Death Records in Jefferson Davis Parish
Jefferson Davis Parish death records are issued through the Clerk of Court in Jennings, where walk-in service is provided to eligible family members and authorized individuals seeking certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Louisiana after July 2012, with the state Vital Records Registry and State Archives handling earlier records.
Jefferson Davis Parish Death Records Quick Facts
Jefferson Davis Parish Clerk of Court
Clerk Richard "Rick" Arceneaux runs the Jefferson Davis Parish Clerk of Court office in Jennings, which provides birth and death certificate services for the parish. The office connects to the Louisiana Bureau of Vital Records database for deaths registered after July 9, 2012. Walk-in service is required. No mail applications or online orders are processed at the local level for death certificates.
Bring valid government-issued photo ID and any documentation showing your relationship to the deceased. The fee is $26 per death certificate. The parish's civil records date back to its founding in 1913, covering marriage, divorce, probate, court, and land records from that point forward.
- Address: 300 State Street, Suite 104, Jennings, LA 70546
- Mailing: P.O. Box 799, Jennings, LA 70546
- Phone: (337) 824-1160
- Fax: (337) 824-1234
- Email: jdclerk@cox.net
- Website: jdclerk.com
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
The clerk's official website has information on services offered. The screenshot below shows the Jefferson Davis Parish Clerk of Court's main website.
Jefferson Davis Parish Clerk of Court official website
This site covers services, office hours, contact information, and resources for those requesting death certificates and other vital records in Jefferson Davis Parish.
Who Can Request a Death Certificate
Louisiana is a closed-record state. Death records are not public for 50 years. Only specific people can request a certified copy during that period.
Eligible requestors include the surviving spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal guardians with a certified custody judgment are also eligible. Attorneys with an active bar roll number may request on behalf of a client by providing a written declaration on letterhead. Insurance beneficiaries named in the deceased's policy may request if they show a signed copy. Succession representatives with certified letters of testamentary or administration may also request. Licensed funeral directors can request within one year of the death.
People outside these categories cannot access the record until 50 years have passed. At that point, they can request it through the Louisiana State Archives.
Online Options
The Jefferson Davis Parish Clerk does not offer online death certificate ordering. For people who cannot visit Jennings in person, two main options exist. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry accepts mail requests. Include your completed application, a copy of your photo ID, proof of relationship, and a check or money order for $7. Processing by mail takes 8 to 10 weeks.
VitalChek, an authorized online ordering service, also accepts requests. VitalChek charges service fees in addition to the state's base fee but offers faster processing and online convenience for those who need it. The main state vital records portal is at ldh.la.gov/vital-records.
The screenshot below shows the VitalChek portal for authorized online death certificate ordering.
VitalChek authorized online death certificate ordering portal
VitalChek is a state-authorized platform that allows eligible individuals to request Louisiana death certificates online, including records for Jefferson Davis Parish.
Deaths Before July 2012
The local clerk can only issue certificates for deaths occurring after July 9, 2012. For anything before that date, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. The state fee is $7 per copy, lower than the $26 local fee. Walk-in hours at the state office are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
State office address: 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Mail to: P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Phone: (504) 593-5100.
Historical Records at the State Archives
Jefferson Davis Parish was created on January 1, 1913, formed from portions of Calcasieu Parish and named for Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1914, so death records from the first year of the parish's existence may not be in the central database. Some local records from 1913 may survive at the parish level.
For death records that are 50 years old or older, the Louisiana State Archives is the right place to look. They're located at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. The research library number is (225) 922-1208. The online death records index is searchable at sos.la.gov. Photocopy fees are $5, and certified copies cost $10 with a three-year search.
Relevant Louisiana Statutes
Death record access in Louisiana is defined by two key statutes. R.S. 40:40 establishes the fees charged for certified vital record copies. R.S. 40:41 sets the disclosure rules and defines who may request records and under what conditions. These apply equally in Jefferson Davis Parish and across all Louisiana parishes. Providing false information to obtain a death certificate is a criminal offense under Louisiana law.
Cities in Jefferson Davis Parish
Jennings is the parish seat and largest community in Jefferson Davis Parish. No cities in this parish currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Residents of Jennings, Lake Arthur, Welsh, and other communities should contact the Clerk of Court in Jennings for death certificate requests.
Nearby Parishes
Jefferson Davis Parish is in southwestern Louisiana. For records that may involve neighboring parishes, these offices can help: