How to Get Louisiana Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Louisiana — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Louisiana DHH Vital Records Registry. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Clerk of Court.

What this page covers: Louisiana vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Louisiana DHH Vital Records Registry. For marriage licenses, contact the Clerk of Court in the parish where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Center for Vital Records and Statistics | Louisiana Department of Health
Parent agency
Center for Vital Records and Statistics | Louisiana Department of Health
Records back to
Louisiana Vital Records • FamilySearch
Online ordering
Request a Birth or Death Certificate | Louisiana Department of Health
Marriage license issued by
Rec1 - Marriage Licenses | Calcasieu Clerk
Local intake
Center for Vital Records and Statistics | Louisiana Department of Health
Population
4,597,740
Households
1,779,100
Median Income
$57,852
Median Home Value
$198,100
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Louisiana vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at ldh.la.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Louisiana Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Louisiana — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Louisiana vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Louisiana Vital Records

2026
Louisiana vital records portal active
The official Louisiana portal at ldh.la.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Louisiana state records.
2026
Louisiana access in 2026
For 2026, Louisiana continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check ldh.la.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Louisiana's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Louisiana Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Louisiana, start with the Louisiana health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Louisiana typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Louisiana records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Louisiana Vital Records

MYTH"A death index entry and a death certificate are the same."
FACTThe index proves a death was recorded; the certified certificate carries the legal details. Banks and courts want the certificate, not a screenshot of the index.
MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite — most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.
MYTH"Marriage licenses come from the state."
FACTIn most states — Louisiana included for most purposes — you get the license at the county level, and the state only registers the completed record.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
MYTH"Anyone can order anyone's birth certificate."
FACTBirth certificates are restricted nearly everywhere — the person named, parents, spouse, child, or a legal representative. Strangers don't qualify.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Louisiana counties: Acadia · Allen · Ascension · Assumption · Avoyelles

Vital Records Databases

17 official Louisiana vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Louisiana Birth Records
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Louisiana route through this office. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 sos.la.gov
Louisiana Death Records
Official Free
This is the request channel for Louisiana vital records — births, deaths, and marriages. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 sos.la.gov
Self-Help Resource Center Online Court — Orleans Civil District Court Online Court
Official Free
The Orleans Parish Civil District Court hosts a Self-Help Resource Center that is an operation of The Pro Bono Project and The Family Justice Center in partnership with the court and the clerk's offices, and with funding from the Louisiana Bar Foundation and is open daily.
🌐 orleanscivildistrictcourt.org
Orleans Parish Marriage Records
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to Orleans Parish are ordered here. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 sos.la.gov
Welcome - STPCC Recording Activity Alerts
Official Free
To address these concerns, Jessica Jenkins Brewster, St. Tammany Parish Clerk of Court, is proud to offer a FREE service that will NOTIFY you whenever a document with your registered name is recorded in St.
🌐 ssl.sttammanyclerk.org
state of louisiana - parish of caddo - first judicial district court
Official Free
The Clerk's Office keeps the records for Caddo Parish, including Mortgages, Conveyances, Marriage Licenses, Civil Suits, Criminal Cases, and Minutes for the First Judicial District Court. We are also responsible for training election commissioners and tabulating election results for the parish.
🌐 caddoclerk.com
records.stbclerk.com
Official Free
Welcome to the St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court Public Records Search · Subscription Pricing
🌐 records.stbclerk.com
Genealogy | Jefferson Parish Library
Official Free
Local-history and genealogy holdings for Jefferson Parish — older records and obituary indexes often surface here first. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 jplibrary.net
Louisiana Vital Records Index
Official Free
You can search the Louisiana Birth ... more than 100 years from the end of the current calendar year. The only birth records that are currently available at the Archives prior to 1911 are from Orleans Parish ....
🌐 sos.la.gov
Caddo Parish Clerk of Court
Official Free
This is the court-records channel for Caddo Parish: case searches and docket details. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 caddoclerk.com
Directory - Services - Records - Vital Records: Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, and Marriage Licenses - Birth…
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Louisiana route through this office. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 nola.gov
Obituary Index - City Archives & Special Collections
Official Free
Archival material for Louisiana — a common source for obituaries and older record indexes. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 nolacityarchives.org
Marriage Records - City Archives & Special Collections
Official Free
Marriage Records from the New Orleans Board of Health covering dates from 1831-1916.Learn More · In 1880 a system of City Courts was substituted for the existing Justices of the Peace arrangement. Learn More · Some civil marriage records were issued from the offices of one of the civil court judges. Learn More · Index of marriages mentioned in the Daily Picayune newspaper, 1837-1857Learn More ·
🌐 nolacityarchives.org
Louisiana Death Records
Official Free
This is the request channel for Louisiana vital records — births, deaths, and marriages. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 sos.la.gov

Louisiana Counties

All 64 Louisiana counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

East Baton Rouge Jefferson Orleans Caddo St. Tammany Lafayette Calcasieu Ouachita Livingston Acadia Ascension Assumption Avoyelles Baton Rouge

Which Louisiana parishes publish vital records information online

4 of Louisiana's 64 parishes run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other parish is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a parish for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Louisiana are issued by the Official Louisiana Vital Records at ldh.la.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The parish of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Louisiana death certificates are issued by the Official Louisiana Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at ldh.la.gov. For deaths within the last year, the parish clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Louisiana marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Louisiana Vital Records (ldh.la.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the parish clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Louisiana vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some parish clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Louisiana Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at ldh.la.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Louisiana Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at ldh.la.gov.