Family Tree Circles Locations
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Louisiana
Locations
Volunteers
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Requests
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Wiki
State Offices
Department of Health & Hospitals
Louisiana Office of Public Health
Vital Records Registry
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Mailing address:
Department of Health & Hospitals
P. O. Box 629
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629
Phone: (504) 593-5100
Fax: (504) 568-8716
Email: dhh-vitalweb@la.gov
Website
Louisiana State Archives
3851 Essen Lane
PO Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
Phone: (225) 922-2012
Website
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry is not able to accept requests for genealogical research. Event records archived by the Vital Records Registry are confidential and are not public record.They may only be released in accordance with Louisiana law.
Remarks: All requests must include an
unexpired copy of Government or State-issued Photo ID, and the
completed & notarized request form with signature of the person
requesting the certificate.*
Amendments and Corrections
The process to make changes to a death certificate vary depending on the type of legal change needed and how recently the record was filed. Amendments to vital records are governed by Louisiana statutes and administrative codes. The Vital Records Registry must work within these laws when making amendments to records.
Apostille copies of vital records are routinely required for
foreign use. The Apostille consists of a certified copy of a
Louisiana birth certificate, death certificate, or an Orleans
Parish Marriage certificate signed by the State Registrar along
with an additional certification signed by the Louisiana Secretary
of State.
Certification Fee: $20.00 (Exception: Adoptions
are $10 per certificate.)
Notes: A birth certificate or death
certificate which is prepared to give to a foreign country is
called an apostille.
How to order a certified copy:
By Mail - You may mail your completed request, a copy of your photo identification and correct fees to: Vital Records Registry, PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160;
Phone or Fax - You may use a major credit card to place fax or telephone orders. There are additional fees when using this service provider or requesting expedited services;
In-Person - You may complete an application for a certified copy of any certificate, bring your photo identification and correct fees to the Vital Records Central Office or at Vital Records Service Center;
VitalCheck - Secured online applications to request for vital records, which accepts all major credit card payments, can be made through VitalCheck with an additional charge for their service.
Vital Records
Birth
Location:
Department of Health & Hospitals
Louisiana Office of Public Health
Vital Records Registry
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Mailing address:
Department of Health & Hospitals
P. O. Box 629
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629
Phone: (504) 593-5100
Fax: (504) 568-8716
Email: dhh-vitalweb@la.gov
Website
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry is the repository for all Louisiana Birth Certificates less than 101 years old. Existing records of births which occurred in Louisiana more than 100 years ago are maintained by the Office of the Secretary of State.
Certified Copies
Long Form: $15.00 per copy
Short Form: $9.50 per copy
Time-frame: Since July 1914
Notes: A $0.50 state charge must be added to
each mail-in or VitalChek order.
Remarks: The Louisiana Office of Vital Records Registry maintains birth records ONLY for births that occurred in Louisiana.
Louisiana Vital Records is responsible for the completion
and issuance of a new birth certificate after an adoption has been
finalized. The new birth certificate includes the city of birth,
parish of birth and the date of birth stated on the original birth
certificate.
Processing Fee: $27.50 (non-refundable)
Notes: Additional copies can be purchased at
the time of processing for $9.00. A $0.50 state charge must be
added to each mail-in or VitalChek order.
Remarks: Vital Records may omit the exact
location of the birth on the registered birth certificate if it is
stated in the court order.
- Child was born and Adopted in Louisiana
When a child is adopted through a Louisiana court, the court forwards a certified Adoption Report (OCS Form 61) to the Department of Children and Family Services' regional office.
- Child was born in Louisiana and Adopted in another State
When a Louisiana born child is adopted in another state, the court normally forwards a certified copy of their Adoption Report or a certified Adoption Decree to Vital Records.
- Foreign born child Adopted by Louisiana Resident
Once the adoption has been processed through a Louisiana court, the court forwards a certified Adoption Report (OCS Form 61) to the Department of Children and Family Services' regional office.
Remarks: Vital Records may omit the exact location of the birth on the registered birth certificate if it is stated in the court order.
- Adult Adoption
A certified copy of an Adoption decree or a certified copy of the Authentic Act of Adoption must be forwarded to Vital Records by the Clerk of Court, the adopted adult, the adoptive parent, or their attorney. A copy of the adult's original birth certificate must be submitted with the request.
Remarks: The adopted adult must obtain an affidavit from their local District Attorney stating there is no objection to the name change.
- Sealed Adoption Records
After Vital Records completes the process for the new birth certificate, the original birth certificate is sealed along with the evidentiary documents (court order, adoption report) provided to process the new birth certificate. The sealed record cannot be opened, unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Remarks: If Vital Records receives a court order annulling an adoption, Vital Records will unseal the original birth certificate and return the original birth certificate to the "active" birth registry.
- If Your Adopted Child Was Not Born in Louisiana
The court should send the adoption report or adoption decree to the Office of Vital Records in the state where your adopted child was born in order to process the new birth certificate.
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry maintains the Louisiana
Putative Father Registry to record the name and address of any man
who wants to declare that he is the father of a child.
Registration Fee: FREE
Notes: Additional copies can be purchased at
the time of processing for $10.00.
Remarks: The filing of a man's name in the
Putative Father Registry creates a rebuttable presumption that the
man is the father of the child and facilitates the man's
participation in any adoption proceeding involving that
child.
Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth
In 2003, the Louisiana Legislature enacted the "Missing
Angels Act," which established a new certificate entitled
Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth.
First Copy: FREE
Notes: A fee of $15.00 must be submitted for
each additional copy requested..
Remarks: The first certified copy of a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth is provided at no cost upon request.
Death
Location:
Department of Health & Hospitals
Louisiana Office of Public Health
Vital Records Registry
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Mailing address:
Department of Health & Hospitals
P. O. Box 629
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629
Phone: (504) 593-5100
Fax: (504) 568-8716
Email: dhh-vitalweb@la.gov
Website
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry is the repository for all Louisiana Death Certificates less than 51 years old. Existing records of deaths which occurred more than 50 years ago are maintained by the Office of the Secretary of State.
Certified Copy: $9.00 per copy
Time-frame: Since 1942
Notes: Under Louisiana law, death records are
strictly confidential until 50 years after the year of death. Death
records older than 50 years are available at the Louisiana State
Archives.
Marriage
Location:
Department of Health & Hospitals
Louisiana Office of Public Health
Vital Records Registry
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Mailing address:
Department of Health & Hospitals
P. O. Box 629
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629
Phone: (504) 593-5100
Fax: (504) 568-8716
Email: dhh-vitalweb@la.gov
Website
Louisiana Vital Records Registry may only issue a certified copy of a marriage license purchased in Orleans Parish. If the marriage license was purchased in another parish, you must obtain a certified copy from the Clerk of Court office in that parish.
Marriage License: $27.00 Certified
Copy: $5.00 each + a $.50 mailing charge per
transaction
Time-frame: 1870-1946
Notes: Additional certifications or certified
copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $6.00
each.
Remarks: A marriage license expires and
becomes invalid at midnight thirty (30) days after the date of
issuance. If the service is postponed, you must turn in the old
license and purchase a new one.Certified copies are issued by Clerk
of Court in the parish where the license was issued.
In Louisiana, marriage affects the property rights of both men and women. The rights of married people to buy, sell, or control their property, to borrow money, and to get credit are all regulated by law.
"Property" includes almost everything: house, land, bank
accounts, stock, pension plans, wages and other income and things
of value.
- Community Property
The community property laws provide rules on who may incur debts, how those debts are to be paid, and how debts and assets are to be divided between the husband and wife if their community ends.
- Marriage Contracts
A couple may make a written marriage contract before the wedding which sets out how they want their property owned and controlled.
Remarks: A marriage contract written before marriage does not need court approval for its provisions that are in accordance with Louisiana law to be enforceable.
REMEMBER: By law, marriage changes your
property rights. The community property law will apply to you if
you do not make a special marriage contract.
The law describes a covenant marriage as a marriage entered into by one male and one female who understand and agree that the marriage between them is a lifelong relationship.
The law provides that a man and woman may contract a
covenant marriage by declaring their intent to do so on their
application for a marriage license and executing a declaration of
intent to contract a covenant marriage and then, of course,
actually getting married accordingly.
A marriage officiant may not perform a marriage ceremony until seventy-two (72) hours have elapsed since the issuance of the marriage license (R.S. 9:241).
However, a judge or justice of the peace authorized to
perform the marriage may waive the 72-hour delay upon application
of the parties giving "serious and meritorious
reasons".
Divorce
Location:
Department of Health & Hospitals
Louisiana Office of Public Health
Vital Records Registry
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Mailing address:
Department of Health & Hospitals
P. O. Box 629
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629
Phone: (504) 593-5100
Fax: (504) 568-8716
Email: dhh-vitalweb@la.gov
Website
Louisiana Vital Records does not issue certified copies of divorce decrees. You must obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree from the Clerk of Court office in the parish where the divorce was granted. Divorce records are available from Clerk of Court in parish where divorce was granted. Fees vary. Call Civil District Court, (504) 592-9100.
FEES: Varies
Time-frame: Since June 1958
Notes: Additional certifications or certified
copies of the same record ordered at the same time varies
too.
Remarks: To inquire about divorce certificates prior to June 1958, please call the circuit county clerk that granted the divorce decree.
Legal Separation in a Covenant Marriage
In order to obtain a legal separation (which is not a divorce and therefore does not end the marriage), a party to a covenant marriage must first obtain counseling and then must prove:
- Adultery by the other spouse;
- Commission of a felony by the other spouse and a sentence of imprisonment at hard labor or death;
- Physical or sexual abuse of the spouse or of a child of either spouse;
- The spouses have lived separate and apart for two years; or
- Habitual intemperance (for example, alcohol or drug abuse), cruel treatment, or severe ill treatment by the other spouse.
Divorce in a Covenant Marriage
A covenant marriage makes divorce difficult. In a marriage that is not a covenant marriage, one may petition for divorce based upon adultery by the other spouse, conviction of a felony by the other spouse and his imprisonment at hard labor or death, or by proof that the spouses have lived separate and apart for six months before or after filing for divorce.
- Adultery by the other spouse;
- Commission of a felony by the other spouse and a sentence of imprisonment at hard labor or death;
- Physical or sexual abuse of the spouse or of a child of either spouse;
- Abandonment by the other spouse for one year;
- The spouses have lived separate and apart for two years; or the spouses are judicially or legally separated and have lived separate and apart since the legal separation for (a) one year and six months if there is a minor child or children of the marriage; (b) one year if the separation was granted for abuse of a child of either spouse; or (c) one year in all other cases.
