St. Helena Parish Death Records
Death records in St. Helena Parish are issued by the Clerk of Court in Greensburg. The office provides certified death certificates for deaths occurring in the parish after July 2012 and is committed to providing accurate legal information and access to public records. For deaths before that cutoff, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry handles statewide requests, and the Louisiana State Archives holds historical records dating back to 1914.
St. Helena Parish Death Records Quick Facts
St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court
Jeremy M. Williams serves as Clerk of Court for St. Helena Parish. The office is at 369 Sitman Street, Suite 101, Greensburg, LA 70441. Mail goes to P.O. Box 308, Greensburg, LA 70441. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone: (225) 222-4514. Fax: (225) 222-3443. The official website is at sthelenaclerk.org.
On behalf of a dedicated team, the clerk's office serves citizens of St. Helena Parish with integrity, professionalism, and a firm commitment to public service. The office handles essential court and public records services, supports the judicial process, and provides access to accurate legal information. Death certificates are one of the primary vital records requests the office fields from residents, families, and legal professionals.
St. Helena Parish was created on October 27, 1810, and named for Saint Helena. The clerk's office holds records going back to 1804, including marriage, land, probate, and court documents. A small white building in front of the Courthouse was a Federal Land Office built in 1820, one of the oldest standing government structures in the parish. This long record history means that for genealogical research, St. Helena Parish has more depth than many assume.
Getting a Death Certificate in Greensburg
The St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred after July 2012. The fee is $26 per copy. To request one, visit the office in person during business hours and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license or state-issued identification card is the standard form of identification accepted.
Louisiana restricts access to death records under R.S. 40:41. During the 50-year confidential period, only certain individuals may receive a certified copy. Eligible requestors include the surviving spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal guardians who can produce a certified custody judgment also qualify, as do named insurance beneficiaries, succession representatives, licensed attorneys active on the Louisiana State Bar roll, and funeral directors within one year of the death.
If the death you are researching occurred before July 2012, the parish clerk does not hold that record. You will need to contact the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans at (504) 593-5100, or visit their walk-in office at 1450 Poydras St Suite 400. The state charges $7 per certified copy.
Louisiana Vital Records Registry
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry is the statewide office for death records across all 64 parishes. It is the right place to go for deaths that occurred before the July 2012 parish cutoff, or if ordering by mail is more convenient than a trip to Greensburg. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM at 1450 Poydras St Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Mailing address: P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Phone: (504) 593-5100.
The Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records portal provides statewide access to death certificates, including those for St. Helena Parish.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek, which processes Louisiana death certificate requests remotely. VitalChek charges the base $7 state fee plus a service charge. This option is well suited for people who cannot visit a government office in person.
Historical Records at the Louisiana State Archives
Once a death record passes the 50-year confidential period, it becomes public and accessible through the Louisiana State Archives. The Archives online index is searchable and can help you find records from 1914 onward. After locating a record in the index, you can request copies from the Archives directly.
The Louisiana State Archives Research Library in Baton Rouge holds historical vital records for all parishes, including St. Helena, going back to statewide registration in 1914.
The Archives Research Library is at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Phone: (225) 922-1000. Research Library direct line: (225) 922-1208. Photocopy fees are $5.00, and certified copies cost $10.00. The library staff can help with research requests, and in-person visits are the most efficient way to dig through records for a small parish like St. Helena.
For deaths before 1914, the state has no official registration. Records from that period, if they exist, are typically found in church registers, local cemetery records, and manuscript collections held by historical societies. The clerk's office records going back to 1804 may also contain useful information about deaths recorded as part of probate or estate proceedings.
Louisiana Death Records Law
The legal framework that governs death records in Louisiana rests on two statutes. R.S. 40:40 defines vital records, sets out what information must appear on a death record, and describes how the record is registered with the state system. R.S. 40:41 controls access, establishing the 50-year confidential period and specifying who is legally entitled to request a certified copy during that time. Both the St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court and the Louisiana Vital Records Registry apply these rules to every request they process.
Nearby Parishes
St. Helena Parish is a small parish in southeast Louisiana. It borders several other parishes, each with its own Clerk of Court for local records requests.