Louisiana Genealogy Records
Louisiana genealogy records are held by the Louisiana State Archives, the Vital Records Registry, and Clerk of Court offices across all 64 parishes. You can search for birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, land transfers, probate files, and court documents that in some cases date back to the colonial era. This guide covers where to search, how to request records, what each source holds, and how Louisiana law shapes access to family history documents.
Louisiana Genealogy Records Quick Facts
Louisiana State Archives
The Louisiana State Archives is the top place to start when researching family history in the state. Located at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge, the Archives holds thirty thousand cubic feet of records. That includes vital records, colonial documents, family histories, census materials, church records on microfilm, military service files, and State Land Office records. The Research Library is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Access to archival material ends at 3:00 PM. Appointments are recommended. Call the genealogy and research desk at (225) 922-1208.
As the Archives describes its own collection, it is "a perfect destination for those interested in Louisiana's written historical record." Governmental records combine with private donations and family histories to serve both academic researchers and genealogists. In recent years, public interest in genealogy has grown, and the Archives has responded by expanding its online databases and making more records accessible remotely.
The Louisiana State Archives website is the starting point for planning a visit or submitting a mail-in request. It explains each collection, lists fees, and has downloadable forms.
The homepage outlines available genealogy collections and gives researchers the information needed to plan a visit to Baton Rouge or send a mail request.
Among the most sought-after records at the Archives are Confederate Pension Applications from 1898 to 1950, passenger manifests for the Port of New Orleans from January through July 1851, military service records for Confederate and Union troops and World War I veterans, and records from the State Land Office. Assessment records documenting property ownership and taxation are also popular for tracing Louisiana families across generations. The Research Historical Records page lists every collection and explains how to access each one. Staff can assist visitors with navigating the reading room and locating the right record group for a specific ancestor or family line.
The research collections page details what records are available, what years they cover, and what information each record type contains for genealogy purposes.
Louisiana Vital Records Index Database
The Louisiana State Archives maintains a free online database for searching historical vital records. The death records index covers deaths that occurred more than 50 years ago. Photocopies of death certificates cost $5 each by mail; certified copies cost $10. The birth records index covers births more than 100 years old. The only birth records available at the Archives prior to 1911 are from Orleans Parish, since birth registration was not required statewide until 1918. A separate index covers Orleans Parish marriage records more than 50 years old.
To use the Online Public Vital Records Index, you select a record type, enter a last name, and add an optional first name and year range. Results show the name, year, and parish. You can then mail a request for a certified copy at $10 or a photocopy at $5, with payment made to the Louisiana Secretary of State by check or money order. Processing time is 4 to 6 weeks for mail requests.
The online index is free and lets you confirm a record exists before paying for copies, which saves time and money when searching across multiple years or parishes.
Louisiana Vital Records Registry
The Louisiana Department of Health runs the Vital Records Registry for birth and death certificates and Orleans Parish marriage records that fall within the confidentiality windows. The office is at 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, in New Orleans. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Call (504) 593-5100 or email at dhh-vitalweb@la.gov. Full information is at ldh.la.gov/vital-records.
Louisiana is a "closed record" state. Birth and death certificates are not public records. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:41, birth records are strictly confidential for 100 years after birth. Death records are confidential for 50 years after death. Only close family members, legal representatives, succession representatives, and certain government agencies can obtain copies within those time windows. Birth and death certificates are no longer issued at the parish level. All requests go through the state Vital Records Registry in New Orleans.
Current fees: birth certificates cost $15 per copy, death certificates cost $7, and Orleans Parish marriage records under 50 years old cost $5.50. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. Walk-in service at the New Orleans office may be same-day when records are available.
The Vital Records Registry page at ldh.la.gov/vital-records lists authorized requestors, required identification documents, all fees, and instructions for ordering by mail, in person, or online through VitalChek.
Search Louisiana Genealogy Records Online
Two main statewide portals give online access to genealogy records held by Louisiana parish Clerk of Court offices. These systems were developed through the Louisiana Clerks Remote Access Authority (LCRAA), which pools resources from all 64 parishes to offer shared digital access. Each portal covers different types of records, and using both gives you the broadest possible coverage for a Louisiana genealogy search.
eClerks LA provides free index searches for conveyance records, mortgage records, marriage records, and civil court indexes across participating parishes. You create a free account, select a parish, choose a record type, and enter a name or date range. Index results show names, dates, and book and page references. To view full document images, a paid subscription is needed. Fees vary by parish and range from about $20 for a daily pass to $300 or more for annual access. The portal also offers eClerks Alert, a free service that notifies you when new filings match names you're tracking. Visit eclerksla.com to get started.
eClerks LA covers all 64 Louisiana parishes and gives free index results that tell you whether a record exists before you pay for images or copies.
Clerk Connect is a separate multi-parish portal for court records. It covers civil cases, criminal cases, probate and succession filings, and property records for participating parishes. Parishes using the system include East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and several others. A 24-hour pass costs $20, a monthly pass runs $65 to $75, and an annual subscription runs around $780 to $800. You search by party name, case number, or date range, and results can include succession records, divorce filings, and civil judgments relevant to family history research. Visit clerkconnect.com to register.
