Search Evangeline Parish Death Records
Evangeline Parish death records from July 7, 2012 onward are available at the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court in Ville Platte. For deaths that occurred before that date, the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry in New Orleans holds the records. Evangeline Parish is a mid-sized parish in south-central Louisiana, and the Clerk's office in Ville Platte processes death certificate requests during regular business hours. This page explains the process, who qualifies, and what to bring.
Evangeline Parish Death Records Quick Facts
Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court
Clerk Randall M. "Randy" Deshotel heads the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court office at 200 Court Street, Suite 104, in Ville Platte, Louisiana 70586. The mailing address is P.O. Drawer 347, Ville Platte, LA 70586. The phone number is (337) 363-5671 and the fax is (337) 363-5780. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk's website is at www.evangelineparishclerkofcourt.com.
The Clerk's office maintains death certificates dating back to July 7, 2012. That specific date is when the state system went live for parish-level certificate issuance in Evangeline Parish. Deaths before that date are not in the Clerk's database and must be requested from the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. The Clerk also maintains court, marriage, divorce, probate, and land records going back to 1911 and possibly earlier. These can be useful supporting documents for estate and family history research even when the death certificate itself must come from elsewhere.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office Address | 200 Court Street, Suite 104, Ville Platte, LA 70586 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Drawer 347, Ville Platte, LA 70586 |
| Phone | (337) 363-5671 |
| Fax | (337) 363-5780 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Clerk | Randall M. "Randy" Deshotel |
| Records Available From | July 7, 2012 (death certificates) |
The Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court website is the official source for current contact details, office hours, and available records information for Ville Platte.
The Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court website provides information on the types of records held at the Ville Platte courthouse and how to submit requests for death certificates and other documents.
The site is a good starting point for confirming hours and contact information before making a trip to the courthouse in Ville Platte.
Louisiana court records for Evangeline Parish, including related civil and probate filings, can be researched through the state court records portal.
The Louisiana court records portal for Evangeline Parish provides access to court filing information and other public records that may be useful alongside a death certificate request.
Court records like probate filings and succession documents often come up in the same research session as death records, especially when settling an estate.
How to Request Evangeline Parish Death Certificates
For deaths on or after July 7, 2012, go to the Clerk's office at 200 Court Street, Suite 104, in Ville Platte during office hours. Bring valid photo ID and $26 for each certified copy you need. The Clerk can generally issue the certificate at the time of your visit. If you cannot come in person, call (337) 363-5671 to ask about mail-in procedures.
For deaths before July 7, 2012, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry. That office is at 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. Certified copies from LDH cost $7 each. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. If you need to order online, VitalChek is the only state-authorized online platform, though it adds service fees to the base cost.
For deaths more than 50 years old, the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge holds statewide death records from 1911 to 1974. The fee is $5 for a photocopy or $10 for a certified copy that includes a 3-year surname search. Reach the research library at (225) 922-1208.
Who Can Request Evangeline Parish Death Records
Louisiana treats death records under 50 years old as confidential records under R.S. 40:41. The Evangeline Parish Clerk notes that death records are only accessible to the surviving spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Those are the close-family relationships that qualify under state law at the parish clerk level.
The Clerk also notes that non-immediate family members must complete a Louisiana vital registry release authorization form. This would apply to people who fall outside the immediate family list but have a legal basis for requesting the record, such as an attorney acting on behalf of a succession, a funeral director within one year of the death, or an insurance beneficiary with documentation. If you fall outside the standard immediate family list, call the Clerk's office or the LDH at (504) 593-5100 to find out what documentation you need to bring.
Fees for Evangeline Parish Death Records
The cost at the Evangeline Parish Clerk is $26 per certified death certificate. At the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans, the fee is $7 per copy. The Louisiana State Archives charges $5 for a photocopy or $10 for a certified copy. These amounts come from state statute under R.S. 40:40. VitalChek adds service fees on top of the LDH rate when you order online.
Online Access to Evangeline Parish Death Records
The Louisiana State Archives Online Vital Records Index is the main free online tool for searching historical death records. It covers statewide deaths from 1911 through 1974. These records are more than 50 years old and are publicly accessible. Searches are by name and are available at no cost. Once you confirm a record exists in the index, you can request a copy from the Archives at the standard fee.
For deaths within the past 50 years, there is no free public online search tool specific to Evangeline Parish. VitalChek can accept online orders, but only from eligible requesters who can verify their identity during the process. The Evangeline Parish Clerk does not maintain a public online death records database.
Evangeline Parish History and Record Availability
Evangeline Parish was created on June 15, 1910, from St. Landry Parish. It is one of the younger parishes in Louisiana, which is reflected in when its formal records begin. The Clerk maintains records from 1911 onward in various categories. Statewide death registration also started in 1914, so the earliest reliable death records for Evangeline Parish at the state level date from that year.
For deaths before 1914 in what is now Evangeline Parish territory, you would need to look at older St. Landry Parish records or at local church and cemetery records. The Catholic Church has historically maintained detailed vital records in south-central Louisiana, and parish church records from this region often go back to the 1800s. These are not the same as government vital records but can be very useful for genealogical research. The State Archives in Baton Rouge may be able to direct you to relevant collections for this area.
Louisiana Vital Records: State-Level Option for All Evangeline Deaths
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records Registry is available to all Louisiana residents regardless of which parish a death occurred in. The LDH Vital Records website at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, is the statewide office for birth and death certificate requests. The phone number is (504) 593-5100. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Mail requests to P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160 and allow 8 to 10 weeks for processing. The LDH fee is $7 per certified copy, which is lower than the parish-level fee.
Parishes Near Evangeline Parish
If a death may have been recorded in a neighboring parish, the parishes that border Evangeline Parish include: