Find Louisiana Vital Records Online
Are Louisiana Vital Records Available to the Public?
Louisiana vital records are generally not accessible to the public and are restricted to specific individuals. Vital records become public information after a designated period: 50 years for death and marriage records, and 100 years for birth records. Until these confidentiality periods expire, only individuals named on the record, immediate family members, and legal representatives can obtain certified copies.
What Information is Included in Louisiana Vital Records?
Louisiana vital records document significant life events and typically include:
- Birth records: Name, date of birth, place of birth, and parents' names.
- Death records: Name, date of death, place of death, and cause of death.
- Marriage records: Names of spouses, date of marriage, and place of marriage.
- Divorce records: Names of parties, date of divorce, and place of divorce.
How to Access Louisiana Vital Records Online?
Persons seeking Louisiana vital records can submit a request to the custodian through their designated online platform. Due to privacy regulations, vital records are rarely available in government-owned searchable databases. To facilitate a search, requesters must provide specific information, such as the names of the persons on the record, the date, and location of the event.
Publicly available vital records may also be found on third-party aggregate sites. These sites are convenient for research but are not government-sponsored, and record availability may vary. To search for a record on these platforms, requesters need to provide:
- The location of the record, including the city, county, or state.
- The name of an individual involved, provided they are not a juvenile.
What Do I Need to Access Louisiana Vital Records?
To access Louisiana vital records, applicants must submit a request to the State Registrar and Vital Records Office or the Clerk in the parish where the event occurred. The request should include:
- A completed application form
- A check or money order for the applicable fees
- A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
Requests for publicly available records can also be made through the Louisiana State Archives.
Certified vs. Informational Copies: Key Differences
A certified copy of a Louisiana vital record is issued on security paper and includes an embossed government seal, making it valid for identification and legal purposes. An informational copy, on the other hand, is a non-legal document that cannot be used for official identification or legal matters.
Are Louisiana Birth Records Available to the Public?
Louisiana birth records older than 100 years are public records. Until this period elapses, access is restricted to the individual named on the record, immediate family members, and legal representatives.
How to Access Louisiana Birth Records?
Eligible persons can obtain certified copies of Louisiana birth records less than 100 years old from the Louisiana Department of Health. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or online. Required information includes:
- Proper identification
- Appropriate fees ($9 for a short-form copy, $15 for a long-form copy)
- A completed application form
Mail requests should be sent with the necessary documentation to:
Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70610
Requests for birth records older than 100 years can be made to the Louisiana State Archives.
Are Birth Certificates Public in Louisiana?
Birth certificates in Louisiana are not publicly accessible. Only specific individuals, such as the registrant, parents named on the certificate, and immediate family members, can request them. Legal representatives and those with a court order may also obtain these records. After 100 years, birth certificates become public records.
Are Louisiana Death Records Available to the Public?
Louisiana death records older than 50 years are available to the public. Until this period expires, access is limited to eligible individuals, including the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, adult siblings, grandparents, adult grandchildren, and legal representatives.
How to Access Death Records in Louisiana?
Eligible persons can obtain death records less than 50 years old from the Bureau of Vital Records. Requests can be made online, by mail, or in person and must include:
- A completed application form
- Appropriate fees ($7 per record)
- Proper identification
In-person requests can be made at:
Vital Records Central Office
Suite 400
1450 Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Mail requests should be sent to:
Bureau of Vital Records
P.O. Box 60630
New Orleans, LA 70610
Are Louisiana Marriage Records Available to the Public?
Louisiana marriage records become public after 50 years. Records less than 50 years old are available to specific individuals through the Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics or the Clerk of the Court in the parish where the marriage occurred.
How to Access Marriage Records in Louisiana?
Marriage records less than 50 years old can be obtained from the Vital Records Registry or the Clerk of the Court in the parish of occurrence. Requests must include:
- A completed application form
- Proper identification
- Applicable fees ($5 per copy)
Requests for marriage records older than 50 years should be directed to the Louisiana State Archives.
How to Obtain a Marriage Certificate in Louisiana
Certified copies of marriage certificates can be requested from the Clerk of Court in the parish where the marriage took place. Orleans Parish records can be ordered online, by mail, or in person. Required documentation includes:
- A completed application form
- Proper identification
- Payment of applicable fees
Mail requests should be sent to:
Vital Records Database
P.O. Box 60630
70160 New Orleans, LA
Are Louisiana Divorce Records Available to the Public?
Divorce records in Louisiana are generally not public and are available only to the involved parties, immediate family members, and authorized representatives.
How to Get Divorce Records in Louisiana?
Divorce records can be obtained from the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce occurred. Requesters must provide:
- Names of the parties involved
- Date and place of the divorce
- Divorce certificate number
All requests must include appropriate fees and proof of relationship to the individuals on the record.
How to Obtain a Certified Divorce Certificate in Louisiana
Certified divorce certificates can be requested from the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce proceedings took place. Requesters must provide:
- A completed application form
- Proper identification
- Payment of applicable fees
Requests for records older than 50 years can be directed to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry or the Louisiana State Archives.