Clerk Connect is especially useful for genealogists tracing succession and probate filings or civil disputes across more than one Louisiana parish.
Order Certified Louisiana Records Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the state-authorized online ordering system for Louisiana vital records. Go to vitalchek.com, select Louisiana, choose a record type (birth, death, or Orleans Parish marriage), and select the parish where the event occurred. You'll provide personal details, verify your identity online, and pay by credit card. Birth certificates cost $15 plus a $12.95 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Overnight UPS shipping is available for extra cost. You need the full name on the record, the event date, the place of the event, and your relationship to the person on the record.
VitalChek is faster than mailing a paper request to the state and includes order tracking so you know when your certified copies are on the way.
Louisiana State Library Genealogy Collections
The Louisiana State Library at 701 North 4th Street in Baton Rouge is a strong secondary source for genealogy. It holds census records for the southeastern United States, ship passenger lists for the Port of New Orleans, military service and parish records on microfilm, and city directories and telephone books for Louisiana cities and towns. The library also keeps journals published by state genealogical and historical societies, Louisiana and southeastern U.S. genealogy books and family histories, and newspapers from major Louisiana cities in print, microfilm, and digital format. Current and historical Louisiana maps round out the collection. Call (225) 342-4923 or visit state.lib.la.us for collection details and hours.
The State Library holds microfilm and print records that aren't available digitally, making it a valuable stop for thorough Louisiana genealogy research that goes beyond what online databases can provide.
Federal Records for Louisiana Genealogy Research
The National Archives at Fort Worth serves Louisiana researchers and holds federal records that supplement state and parish sources. The facility is at 501 West Felix Street in Fort Worth, Texas. Call (817) 831-5620 or visit archives.gov/fort-worth. Available records include federal censuses from 1790 to 1930, census indexes for 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920, military service records, pension and bounty land warrant applications, and passenger arrival manifests. The Archives also holds records from federal district and bankruptcy courts and documents from 85 federal agencies covering Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Researchers can visit in person, request records by mail, or access some records through Ancestry and other commercial platforms.
Federal census and military records at Fort Worth can fill gaps when local Louisiana parish records were lost to floods, fires, or the Civil War period.
Louisiana Laws Governing Genealogy Records
Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:1, the Louisiana Public Records Act, gives any person 18 or older the right to inspect, copy, and reproduce public records. The law was first enacted in 1940 and applies to books, records, writings, photographs, and electronic data. Courts must interpret it "liberally construed in favor of free and unrestricted access," with any doubt resolved in favor of access. This covers most court records, land records, marriage records, and other government files held by parish clerks across all 64 parishes.
Military discharge certificates (DD-214s) filed with parish clerks before July 1, 2000 are public records under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 44:20. Records filed on or after that date are confidential and can only be released to the veteran, a designee, or close family members after the veteran's death. For adoptees, original sealed birth records can be requested by persons 24 or older under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 40:73. The sealed file contains the original birth certificate, contact preference form, and adoption judgment.
The Public Records Act statute page outlines exactly what qualifies as a public record and what rights every Louisiana resident has when requesting access to government documents.
Under Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 803(9), vital records are admissible as evidence in court proceedings. Birth, death, marriage, filiation, and divorce records all qualify under this hearsay exception, giving legal weight to the documents you find in genealogy research. This matters in succession cases, inheritance disputes, and other proceedings where family relationships must be proven.
What Louisiana Genealogy Records Contain
Birth records more than 100 years old at the Louisiana State Archives include the child's full name, date and place of birth, father's name, mother's maiden name, parents' ages and birthplaces, the name of the informant, and the date filed. These records often reveal two or three generations of family data in one document. Death records more than 50 years old include the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, age at death, birth date and birthplace, marital status, spouse's name, father's name, mother's maiden name, cause of death, burial location, and informant name. They are among the richest single-source genealogy documents available.
Orleans Parish marriage records more than 50 years old show the names of bride and groom, their ages and birthplaces, parents' names, previous marital status, witnesses, the officiant, and the marriage date and location. Land and conveyance records from parish clerks include grantor and grantee names, the legal property description, sale price, transaction date, the notary, and witnesses. Probate and succession records contain estate inventories, heir names, property divisions, and court orders that can span multiple generations. Genealogists often find court records especially valuable for tracing long family lines through land disputes and succession cases.
Note: Early colonial-era records from Louisiana parishes may be written in French or Spanish and may require special translation assistance for full interpretation.
Browse Louisiana Genealogy Records by Parish
Each of Louisiana's 64 parishes has a Clerk of Court who keeps civil records, land records, marriage records, and probate files. Select a parish to find local contact information, online access systems, and record availability for that area.
View All 64 Louisiana Parishes
Louisiana Genealogy Records by City
Major Louisiana cities file genealogy-related vital records and court documents through their parish court system. Select a city to find which parish handles records for that area and where to search locally.