Death Records in St. John the Baptist Parish
Death records in St. John the Baptist Parish are available through the Clerk of Court, which operates two locations serving residents on both sides of the Mississippi River. The office handles certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in the parish after July 2012, at a cost of $26 per copy. For older records, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans holds statewide records going back to 1914. Louisiana treats death records as confidential for 50 years, so only certain individuals may request certified copies.
St. John the Baptist Parish Death Records Quick Facts
Two Clerk of Court Locations
The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court, led by Felicia Feist, operates two courthouse locations to serve residents on both banks of the Mississippi River. The Westbank location is at the Edgard Courthouse, 2393 Highway 18, Edgard, LA 70049. Phone: (985) 497-3331. The Eastbank location is at the New Government Complex, 1811 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace, LA 70068. Phone: (985) 652-8041. Both serve the 40th Judicial District Court.
Mail for both locations goes to P.O. Box 280, Edgard, LA 70049. Fax: (985) 497-3972. Email: info@sjbparishclerk.gov. The official website is sjbparishclerk.gov. A Jury Line is available at (985) 267-1599 for jury-related inquiries. The Clerk Connect system, which supports electronic record access, has a support line at 1-800-467-4477.
St. John the Baptist Parish was named for Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edgard, built in 1772. The parish sits along the river between Jefferson Parish to the east and St. Charles Parish to the west. Having two clerk locations is practical given the parish's layout, and residents on the east bank can typically handle most requests at the more accessible LaPlace office.
Death Certificate Requests
Certified death certificates are available for deaths that occurred in St. John the Baptist Parish after July 2012. The fee is $26 per copy. Visit either clerk location in person and bring a valid photo ID. If your eligibility is based on your relationship to the deceased, you should also bring documentation to support that claim.
Louisiana law restricts access to death records during the 50-year confidential period, as set out in R.S. 40:41. Eligible requestors are: the surviving spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Also qualifying are legal guardians with a certified custody judgment, named insurance beneficiaries, succession representatives, attorneys active on the Louisiana State Bar roll, and funeral directors within one year of the death date.
If you fall outside those categories, you cannot receive a certified copy while the record is confidential. Once 50 years have passed, the record becomes publicly accessible through the Louisiana State Archives. Louisiana began statewide registration for births and deaths in 1914, so records from before that year require alternative sources such as church records and local historical collections.
Statewide Ordering Through Louisiana Vital Records
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans handles death certificate requests for all 64 parishes. The office is at 1450 Poydras St Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. Walk-in hours run from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Phone: (504) 593-5100. The state charges $7 per certified copy, which is less expensive than the $26 charged at the parish level.
If visiting a government office is not practical, you can order online through VitalChek, the state's authorized third-party platform. VitalChek handles remote requests and adds a service fee on top of the base $7 cost. Processing times vary, so if you are on a deadline for estate or succession matters, check current turnaround times before submitting.
The official Clerk of Court website for St. John the Baptist Parish covers services, locations, and contact details for both the Edgard and LaPlace offices.
VitalChek provides authorized online ordering for Louisiana death certificates, including those from St. John the Baptist Parish, without requiring an in-person visit.
Historical Death Records
The Louisiana State Archives online index is the right place to search for death records more than 50 years old. The index is searchable and includes records from across the state going back to statewide registration in 1914. Once the 50-year confidential period has passed, records are accessible to anyone without a need to prove eligibility. The Archives Research Library in Baton Rouge is at 3851 Essen Lane, with a general line at (225) 922-1000 and a Research Library number at (225) 922-1208. Photocopy fees are $5.00, and certified copies cost $10.00.
Louisiana Death Records Law
Two statutes govern how death records are created and accessed in Louisiana. R.S. 40:40 establishes registration requirements, defining what information a death record must include and how it is filed with the state. R.S. 40:41 sets the access rules, including the 50-year confidential period and the eligibility list for certified copy requests. The St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court applies both statutes to every death certificate request it receives.
Cities in St. John the Baptist Parish
LaPlace is the largest community in St. John the Baptist Parish and has its own dedicated page with local information.
Nearby Parishes
St. John the Baptist Parish borders several other parishes in southeast Louisiana. Each maintains its own clerk of court for local death records.