East Feliciana Parish Death Records

East Feliciana Parish death records for deaths that occurred from 2013 onward are available from the Clerk of Court in Clinton, Louisiana, during restricted hours set by that office. For deaths before 2013, you must contact the Louisiana Vital Records Office in New Orleans. The East Feliciana Parish Clerk is one of the more detailed offices in Louisiana when it comes to explaining who can request a death certificate and what ID is required, so reading the specifics below before visiting will save time and frustration.

East Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court

Clerk David Dart runs the East Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court at 12305 Saint Helena Street in Clinton, Louisiana 70722. The mailing address is P.O. Drawer 599, Clinton, LA 70722. The phone number is (225) 683-5145, and the fax is (225) 683-3556. You can also reach the office by email at david@eastfelicianaclerk.org. The website is at www.eastfelicianaclerk.org.

General office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. However, death and birth certificate requests have a different cutoff time. The Clerk only processes certificate requests between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM. This is a hard stop, not an estimate. If you arrive after 3:00 PM, the Clerk will let you fill out the form and pay, but you will have to come back the next business day to pick up the document. Plan your visit to arrive well before 3:00 PM to avoid this situation, especially if you are driving from outside the parish.

One important note: the Clerk only has death certificates for 2013 to the present. Records before 2013 are not in the Clerk's system. For those, call the Louisiana Vital Records Office in New Orleans at (504) 593-5100.

The official East Feliciana Parish Clerk website outlines certificate procedures, hours, and eligibility requirements in detail for anyone planning a visit.

The East Feliciana Parish Clerk of Court website explains the office's hours, the types of records available, and the rules for requesting death certificates in Clinton, Louisiana.

Reviewing the site before your visit helps ensure you have the right ID and paperwork ready so you do not make a wasted trip.

The birth and death certificate page on the Clerk's website provides the full eligibility list and ID requirements in plain language for residents seeking East Feliciana Parish death records.

The East Feliciana Parish death certificate requirements page explains exactly who can and cannot request a certificate, what forms of ID are accepted, and what happens if you arrive after the 3:00 PM cutoff.

The page also notes that the Clerk does not issue birth cards at this location, so if you need birth records you will need to contact a different office.

Who Can Get an East Feliciana Death Certificate

The East Feliciana Clerk publishes one of the more detailed eligibility lists you will find at a Louisiana parish office. The full list of who can request a death certificate is as follows: the registrant or person named on the certificate; the mother of the person named (no step-parent); the father if listed on the record (no step-parent); a maternal grandparent (no step-grandparent); a paternal grandparent if the father is listed; a brother or sister; a child; a grandchild; the current legal spouse; a legal guardian with a certified copy of the judgment of custody; an attorney with a letter on original letterhead; an attorney's paralegal or court runner; a funeral director within one year after the date of death; and a beneficiary who brings a copy of the insurance policy.

The Clerk is explicit that aunts, uncles, cousins, step-siblings, and godparents cannot get a death certificate unless they fall into one of the categories above. This is consistent with R.S. 40:41, which makes death records confidential for 50 years after the date of death. Trying to obtain a record you are not eligible for carries serious penalties. Under R.S. 40:61, a false request can result in a fine of up to $10,000 or up to 5 years in prison.

What ID You Need at the East Feliciana Clerk

The East Feliciana Clerk accepts these forms of identification: a state driver's license or state-issued ID card, a TWIC card, a current state or hospital employee ID, a current military ID, a U.S. passport, or a current school ID that shows the current year. You must bring one of these forms of ID to request a death certificate. Staff cannot issue the record without valid identification, even if you are otherwise eligible.

If your ID is expired or is a form not on this list, consider contacting the office by phone at (225) 683-5145 before visiting. Staff can confirm whether your specific ID will be accepted. For many people, a current driver's license or state ID card is the simplest option.

Getting Records Before 2013 in East Feliciana Parish

The East Feliciana Clerk is clear that it cannot help with deaths before 2013. For those, the Louisiana Vital Records Office in New Orleans is the right place. The address is 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. The phone number is (504) 593-5100. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry website has forms and instructions for mail requests, which take 8 to 10 weeks. You can also order online through VitalChek, though service fees apply.

For deaths more than 50 years old, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds statewide records from 1911 to 1974. These records are publicly available. The Archives research library is at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, and can be reached at (225) 922-1208. A photocopy costs $5, and a certified copy is $10, including a 3-year surname search. The Louisiana State Archives Online Vital Records Index lets you search for historical records at no charge before you request a physical copy.

East Feliciana Parish Death Certificate Fees

The fee at the East Feliciana Parish Clerk is $26 per certified copy. At the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, the fee is $7 per certified copy. The State Archives charges $5 for a photocopy or $10 for a certified copy. VitalChek adds service fees on top of the base state rate. All fees are set under R.S. 40:40.

Historical East Feliciana Parish Death Records

Statewide death registration started in Louisiana in 1914. Before that year, deaths in East Feliciana Parish were not registered at the state level. For pre-1914 deaths, church records, local cemetery records, and probate files at the Clerk's office are often the best sources. The Clerk in Clinton maintains court and property records going back many decades, which can help fill in gaps for historical research even when a formal death certificate does not exist.

For deaths between 1914 and 1974, the State Archives is the primary source. Their statewide collection includes East Feliciana Parish records from this period. Contact the research library at (225) 922-1208 to plan a visit or ask about the records available for specific names and years.

Parishes Near East Feliciana Parish

If a death occurred near the parish boundary, it may be recorded in one of the neighboring parishes. East Feliciana Parish borders the following parishes:

• West Feliciana Parish
• East Baton Rouge Parish
• St. Helena Parish
• St. Tammany Parish
• Livingston Parish