Louisiana Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One

Louisiana is a closed-record state for death certificates. For the first 50 years after a death, only the surviving spouse, certain relatives, succession representatives, and named beneficiaries can buy a certified copy. After 50 years, the record becomes public and anyone may request it.

Are Death Records Public in Louisiana?

No. Louisiana is a closed-record state for recent deaths. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:41, death certificates are strictly confidential for 50 years after the year of death.

During that 50-year period, the state will only issue a certified copy to people on a defined eligibility list. The general public cannot simply buy a recent Louisiana death certificate.

Once a record reaches 50 years old, it loses its confidential status. At that point the death record becomes a public record and anyone may access it, generally through the Louisiana State Archives.

This is different from many open-record states, where any member of the public can purchase a certified death certificate at any time. In Louisiana, access depends on your relationship to the deceased until the half-century mark passes.

Who Can Request a Louisiana Death Record?

For deaths within the past 50 years, only specific people may obtain a certified copy. La. R.S. 40:41 limits eligibility to a clearly defined group.

The eligible requesters include:

• The surviving spouse named on the record
• A parent of the person named on the certificate
• An adult child of the deceased
• A sibling of the deceased
• A grandparent or adult grandchild
• A succession representative with certified court documentation
• A beneficiary of the deceased person's insurance policy, trust, or retirement plan
• Attorneys and notaries assisting with a small succession
• Court-named family members and bail bond sureties

A funeral director may also obtain a certified copy when acting at the request of the immediate or surviving family, up to one year following the date of death.

If you are not on this list, you can still obtain the record if an eligible person signs an Authorization Release of Records form on your behalf. Every request requires a valid photo ID.

How to Get a Louisiana Death Certificate

Louisiana death certificates are issued by the Vital Records Registry, part of the Louisiana Department of Health. The standard certified copy fee is $7.00 per copy.

You can order in several ways:

• By mail: Send a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and the fee to Vital Records Registry, PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. A $0.50 state charge is added to mail orders. Plan for roughly 8 to 10 weeks.
• In person: Visit the Vital Records Central Office at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112, open 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on business days.
• Online or phone: Order through VitalChek, the state's authorized vendor, at 1-877-605-8562 or vitalchek.com. Additional vendor fees apply.

Clerks of court in some parishes can also issue certified death certificates, though that copy costs $26.00. The Vital Records Registry only handles deaths that occurred in Louisiana. If the death happened in another state, contact that state's vital records office.

For questions about fees, forms, or processing times, the Vital Records customer service line is 504-593-5100.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Louisiana?

No, not for recent deaths. The cause of death is printed on the certified Louisiana death certificate, and that certificate is confidential for 50 years.

Because the cause of death is part of the restricted record, it is available only to the same eligible requesters listed above during the 50-year window. The general public cannot pull cause-of-death information on a recent Louisiana death.

After 50 years, when the full record becomes public through the State Archives, the cause of death listed on the historical certificate becomes accessible along with the rest of the document. For a broader overview, see Are Cause of Death Records Public? and Are Autopsies Public Records?, which are governed by separate coroner and medical-examiner rules.

How Far Back Do Louisiana Death Records Go?

Louisiana death records that are 50 years old or older are open to the public. The Louisiana State Archives maintains a searchable index of these historical deaths, and the records are no longer confidential once they pass the 50-year threshold.

For genealogy and historical research, this archive is the primary state resource. Newer deaths remain with the Vital Records Registry under the confidentiality rules described above. The same 50-year and 100-year confidentiality structure also affects related documents, including birth certificates, which stay closed for 100 years in Louisiana.

There is no national death-records database. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms that death records are issued and held by individual states, not the federal government. The Social Security Administration publishes a public Death Master File, but under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 that public file excludes deaths within the most recent three calendar years.

Louisiana Death Records at a Glance

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about accessing public records in Louisiana, not legal advice. Records-access rules, fees, and processing times change. Always confirm current requirements with the Louisiana Vital Records Registry before submitting a request.

For rules in other states, see Death Records by State.

Sources

This article relies on the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office, Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:41, and federal CDC/NCHS and Social Security Administration guidance, all listed below.