Find Death Records in Houma

Houma death records are kept by the Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Courts, which serves as the custodian of death records for deaths occurring in Terrebonne Parish from 2012 onward. As the parish seat and largest city in Terrebonne Parish, Houma residents can access death certificates in person at the clerk's office on Church Street, though Houma has no separate city-level vital records office.

Houma Death Records - Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Courts

The Terrebonne Clerk of Courts is the custodian of Terrebonne Parish birth records from 1903 and death records from 2012. For Houma residents, that means death certificates for deaths that occurred in the city from 2012 forward are available through the clerk's office on Church Street in Houma. There is no city vital records office -- the clerk of courts handles all of it.

One thing to know before you go: vital records at the Terrebonne Clerk's office are cash only. They do not take cards. And requests must be made in person -- there is no mail option for vital records at this location. The office closes for vital records at 3:30 PM, so plan to arrive well before then.

Visit the Terrebonne Clerk of Courts website for current information on vital records, fees, and required identification.

The Terrebonne Parish Clerk of Courts office in Houma handles death certificate requests for deaths in Terrebonne Parish from 2012 to the present.

Houma Death Records - Online Public Records Search

The Terrebonne Clerk has a public records search portal at search.terrebonneclerk.org. This tool is for searching court and land records, not for ordering certified vital records. You can use it to look up case records, property filings, and other public documents, but death certificates must still be requested in person at the Church Street office.

Creating an account on the search portal is free, but some records may require a subscription fee. If you are doing genealogical research or looking for ancillary court records related to a death (such as succession or probate filings), the online portal can be a useful starting point.

The Terrebonne Clerk's public records search at search.terrebonneclerk.org allows users to search court and land records online, though certified death certificates must be obtained in person.

Houma Death Records - Who Can Request Them

Louisiana keeps death records closed. Under R.S. 40:41, these records are confidential for 50 years from the year of death. That means you cannot walk in and request a death certificate for just anyone. The clerk's staff must verify that you qualify before they can issue a copy.

People who are allowed to request a Houma death record include the surviving spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. A legal guardian may also qualify, but only with a court-issued judgment of custody -- not just a notarized document. Beneficiaries named in an insurance policy and succession representatives with legal standing can also make requests.

Only the record subject, their immediate family members, and authorized agents can request copies of records. This comes directly from the Terrebonne Clerk's own policy, which aligns with Louisiana state law. Bring a valid photo ID and any documents that show your relationship to the deceased. The staff will review everything before processing your request.

Older Houma Death Records - Pre-2012

For deaths that happened in Houma before July 2012, the Terrebonne Parish Clerk cannot help you. Those records are held by the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. The state office holds death records going back to 1914, when statewide registration began in Louisiana.

Mail requests to the state Vital Records office take 8 to 10 weeks. Walk-in service is faster. You can also order through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or at (877) 605-8562. VitalChek is the state's authorized partner and adds a service fee, but it can speed up processing.

Historical Houma Death Records - Louisiana State Archives

For deaths from 1911 through 1974, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds the statewide collection. Records at the Archives are only open once they are more than 50 years old, which matches the confidentiality window in R.S. 40:41. If you are doing family history research for older Houma deaths, the Archives is a good resource.

Louisiana Statutes Governing Houma Death Records

Three statutes control how death records are handled in Louisiana. R.S. 40:32 defines what counts as a vital record. R.S. 40:40 sets the fees -- $26 at the parish clerk and $7 at the state vital records office. R.S. 40:41 establishes the 50-year confidentiality rule and the penalties for anyone who misuses the system.

Lying to get a death record is a serious offense in Louisiana. Penalties include fines up to $10,000, prison time up to five years, or both. The Terrebonne Clerk's staff are authorized to refuse requests they believe are fraudulent, and they take that responsibility seriously.

Terrebonne Parish - Death Records for Houma

Houma is served by Terrebonne Parish for all vital records. The parish page has full details on the clerk's office, procedures, and how death records work across the parish.

Nearby Cities

Other qualifying Louisiana cities near Houma with pages on this site:

• New Iberia
• Marrero
• Terrytown