How Long After Divorce Can You Remarry in Louisiana?

The short answer: there is no waiting period. Once your Louisiana divorce judgment is signed by the judge, you can apply for a new marriage license that same day. Louisiana eliminated post-divorce remarriage waiting periods years ago.

But the question people actually mean to ask is usually about the separation period that comes before the divorce — and that is where the timelines get specific.

No Post-Divorce Waiting Period

Modern Louisiana law imposes zero mandatory waiting time between your final divorce judgment and a new marriage. The moment the judge signs the decree, you are legally single and free to remarry anyone you choose (subject to standard marriage licensing requirements).

Some states require a waiting period of 30 to 90 days after the divorce before you can remarry. Louisiana is not one of them.

The Pre-Divorce Separation Period

The timeline that people often confuse with a remarriage waiting period is the mandatory separation period required to obtain a no-fault divorce under Louisiana Civil Code Article 103.1:

• 180 days of continuous physical separation if there are no minor children of the marriage
• 365 days of continuous physical separation if there are minor children

This is the period you must live apart before the court will grant the divorce. It is not a post-divorce waiting period.

Under an Article 102 divorce, one spouse files the petition first, then the separation clock starts. Under an Article 103 divorce, the full separation period must be completed before the petition is filed.

What Counts as Living Separate and Apart

Louisiana requires "living separate and apart" to mean residing in entirely separate households. Living in different rooms of the same house does not satisfy the requirement.

The separation period resets completely if:

• The spouses resume living together in the same household
• The spouses engage in a reconciliation (which Louisiana courts have interpreted broadly)

If the separation clock resets, the 180-day or 365-day count starts over from zero. This is why some divorces take much longer than the minimum period.

Practical Considerations Before Remarrying Quickly

Even though Louisiana allows immediate remarriage, there are practical reasons to complete certain post-divorce administrative tasks first:

• Name change: If you are restoring your former name, complete the SSA and OMV updates before obtaining a new marriage license to avoid confusion with multiple name changes in rapid succession
• Estate planning: Update your will and beneficiary designations before remarrying, so your new spouse's rights are clearly established from the start
• Financial accounts: Close joint accounts from your prior marriage before opening new joint accounts with a new spouse
• Retirement division: File your QDRO before remarrying — some plan administrators' processes are simpler when you are still unmarried

Marriage License Requirements

To marry in Louisiana, you need:

• A valid marriage license from the parish Clerk of Court (valid for 30 days after issuance)
• Valid photo ID for both parties
• Social Security numbers
• A certified copy of your divorce decree (required to prove the prior marriage was dissolved)
• A 72-hour waiting period between obtaining the license and the ceremony (this applies to all marriages, not just post-divorce)

The license fee is typically $25 to $35 depending on the parish.

Next Steps

If you are planning to remarry, make sure you have completed the essential post-divorce administrative steps first. The Louisiana After-Divorce Checklist organizes every task by urgency so you can clear the administrative backlog efficiently.

See more Louisiana guides →