Find Death Records in Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish death records from 2013 onward are available through the Clerk of Court, which operates two office locations -- one in Donaldsonville and one in Gonzales. Older death records for Ascension Parish are held at the state level through the Louisiana Vital Records Registry or the Louisiana State Archives, depending on how far back you need to go. This page covers how to access Ascension Parish death records at all levels.
Ascension Parish Death Records Quick Facts
Ascension Parish Death Records - Clerk of Court Offices
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court, currently Bridget Hanna, operates two office locations. The main office is in Donaldsonville, the parish seat. A second office serves the northern part of the parish in Gonzales. Either location can help with death certificate requests during regular business hours.
Both offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If you are coming from the Gonzales or Prairieville area, the Gonzales office on East Worthey Street is closer and handles the same requests as the main office. Call ahead to confirm what you need to bring.
Donaldsonville Office (Main):
| Address | 300 Houmas Street, Donaldsonville, LA 70346 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 192, Donaldsonville, LA 70346 |
| Phone | (225) 473-9866 |
| Fax | (225) 473-8641 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Gonzales Branch Office:
| Address | 607 East Worthey Street, 1st Floor, Gonzales, LA 70737 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (225) 621-8400 ext 2 |
| Fax | (225) 621-8403 |
| Website | ascensionclerk.com |
The Ascension Parish Clerk website also provides access to an online portal called ACCESS, which allows users to search case information including probate court records. New users must register before they can search. Public terminals at the clerk's office provide access without registration if you prefer to search in person.
The Ascension Parish Clerk of Court website provides information on both office locations and links to the ACCESS online system.
The clerk website for Ascension Parish shows both office locations, hours, and directions for requesting death records and other vital records.
Ascension Parish Death Certificate Fees and Payments
A certified death certificate costs $26.00 at the Ascension Parish Clerk's office. The office accepts cash, credit and debit cards, money orders, and cashier's checks. Standard court record copies cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies of court documents cost $5.00 per document.
Death records at the parish level cover deaths from 2013 onward. If you need a certificate for a death that happened before that, you will need to contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry.
Birth records are also available at the clerk's office going back to 1903. So if your research covers both birth and death records in the same family, the clerk's office is a useful starting point for more recent records in either category.
Who Can Get Ascension Parish Death Records
Louisiana treats death records as closed records for 50 years after the year of death. This rule is set by R.S. 40:41, and the Ascension Parish Clerk's office follows it strictly. You must be an eligible requester to receive a certified copy.
Eligible requesters include the surviving spouse listed on the certificate, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal guardians must show a certified court judgment of custody. Attorneys may submit requests on firm letterhead with their bar roll number. Funeral directors can request certificates within one year of the death. Beneficiaries listed on an insurance policy and succession representatives are also eligible.
Making a false statement on a death certificate application can result in a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to five years. Fees for certificates are established under R.S. 40:40, and definitions of vital records are found in R.S. 40:32.
State Sources for Ascension Parish Death Records
Older Ascension Parish death records -- those from before 2013 -- are held by the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. The registry is part of the Louisiana Department of Health and handles statewide death records. Walk-in requests are processed during morning hours, and mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks.
| Address | 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112 |
|---|---|
| P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160 | |
| Phone | (504) 593-5100 |
| Walk-in Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM |
| Fee | $7 per certified copy |
| Website | ldh.la.gov/vital-records |
To request a certificate by mail or check on online ordering options, visit the LDH request page. You can also use VitalChek, the state's authorized online ordering service, at (877) 605-8562. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the state's base rate.
The Louisiana Department of Health parish directory can help you identify which local health unit serves Ascension Parish for vital records.
The LDH parish directory shows local health units in Ascension Parish that connect residents with state vital records services including death certificate requests.
Historical Ascension Parish Death Records
For deaths recorded before 1975, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge is the main source. The Archives hold statewide death records from 1911 through 1974 and allow access to any record more than 50 years old. This is a valuable resource for genealogical research into Ascension Parish families.
| Address | 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (225) 922-1000 |
| Research Library | (225) 922-1208 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8AM-4:30PM (Research Library closes 4PM; archival access ends 3PM) |
| Fees | $5 photocopy / $10 certified copy (includes 3-year surname search) |
| Website | sos.la.gov - Historical Records |
If you plan to visit the Archives, note that archival access ends at 3:00 PM, earlier than the building closes. Plan your trip accordingly so you have enough time to review records on site.
Cities in Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish includes the fast-growing community of Prairieville, which has its own page with local death records information.
Nearby Parishes
Ascension Parish is bordered by several parishes in south-central Louisiana. Death records for those areas are held by their respective clerks of court.