Louisiana, vital records
Locate Louisiana state vital records. List of government and private entities that provide birth records, marriages and decrees, divorces and death.
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Every card below goes to the government office responsible for that record. Use the category buttons to narrow the list.
Vital records
The Louisiana Department of Health protects and promotes health and ensures access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all citizens
Open official site Open official site Louisiana State Registrar Vital Records and StatisticsVital records
Louisiana is a "closed record" state.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Birth RecordsVital records
Louisiana is a "closed record" state.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Death RecordsCourt records
Find Louisiana Marriage Records.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Marriage RecordsState agencies
The official website of the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Secretary of State ArchivesCourt records
Association Overview All Boards Board of Directors Clerks of Court Districts Board of Directors Past Presidents Committees Training Scholarship Application.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Divorce DecreesVital records
§33.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Vital Records Registry LawsVital records
A.(1) The certificate forms prescribed by the state registrar shall include, as a minimum, birth certificates, death certificates, paternity acknowledgment.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Vital Records FormsState agencies
Official site, cdc.gov.
Open official site Open official site https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htmState agencies
Official site, cdc.gov.
Open official site Open official site https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/index.htmVital records
Official site, vitalrecords.sos.la.gov.
Open official site Open official site Louisiana Vital Records (official: sos.la.gov)State agencies
Official site, ssa.gov.
Open official site Open official site https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdfGuide
Louisiana issues no divorce certificate. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry states that it cannot issue a certified copy of a divorce decree; a certified copy of the decree is obtained by contacting the Clerk of Court in the parish where the divorce was granted. For every purpose, from proving the divorce to reading the property partition, the parish clerk is the only source. The Registry's statement is at ldh.la.gov.
Guide
These federal and national sources complement Louisiana's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Louisiana state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.
CDC, Where to Write for Vital RecordsRecord guide
Guide
Useful local context without burying the official record links above.
At a glance
Louisiana Vital RecordsStateLouisianaOfficial sources12Vital records8Federal3Court records1Links checkedSep. 22, 2026Using these vital record sourcesMore Louisiana records on this site: Louisiana public records, Free Background Checks.
Straight answers
Guide
Open only the answer you need.
Does the federal government keep birth certificates?No. The CDC is explicit: 'The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records.' Every U.S. vital record is kept by the state where the event occurred.
What is the difference between a certified and informational copy?A certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted by SSA, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy is marked 'Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity' and cannot be used for legal ID.
How long does a mail request take?It varies by state, but a mail order to a state vital records office is typically 4, 8 weeks. Walk-in county clerk requests can be same-day. Online orders through VitalChek add a separate processing time on top of the state's.
Who is legally allowed to order a certified copy?Most states limit certified copies to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. Informational copies are generally available to anyone after a waiting period defined by state law.
What if I was born abroad to U.S. citizen parents?You should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). Replacements come from the U.S. Department of State, not from a state vital records office.
All states
Record guide
Useful local context without burying the official record links above.
At a glance
More Louisiana records on this site: Louisiana public records, Free Background Checks, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas.
Straight answers
Open only the answer you need.
No. The CDC is explicit: 'The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records.' Every U.S. vital record is kept by the state where the event occurred.
A certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted by SSA, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy is marked 'Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity' and cannot be used for legal ID.
It varies by state, but a mail order to a state vital records office is typically 4, 8 weeks. Walk-in county clerk requests can be same-day. Online orders through VitalChek add a separate processing time on top of the state's.
Most states limit certified copies to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. Informational copies are generally available to anyone after a waiting period defined by state law.
You should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). Replacements come from the U.S. Department of State, not from a state vital records office.
All states
Every state page lists that state's official vital record sources, each opened and verified.