Louisiana Death Records

A Louisiana death record primarily provides details regarding a person's death in the state. It shows the place and time of the death event, the cause of death, and crucial personal information of the deceased individual. The state records an average of 51,722 deaths annually and has a mortality rate of 976.7 per 100,000 residents, one of the highest in the United States. The annual average of the country's death rate is 793 deaths per 100,000 total population.

Statewide recording of death in Louisiana began in 1911, but a few parishes, like Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish, recorded some death events beginning in 1850 and 1804, respectively. Most death records in the state exist primarily as death certificates, which are official proofs of the death of individuals named on them. Louisiana Revised Statutes, Section 40;40:34.10 lists the minimum information a death certificate in the state must contain, which includes the following:

• The decedent's full name
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Social Security number issued to the deceased person, unless it cannot be obtained
• The decedent's date and place of birth
• Date and place of cremation, burial, or removal

Funeral homes are responsible for preparing original death certificates in Louisiana. After a person's death, the next of kin provides the funeral home with information regarding the deceased, while the primary care physician of the deceased person sends the cause of death to the funeral home.

Once the funeral home gets clearance from the health department regarding the cause of death, the primary care physician will e-sign the document (death certificate). Afterward, the funeral home will submit the original death certificate to the county health department for filing and registration. Eligible persons can subsequently order certified copies of the death certificate. A certified copy of a Louisiana death certificate is a copy that an authorized government official has verified as a true copy of the original. It typically comes with a government seal and the signature of the verifying officer.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Louisiana?

The Vital Records Registry of the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) maintains original death certificates of death events in the state and issues certified copies of the documents to eligible individuals. A certified copy of a Louisiana death certificate may be obtained in any of the following ways:

• Mail Application - The following steps are involved when requesting a certified copy of a Louisiana death certificate:

  • Fill out the Application for Certified Copy of Birth/Death Certificate Form. Make sure to select the "Death Certificate" box.

  • Prepare a photocopy of a valid ID in the form of one primary ID document or two secondary ID documents. Primary ID documents include a current state-issued photo ID, a current state-issued driver's license, a U.S. certificate of naturalization, a current U.S. military ID, a current U.S.-issued or foreign-issued passport, and a current school yearbook or school ID (for high school students). Secondary IDs include the following:

    • Social security ID
    • Voter's registration application (certified true copy)
    • Original adoption papers
    • Current student photo ID from a university or college, accompanied by a 100% fee paid receipt
    • Certificate of vehicle title
    • Payroll stub
    • Official certified title or deeds of property
    • Home, health, auto, and life insurance policies
    • Current U.S. military dependent ID card
  • Pay a $7 fee for each copy of the certificate requested by check or money order payable to the Louisiana Vital Records

  • Submit the completed request form, a copy of ID, and payment to the LDH at:

    Louisiana Department of Health

    Vital Records Registry

    P.O. Box 60630

    New Orleans, LA 70160

    Mail requests are typically fulfilled within 8 to 10 weeks of the application.

• In-Person Application - Interested and eligible persons may request certified copies of a Louisiana death certificate in person by completing an application form and submit it with their photo identification and the appropriate fees to the Vital Records Office at:

  1450 Poydras Street

  Suite 400

  New Orleans, LA 70112

  Requesters are encouraged to submit walk-in requests between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays (excluding state holidays). Check, cash, and money order are acceptable forms of payment for walk-in services.

  Furthermore, eligible persons may obtain certified copies of death certificates in Louisiana from participating clerks of court for death events that occurred on or after July 7, 2012. However, requesters are typically required to pay an additional fee.

Are Louisiana Death Records Public?

Louisiana is a closed record state. As a result, death records are not public records. They are confidential until 50 years after the date of the death event. As stipulated in Section 40:41 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, death records under 50 years may only be accessed under certain conditions and by limited individuals or entities.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Louisiana?

The Vital Records Registry does not issue original death certificates in Louisiana. They remain permanently in the custody of the state's Department of Health once filed by funeral homes. Only the following persons or entities are entitled to order certified copies of the death certificate in the state:

• Adult children of the deceased person
• Surviving spouse of the decedent
• Parents of the decedent
• The decedent's siblings
• The decedent's grandchildren
• Grandparent of the deceased person
• A beneficiary of an insurance policy
• A succession representative
• A beneficiary of a deceased person's public pension plan
• A beneficiary of a deceased person's financial institution account is classified as a "payable on death account"
• A universal or general legatee in judgment of possession
• Any individual named in a court proceeding as a member of the surviving or immediate family of the decedent

Per Section 40:41 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, individuals who are not entitled to obtain death certificates require authorization. They must submit an Authorization Release of Records and a copy of the ID of the individual authorized to obtain a certified copy of the death certificate.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Louisiana?

After someone dies in Louisiana, the physician in charge of the person's care completes the medical certification, signs it, and returns it to the funeral home within 24 hours after death unless a coroner's inquest is required. Afterward, it takes a few weeks to file the completed, original death certificate with the county health department. Once an original death certificate is filed, any eligible person may request certified copies of the certificate and get them within 8 to 10 weeks of submitting their request.

However, getting certified copies of a Louisiana death certificate may take a longer time if an autopsy is required. Generally, when a death seems suspicious, an autopsy is required to determine the cause and manner of death. This stalls the preparation of the original death certificate, which in turn causes a delay in getting certified copies of the death certificate. In death cases that require autopsy, it could take anywhere from 30 to 90 days for the autopsy report to be ready, without which the original death certificate cannot be prepared. In complex cases, especially those requiring toxicology testing, the timeline may extend beyond 90 days.

Can I view Louisiana Death Records online for free?

The Louisiana State Archives generally retains death records older than 50 years. It currently has certified copies of microfilmed death certificates for death events that occurred in the state between 1911 and 1974 and older death records for some parishes. Interested persons may search the database by the decedent's full or partial name to view their records free of charge. Furthermore, historical death records in Louisiana for deaths that occurred in several parishes may be accessed using online resources like Ancestry.com and FamiliSearch.org.

Furthermore, some third-party sites, including Louisianapublicrecords.us, allow access to historical death records in the state. Eligible persons may also be able to view records of recent deaths (under 50 years) if they demonstrate their eligibility to access such records. However, these services come at an affordable cost. In addition, anyone looking to find information about a death event in Louisiana for free should consider checking substitute records like tax records, obituaries, probate records, newspapers, cemetery records, and church records. These records particularly hold information about death events with no official records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Louisiana?

A certified copy of a Louisiana death certificate can be used for several purposes, including the following administrative and legal purposes:

• Making funeral arrangements.
• Accessing the pension benefits and other retirement benefits of the deceased person.
• Claiming life insurance.
• Getting married to another person after the death of a former spouse (if the widow or widower is required to prove that their previous spouse has passed.
• Transferring ownership of the deceased person's real estate, vehicles, and other assets.
• Accessing a decedent's financial accounts and estate.
• Notifying a deceased person's creditors.
• Closing a decedent's bank accounts to prevent identity theft.
• Canceling a decedent's subscriptions to various utility services.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Louisiana?

It is generally recommended to get between 8 and 12 certified copies of a Louisiana death certificate when submitting a request to the state's Vital Records Registry. However, the actual number of copies needed depends on the specific requirements of the agencies and institutions that need them and the size of the deceased person's assets. While some institutions may accept photocopies of a certified copy of a death certificate, others may not.

To determine how many certified copies of a death certificate are needed, do the following:

• Consider the number of private institutions and government agencies that will need a copy to verify the death of the person listed on the certificate before concluding a transaction or attending to a legal request.
• Decide how many copies may be required for emergencies and contingencies.