Search Bienville Parish Death Records
Bienville Parish death records are held by the Clerk of Court in Arcadia for deaths that occurred after July 2012. For older death records, residents and researchers can contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry or the Louisiana State Archives. The Bienville Parish Health Unit in Arcadia also handles some vital records matters for the local area. This page explains each source and how to use it.
Bienville Parish Death Records Quick Facts
Bienville Parish Clerk of Court - Death Records Office
The Bienville Parish Clerk of Court is located at the Bienville Parish Courthouse in Arcadia. William "Eddie" Holmes serves as Clerk, with Sandy Settle as Chief Deputy. The office has been operating since the parish was created on March 14, 1848, and it holds records going back to that founding year. The parish was named for Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the French colonial governor who founded New Orleans -- so the parish carries some historical weight that shows in the depth of its records collections.
| Address | 100 Courthouse Drive, Suite 1100, Arcadia, LA 71001 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (318) 263-2123 |
| Fax | (318) 263-7426 |
| weholmes@bienvilleparish.org | |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | clerk.bienvilleparish.org |
The office maintains marriage records, divorce records, probate records, court records, and land records going back to 1848. Death certificates at the parish level cover deaths from July 2012 forward. The fee for a certified copy is $26.00.
The Bienville Parish Clerk of Court official website provides access to office information and records resources.
The official Bienville Parish clerk website shows office contact details, hours, and the range of records available at the Arcadia courthouse.
Bienville Parish Health Unit - Local Vital Records
The Bienville Parish Health Unit in Arcadia operates a DART office that can assist with certain vital records matters at the local level. Their hours are more limited than the clerk's office, so plan accordingly if you need to visit.
| Location | Bienville Parish Office/DART, Arcadia, LA |
|---|---|
| Phone | (318) 263-8860 |
| Hours | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
For death certificates specifically, the Clerk of Court is the primary local source for deaths after July 2012. The health unit may be useful for referrals or other local health-related vital records questions.
Bienville Parish Death Records - Eligibility and Fees
Louisiana law restricts access to death records under R.S. 40:41. Records stay confidential for 50 years from the year of death. Only immediate family members and certain authorized individuals can request certified copies.
Eligible requesters include: the surviving spouse listed on the death certificate, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. A legal guardian must present a certified judgment of custody from a court -- a notarized custody form will not do. Attorneys can request on law firm letterhead along with their Louisiana bar roll number. Funeral directors may request records within one year of the death. Beneficiaries on an insurance policy and succession representatives are also eligible.
The fee for a Bienville Parish death certificate is $26.00. Fees are set at the state level by R.S. 40:40. Anyone who provides false information on a request faces up to $10,000 in fines or up to five years in prison under Louisiana law. Definitions of vital records are found in R.S. 40:32.
The About page for the Bienville Parish Clerk provides background on the office and its records holdings.
The Bienville Parish Clerk about page outlines the office's history, jurisdiction, and the types of records maintained dating back to the parish's founding in 1848.
Louisiana Vital Records - Older Bienville Parish Death Records
For Bienville Parish deaths before July 2012, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. They hold records statewide and accept walk-in, mail, and online requests. Walk-in hours end at 3:30 PM, so if you are making the trip to New Orleans, arrive early.
| 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 |
Mail orders from the Vital Records Registry take 8 to 10 weeks. If time matters, use VitalChek at (877) 605-8562 to order online -- they are the state's authorized ordering partner. Mail request forms are on the LDH request page.
For deaths recorded between 1911 and 1974, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds a statewide collection. Those records are accessible once they are more than 50 years old. The Archives can be reached at (225) 922-1000, and the research library line is (225) 922-1208. The library closes at 4:00 PM on weekdays.
The contact page for Bienville Parish Clerk has current staff names, phone numbers, and email for reaching the office about death records and other requests.
The Bienville Parish Clerk contact page lists direct contact details for staff who handle death certificates and vital records at the Arcadia courthouse.
Nearby Parishes
Bienville Parish is in north-central Louisiana and borders several other parishes. Each maintains its own death records through a local clerk of court.