Covenant Marriage in Louisiana: Requirements & Counseling Guide (2026)
Planning a covenant marriage in Louisiana? Learn the legal requirements, the required premarital counseling step, and how to complete your counseling online.
Louisiana was the first state in the country to offer covenant marriage, and it remains one of only a small handful of states with this option. A covenant marriage is a stronger, more intentional legal commitment than a standard marriage — and that intentionality starts before the wedding, with premarital counseling.
If you are planning a covenant marriage in Louisiana in 2026, here is what the process still requires:
1. Premarital counseling. Both partners complete premarital counseling. The counseling must cover the seriousness of covenant marriage, the commitment to its lifelong nature, and the agreement to seek counseling if difficulties arise during the marriage.
2. Counselor attestation. A counselor — a member of the clergy or a professional marriage counselor — provides a signed attestation confirming the counseling took place.
3. Declaration of Intent. The couple signs a Declaration of Intent to enter a covenant marriage and files it with their marriage license application.
4. Already married? Couples who are already married in Louisiana can convert their existing marriage into a covenant marriage by completing the declaration process.
A covenant marriage also limits the grounds on which a couple can later seek divorce or legal separation. Those grounds are narrower than in a standard Louisiana marriage and typically include circumstances such as adultery, certain felony convictions, abandonment, abuse, and living separate and apart for an extended period. [Confirm the current list and time periods before publishing.]
Because the law is specific, couples should confirm the current requirements with the clerk of court in the parish where they will apply for their marriage license.
How to Complete Your Premarital Counseling
The premarital counseling requirement is often the step couples are least sure how to handle — especially busy couples, couples in different cities, or couples who simply want to do the work thoughtfully and on their own schedule.
My Mental Health University offers a structured premarital counseling course built around the topics covenant marriage is designed to protect: communication, finances, conflict, family expectations, intimacy, and the shared commitment that holds a marriage together. It is online and self-paced, so couples can complete it together from home.
Please note: You would need to confirm with your local courthouse that this course will meet their requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is covenant marriage available in Louisiana?
A: Yes. Louisiana was the first state to offer covenant marriage and continues to offer it as an option couples can choose instead of a standard marriage.
Q: Do you need premarital counseling for a covenant marriage in Louisiana?
A: Yes. Premarital counseling is a required step. Couples must complete counseling and provide a signed attestation from a qualifying counselor along with their Declaration of Intent.
Q: Can you do covenant marriage counseling online?
A: Couples can complete premarital counseling preparation online and on their own schedule. Please confirm whether completion of the online course independently fulfills Louisiana’s attestation requirement or if it must be completed in conjunction with services from a qualifying counselor.
Q: Can you convert an existing marriage to a covenant marriage?
A: Yes. Louisiana allows already-married couples to convert their marriage into a covenant marriage by completing the declaration process.
Ready to take the next step? Explore the MyMHU premarital counseling course — a guided, online way for couples to prepare for a strong, intentional marriage.
