimes more than a year in advance.