Find Death Records in Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish death records are among the most historically significant in Louisiana, with documentation going back to 1804, and this page covers how to access death certificates, where to request them, and what resources exist for both recent and historical records in New Orleans.
Orleans Parish Death Records Quick Facts
Orleans Parish Death Records - Where to Request
Orleans Parish is unique in Louisiana because the Louisiana Vital Records Registry -- the state's central vital records office -- is physically located within the parish at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Phone: (504) 593-5100. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The state fee is $7 per death certificate.
For deaths that occurred after July 2012, you can also request a death certificate through the Civil District Court Clerk's office at 421 Loyola Avenue, Room 402, New Orleans, LA 70112. Phone: (504) 407-0000. Fax: (504) 592-9281. The parish fee for certificates issued through the clerk's office is $26 per copy. For court matters related to criminal cases in Orleans Parish, the Criminal District Court Clerk is at 2700 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119. Phone: (504) 658-9000. Website: criminalcourt.org.
Most people who need a death certificate for a recent death in Orleans Parish will find it easiest to go directly to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, since it is already located in New Orleans. The $7 state fee is also lower than the $26 parish clerk fee. Both are valid options for deaths after July 2012. The online clerk site for civil matters in New Orleans is at orleanscivilclerk.com.
Historical Orleans Parish Death Records - 1804 to Present
Orleans Parish has the oldest and most extensive death record collection in Louisiana. Records go back to 1804, more than two centuries of documented deaths. For records that are more than 50 years old, these are public and available through the Louisiana State Archives.
The State Archives holds Orleans Parish death records from 1819 through 1971. Marriage records for Orleans Parish run from 1870 to 1971. Birth records span 1819 to 1971. All are available at the Archives in Baton Rouge at 3851 Essen Lane. The research library can be reached at (225) 922-1208. Certified copies from the Archives cost $10. Photocopies are $5. Both fees include a 3-year surname search.
Microfilmed death records covering the period from 1804 to 1914 are also available at the New Orleans Public Library for in-person research. The library does not allow photocopies of these microfilm records, so you will need to take notes or photograph the screen during your visit. This microfilm collection is particularly useful for pre-statehood and early American period deaths in New Orleans.
The online vital records index from the Louisiana Secretary of State lets you search Orleans Parish death records at no cost before requesting a certified copy.
The online index is searchable by name and year, making it a useful first step before requesting a certified copy from the Archives or Vital Records office.
Orleans Parish Death Records Locator
The Louisiana State Archives provides a death records locator tool that helps researchers figure out which record set covers the death they are looking for. Orleans Parish has the most complex layering of record sources in the state, so this tool is particularly helpful here. Different time periods have records held in different locations -- the locator maps each year range to the correct office or archive.
Using the locator before submitting a request can save time. It prevents you from contacting the wrong office for a given year or confusing the state-level records with the Archives holdings. Deaths in Orleans Parish before 1914, between 1914 and 2012, and after 2012 each require a different request path.
The Louisiana State Archives death records locator helps match a death year and parish to the right archive or office.
The locator tool at sos.la.gov helps you find the right source for any Orleans Parish death record based on the year of death.
Who Can Request an Orleans Parish Death Certificate
Louisiana law restricts death certificate access for 50 years after the date of death. Authorized requesters include the surviving spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Others who may qualify are legal guardians with a certified custody judgment, insurance beneficiaries, succession representatives handling an estate, and licensed Louisiana attorneys who provide their bar roll number. Funeral directors may get a certificate within one year of the death.
After the 50-year confidential period has passed, the record becomes public. Anyone can request a certified copy at that point. The State Archives is the main source for those older open records from Orleans Parish, especially for deaths in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Each requester during the confidential period must show valid photo ID and any documents that prove their relationship or legal interest in the record.
Archives fees: certified copies cost $10 and include a 3-year search per surname. Plain photocopies are $5 each. The state Vital Records fee is $7 for recent records. Online ordering is available through VitalChek for an additional service fee.
Key Louisiana Statutes for Death Records
Death record access in Louisiana is governed by R.S. 40:40, R.S. 40:41, and R.S. 40:32. R.S. 40:40 covers registration fees and procedures. R.S. 40:41 establishes who may access vital records and under what conditions. R.S. 40:32 provides definitions for what constitutes a vital record. Notably, R.S. 40:33 establishes that the Louisiana Vital Records Central Office is domiciled in Orleans Parish, which is why the state office is physically located in New Orleans. These statutes apply to all death records in Louisiana, including the extensive historical records unique to Orleans Parish.
Cities in Orleans Parish
Orleans Parish and the city of New Orleans share the same geographic boundaries. New Orleans is the qualifying city for this parish and has a dedicated records page. See New Orleans Death Records for city-specific information and resources.
Nearby Parishes
Orleans Parish is located at the southeastern end of Louisiana along the Mississippi River. Deaths occurring near parish boundaries should be verified for exact location before submitting a records request.