How to get a Louisiana birth certificate

Ways to order

What a Louisiana birth certificate costs

First certified copy

$15²

Each additional copy

$15³

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee²

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• No fee waivers²
• First certified copy free to parents of a newborn⁷

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

Who can order a Louisiana birth certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

• The person named on the record¹
• Spouse¹
• A parent named on the record, brother or sister, grandparent and grandchild¹
  Proof: Father must be listed on the certificate⁵
• Adult child¹
  Proof: No proof of relationship for listed family members (they sign under penalty of perjury); legal guardians need a judgment of custody and a father must be listed on the certificate.⁵
• Legal guardian: When another adult other than the legally entitled individuals listed above is requesting the record of a child, they must present a judgment of custody for the child.¹
  Proof: Judgment of custody; notarized custody papers or provisional custody mandates are not accepted¹
• Attorney or legal representative: An attorney, along with a written declaration of representation of one of the above-entitled individuals, including persons under the age of eighteen.¹
  Proof: Written declaration on letterhead with bar roll number and a copy of current ID¹
• Anyone else, with a signed Authorization Release of Records¹
  Proof: Authorization Release of Records signed by an entitled person, plus a copy of the authorized person's ID¹¹

Who cannot order a certified copy

• Anyone: Louisiana is a "closed record" state. This means that birth and death certificates are not public records.¹

Records open to the public after

100 years¹²

ID you need

Photo ID

Required¹³

Accepted ID

• Current state issued driver's license that displays a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant
• Current state issued picture identification that displays a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant
• Current U.S. military identification card that displays a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant
• Current U.S. issued or Foreign issued Passport
• U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550, N-570 or N-578)
• U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-578)
• High School Students - a current school yearbook or a current school identification document with a photograph which clearly identifies the applicant¹³

Without that ID

• Two secondary documents, e.g.: college student photo ID with 100% fee-paid receipt for the current semester (counts as two)
• W-2 issued within the last two years plus original signed Social Security card with matching numbers (counts as two)
• Social Security card
• Original adoption papers
• Official certified deeds or title to property
• Certificate of vehicle title
• Insurance policy showing the applicant's name (health, home, life, auto)
• Payroll stub (not handwritten) showing name and Social Security number
• Current U.S. military dependent photo ID
• Original DD-214
• Voter's Registration application (certified true copy)

¹³

ID copy with a mail order

Include a copy of your ID¹

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.³

• Name at birth (first, middle, last)
• Date of birth
• Sex
• City of birth
• Parish of birth
• Father's name
• Mother's full maiden name before marriage
• Applicant's name, residence address, day phone, email
• Mailing address for certificates
• Relationship to the person named (must submit photo ID)
• Signature

Forms

• Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Certificate (VR Form S1) Rev 1/26³
• Authorization Release of Records Rev 7/26¹¹
• Clerk of Court Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Certificate (VR Form S1) Rev 1/24⁴

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

100 years before the current year (older births at the State Archives) to today⁷

Older records

Louisiana State Archives (Secretary of State)¹²

Special situations

Adoption

New birth certificate after adoption: non-refundable $27.50 including one certified copy; an extra $15.00 search fee if the original birth certificate cannot be provided for an out-of-state or adult adoption.¹⁴ Details

Adoptees born abroad

Without a U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (N-560), the Louisiana certificate for a foreign-born adoptee carries a notation that it is not evidence of citizenship.¹⁴ Details

Paternity

Acknowledgment of Paternity after registration: $27.50 including one amended copy; +$15.00 if no certified birth certificate is sent.¹⁵ Details

Delayed registration

Delayed certificate filing fee $27.50, including one certified copy.² Details

Sex marker

A new birth certificate after sex-reassignment surgery requires a court judgment in a suit against the state registrar (R.S. 40:62).¹⁶ Details

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee if no record is found.⁷

Use abroad

For use abroad, get a certified copy signed by the State Registrar, then an apostille from the Louisiana Secretary of State.¹⁷ Details

If the person has died

Birth certificates of people who have died may be stamped 'deceased', and copies carry the same mark.¹⁸

Warnings from the office

• Certificates are never faxed; a valid copy needs the raised seal.⁷
• The person who signs an application with false information is the one prosecuted.¹³
• The Louisiana registry holds only Louisiana births.¹²

The state office

Office

Center for Vital Records and Statistics (Office of the State Registrar; Vital Records Registry)⁸

Phone

504-593-5100⁸

Email

[email protected]¹⁹

Mailing address

Vital Records Registry, PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160

¹

Walk-in address

Vital Records Central Office, 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112

¹

Hours

Walk-in 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., excluding state holidays⁸

Website

Official website⁸

Questions people ask