How to get a Louisiana death certificate

Ways to order

What a Louisiana death certificate costs

First certified copy

$7²

Each additional copy

$7³

If no record is found

The fee is kept as a search fee²

Types of copies

No-fee copies

• No fee waivers²

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 death certificate

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

• Spouse¹
• A parent named on the record, brother or sister, grandparent and grandchild¹
• Adult child¹
• Succession representative (in person or by mail only)¹
  Proof: Certified Letter of Testamentary or Letter of Administration¹
• Attorney (in person or by mail only)¹
  Proof: Letterhead declaration with bar roll number and copy of current ID¹
• Funeral director for the family, up to one year after death⁸
• Insurance policy or trust beneficiary (in person or by mail only)¹
• Person named in a court proceeding as immediate/surviving family (in person or by mail only)¹
• Universal or general legatee (in person or by mail only)¹
• Pension/retirement plan beneficiary (in person or by mail only)¹
• Payable-on-death account beneficiary (in person or by mail only)¹
• Notary assisting an heir with a small succession (in person or by mail only)¹
• Bail-bond surety agent (in person or by mail only)¹
• Federally insured bank or credit union (Act 318 of 2026; in person or by mail only)¹
  Proof: Letterhead letter with FDIC Certificate or NCUA Charter number, plus employee badge or government photo ID (with business card)¹
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (and other agencies listed in R.S. 40:41)⁸
• Anyone else, with an Authorization Release of Records signed by an entitled person¹
  Proof: Authorization Release of Records, completed by an immediate family member or other entitled person, plus a copy of the authorized person's ID⁹

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

50 years¹⁰

ID you need

Photo ID

Required¹¹

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 applicant¹¹

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)

¹¹

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 death (first, middle, last)
• Date of death
• Sex
• City of death
• Parish of death
• 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
• Funeral Home Application for Certified Copy of Death Certificate Rev 3/26⁷
• Authorization Release of Records Rev 7/26⁹

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds

50 years before the current year (older deaths at the State Archives) to today¹²

Older records

Louisiana State Archives (Secretary of State)¹⁰

Special situations

Fetal death

Fetal death certificates cost $7 by written request or walk-in at the Central Office.¹³ Details

Stillbirth

Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth: first copy free to the parents; additional copies $15.¹³ Details

Use abroad

Death certificates for use abroad (burial or estate abroad) need an apostille from the Secretary of State.¹⁴ Details

If no record is found

If no record is found the fee is kept for the search.²

Warnings from the office

• Certificates are never faxed; a valid copy needs the raised seal.¹²
• The person who signs an application with false information is the one prosecuted.¹¹

The state office

Office

Center for Vital Records and Statistics (Office of the State Registrar; Vital Records Registry)¹⁵

Phone

504-593-5100¹⁵

Email

[email protected]¹⁶

Mailing address

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

⁴

Walk-in address

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

⁴

Hours

Walk-in 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., excluding state holidays¹⁵

Website

Official website¹⁵

Questions people ask