Lafayette Parish Death Records
Lafayette Parish death records are issued through the Clerk of Court in Lafayette, where walk-in service is available Monday through Friday for certified death certificates for deaths occurring after July 9, 2012, with access limited to eligible family members, legal representatives, and other authorized parties under Louisiana's closed-record laws.
Lafayette Parish Death Records Quick Facts
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court
Clerk Louis J. Perret oversees the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, which has direct access to Louisiana death certificates for deaths that occurred after July 9, 2012. For deaths before that date, the state's Vital Records office in New Orleans is the right contact. This is a walk-in service only. No appointments are needed, but certificates are only issued during a specific window: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The office is open until 4:30 PM for other services, so if you arrive after 3:30 PM, death certificate requests won't be processed until the next day.
The cost is $26 per death certificate, payable in cash only. The office does not accept credit cards or checks for this service.
- Address: 800 South Buchanan Street, Lafayette, LA 70501
- Mailing: P.O. Box 2009, Lafayette, LA 70502
- Phone: (337) 291-6400
- Death Certificates Direct: (337) 291-6432
- Fax: (337) 291-6392
- Email: clerkofcourt@lpclerk.com
- Website: lpclerk.com
- Certificate Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM only
The clerk's website has a dedicated page for death certificates with detailed instructions. The screenshot below shows the Lafayette Parish Clerk's death certificate information page.
Lafayette Parish Clerk death certificate information page
This page covers eligibility requirements, accepted forms of identification, fees, and hours for the death certificate service at the Lafayette Parish Clerk's office.
Who Is Entitled to Request a Lafayette Parish Death Certificate
Louisiana is a closed-record state, and the Lafayette Parish Clerk's office follows those rules strictly. Death certificates are not public documents until 50 years after the date of death. The following individuals may request a certified copy before that period ends:
The surviving spouse, as listed on the certificate. The mother or father of the deceased. A child of the deceased. A brother or sister. A grandmother or grandfather. A grandchild. A beneficiary on an insurance policy, provided they bring a signed copy of that policy. A succession representative, who must present a certified Letter of Testamentary or Administration. An attorney, who must provide a written declaration on law firm letterhead that includes their bar roll number.
Anyone who provides false information on a death certificate application faces serious consequences. Under LSA R.S. 40:61, a fine of up to ten thousand dollars, imprisonment of up to five years, or both may be imposed on anyone who willfully and knowingly makes any false statement on any application for a certified copy of a vital record. The clerk's staff does not take this lightly.
Identification Requirements
You need one primary form of ID and two secondary forms. Primary options include a state driver's license, a state-issued photo ID, a military ID, a passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. Two secondary IDs are also required from this list: a student ID with a paid receipt, a W-2 plus Social Security card, adoption papers, a property deed, a vehicle title, an insurance policy, a payroll stub, a military dependent ID, a DD-214, or a voter registration card. Having all your documents ready before you arrive will make the process go smoothly.
Online Portal and Records Search
While death certificate requests require an in-person visit, the Lafayette Parish Clerk's office does offer some online services. The eClerks LA portal provides free index searches for land, civil, marriage, and probate records. eRecording is also available for document submission. These tools are useful for researching estate matters that may tie to a death.
The main clerk website is shown below.
Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court official website
The clerk's site covers all services including the death certificate process, online records access, and office hours.
The online login portal for the clerk's system is at lpclerk.com. It allows registered users to access court and land records remotely.
Lafayette Parish Clerk online portal login
This portal provides online access to Lafayette Parish civil, land, and court records for registered users and researchers.
Deaths Before July 2012
The Lafayette Parish Clerk can only issue certificates for deaths that occurred after July 9, 2012. For earlier deaths, contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans. The state fee is $7 per copy. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
State office: 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Mail to: P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Phone: (504) 593-5100. Portal: ldh.la.gov/vital-records. Mail requests take about 8 to 10 weeks to process. VitalChek is an authorized online option with faster turnaround for an added fee.
Historical Records at the State Archives
For death records 50 years or older, use the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge. Their research library is at (225) 922-1208, and the address is 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. The online public vital records index is available at sos.la.gov. Photocopy fees are $5, and certified copies are $10 with a three-year search.
Applicable Louisiana Statutes
Two statutes govern access to death records across Louisiana. R.S. 40:40 covers the fees for certified vital record copies. R.S. 40:41 defines who may access them and under what conditions. These laws apply to every parish, including Lafayette.
Cities in Lafayette Parish
The city of Lafayette is the parish seat and largest city, with its own dedicated records page. Residents can find additional resources there:
Other communities in the parish including Broussard, Youngsville, Carencro, and Scott do not have separate city pages. Residents in those areas should use the Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court at 800 South Buchanan Street in Lafayette.
Nearby Parishes
Lafayette Parish is centrally located in south-central Louisiana. Bordering parishes and their clerk offices may be useful for records involving families with ties to multiple areas: