St. Martin Parish Death Records
Death records in St. Martin Parish are handled by the Clerk of Court office in St. Martinville, where staff can provide certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in the parish after July 2012. The office has a strict 3:45 PM cutoff for vital records processing, and staff speak both English and French to serve the community. For deaths before July 2012, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in New Orleans is the appropriate source. Only eligible individuals defined under Louisiana law may request certified copies during the 50-year confidential period.
St. Martin Parish Death Records Quick Facts
St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court
Laura B. Blanchard serves as Clerk of Court for St. Martin Parish, with Chief Deputy Ella B. Goulas. The office is in the Courthouse Annex at 415 St. Martin Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582, located behind the main St. Martin Parish Courthouse building. Mail goes to P.O. Box 308, St. Martinville, LA 70582. General phone: (337) 394-2210. Fax: (337) 394-7772. The website is at smpcoc2.com, which includes a specific vital records page at smpcoc2.com/vital-records.
Parking is available in the large lot adjacent to the Annex, which makes visiting easier than at some courthouse locations where parking can be difficult. The office staff speak both English and French, which is a reflection of the parish's strong Cajun and Creole heritage. Staff will be happy to work with you in either language to meet your needs.
Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. However, vital records processing has a hard cutoff at 3:45 PM. This is earlier than the overall office closing time, and it is strictly enforced. If you arrive after 3:45 PM expecting to get a death certificate processed, you will likely be told to return the next business day. Plan your visit accordingly, especially if you are traveling from a distance.
Requesting a Death Certificate in St. Martinville
Death certificates are available at the parish level for deaths that occurred in St. Martin Parish after July 2012. The fee is $26 per certified copy. Visit the Courthouse Annex in person and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Be aware of the 3:45 PM cutoff for vital records requests, not the 4:30 PM general office closing time.
Also know that wait times can be longer than expected. The office notes that wait times for updated records may be up to an hour or more. This is especially true if a death was registered recently and the information has not yet been fully processed into the system. If you are requesting a certificate for a very recent death, call ahead to find out the current processing status before making your visit.
Eligibility for death certificates during the 50-year confidential period is set by Louisiana R.S. 40:41. Qualifying individuals are the current spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and siblings of the deceased. Also eligible are beneficiaries named in an insurance policy, legal guardians with a certified custody judgment, succession representatives, attorneys active on the Louisiana State Bar roll, and funeral directors within one year of the death. People outside these categories must wait until the 50-year period passes.
Services Offered at the Clerk's Office
The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court provides certified copies of birth certificates for anyone born in Louisiana, not just those born in St. Martin Parish specifically. For death certificates, the office can issue certificates for deaths that occurred in Louisiana. This is a broader scope than some might expect. If you were born in another parish but are now a St. Martin Parish resident, you can still request your birth certificate through this office.
Beyond vital records, the clerk handles civil court filings, probate records, and land records. The office also serves as the local point of contact for the state's vital records system, acting as an agent for the Louisiana Vital Records Registry in issuing parish-level copies of post-2012 death certificates.
Louisiana Vital Records Registry
For deaths in St. Martin Parish that occurred before July 2012, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry is the correct resource. Located at 1450 Poydras St Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112, the registry issues certified copies for $7 each. Walk-in hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Mailing address: P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Phone: (504) 593-5100. The lower $7 fee may also make the state registry attractive for multiple copy orders even for post-2012 deaths.
The Louisiana Vital Records Registry at ldh.la.gov provides statewide access to death certificates, including those for deaths in St. Martin Parish.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek, the authorized third-party platform used by the Louisiana registry. VitalChek lets you order a certified copy from home without visiting any office. Fees include the base state cost plus a VitalChek service fee. For residents of rural areas around St. Martinville, this remote option can save significant travel time.
VitalChek is the state-authorized online platform for ordering Louisiana death certificates remotely, including those for St. Martin Parish residents.
Historical Death Records and the State Archives
Once a death record passes the 50-year confidential period, it becomes publicly accessible. The Louisiana State Archives online index provides a searchable database of historical vital records going back to 1914, when statewide registration began. The State Archives Research Library is at 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Phone: (225) 922-1000. Research Library: (225) 922-1208. Photocopy fees are $5.00, and certified copies cost $10.00.
For deaths that predate 1914, church records are the best alternative. St. Martin Parish has a long Catholic tradition, and many local parishes have historical registers going back centuries. The Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville and local historical societies may also hold records relevant to genealogical research in the area.
Louisiana Death Records Law
The access rules for Louisiana death records are anchored in two statutes. R.S. 40:40 sets registration requirements, defining what information must be included on a death record and how it is filed. R.S. 40:41 governs access, establishing the 50-year confidential period and listing the eligible requestors. The St. Martin Parish Clerk of Court follows these statutes for every death certificate request it processes, and neither the clerk nor the state registry can grant access outside the statutory eligibility rules.
Nearby Parishes
St. Martin Parish is in south-central Louisiana and shares borders with several surrounding parishes, each with its own clerk of court for local vital records requests.