Search Bossier Parish Genealogy Records

Bossier Parish genealogy records dating from 1843 are held by the Clerk of Court in Benton and give family history researchers access to marriage licenses, land deeds, court filings, probate records, and military discharge documents for this northwest Louisiana parish. The 26th Judicial District Clerk offers both in-person and online access through a robust set of record systems that make Bossier Parish research accessible from home or at the courthouse.

Bossier Parish Clerk of Court

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court offices are on the third floor of 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton. The office holds genealogy records going back to 1843, including marriage records, land records, divorce records, probate records, court records, and military discharge records from 1917 onward. Military discharge records are not universally held at the parish level in Louisiana, so their presence in Bossier Parish is notable for researchers tracking veterans. Under Louisiana RS 44:20, military discharge records filed with the Clerk's office are protected from public disclosure until a certain period has passed.

Free inspection of public records is allowed during business hours at the courthouse. Research terminals are available for in-person visitors. The office also handles online subscriptions, birth and death certificates as a state agent, and mail-in requests. The email clerk@bossierclerk.com handles general inquiries, and the recording department can be reached at (318) 965-2336.

The Bossier Parish Clerk website offers online record subscriptions, links to eClerks LA and ClerkConnect, and contact information for all departments.

The Bossier Parish Clerk's official website provides online access to property, marriage, civil, and criminal records through its indexing system.

Search Bossier Parish Genealogy Records Online

Bossier Parish offers its own online indexing system accessible through the main clerk website at bossierclerk.com. The system requires a subscription: a one-time $85 setup fee plus $35 per month. You fill out the subscription contract online, print it, and mail it to the Clerk's office at P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006. Once activated, you can view property records, marriage records, civil and criminal records, and land indexes. E-recording and e-filing are also available through this platform.

The statewide free index at eClerks LA also covers Bossier Parish for land and marriage record indices at no cost. Create a free account and search without charge. Document images require a subscription. For civil and criminal records, ClerkConnect is also available as an alternative subscription portal. It covers civil records search, criminal records search, land records search, and marriage records search for Bossier Parish. E-recording and e-filing are both supported.

Birth and death certificates are available through the Clerk as a state agent, and also through VitalChek for online orders. The Louisiana Vital Records Registry at ldh.la.gov/vital-records processes mail applications.

Bossier Parish's online subscription system gives access to property, marriage, civil, and criminal record images through the Clerk's website.

Genealogy Records Available in Bossier Parish

Bossier Parish records span from 1843 to the present, covering nearly 180 years of family history in northwest Louisiana. Marriage records, land and conveyance records, divorce records, probate and succession records, and court records all date from 1843. Military discharge records are available from 1917 onward. Birth and death certificates are available through the Clerk as a state agent for current records, with historical vital records held at the state level.

Under Louisiana RS 40:41, birth records are confidential for 100 years and death records for 50 years. Certified copies of restricted vital records are only available to the named individual, immediate family, legal guardians, or authorized representatives with written consent and valid ID. The state's mandatory vital records registration began in 1914, so birth and death records before that date may not exist in the state system. For pre-1914 vital events, researchers often need to check church records or plantation documents.

Note: Bossier Parish adjoins Caddo Parish to the west, which includes Shreveport. Some families in the Bossier City area may have records in both parishes depending on where they lived and worked.

Louisiana State Archives and Bossier Parish Records

The Louisiana State Archives holds older vital records under the time limits set by RS 40:41. Once birth records pass 100 years and death records pass 50 years, they become searchable through the Archives' Online Public Vital Records Index. This free online index lets you search by name without traveling to the Archives building at 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Bossier Parish death records from the early-to-mid 20th century are now open through this index, making it a useful tool before making contact with the Clerk's office.

How to Request Bossier Parish Records

Visit the Clerk's office on the third floor of 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton during regular business hours for in-person access. Free inspection of public records is allowed at no charge. Bring valid ID and a list of names and dates to search. Research terminals are available. Staff will assist you in locating indexes but do not conduct research for visitors.

Mail requests go to Bossier Parish Clerk of Court, P.O. Box 430, Benton, LA 71006. Include full names of parties, record type, dates, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Standard copies run $1.00 per page and certified copies add $5.00. Birth certificates cost $34.00 and death certificates cost $26.00. Include a copy of photo ID for vital record requests and note your relationship to the person named.

Online subscriptions through the parish system or through ClerkConnect give you home access to records from 1843 onward. VitalChek handles online orders for certified birth and death certificates. Allow 2-4 weeks for mail requests to be returned.

What Bossier Parish Genealogy Records Contain

Marriage records in Bossier Parish list both parties' names, ages, residences, parents, previous marital status, the date and location of the marriage, the officiant, and the witnesses. Land records show grantor and grantee, property description, price paid, date, and notary. Military discharge records from 1917 typically include the veteran's name, branch of service, dates of service, rank, and discharge location. These records are particularly valuable for tracing World War I and II veterans in Bossier Parish family lines.

Probate and succession records reveal heirs, estate assets, and sometimes detailed inventories of household property. Court records document legal disputes and family law matters. Under Louisiana RS 44:1, court and land records held by the Clerk are public records open during business hours. Older death certificates that have passed the 50-year restriction include the deceased's name, age, cause of death, birthplace, date of death, and parents' names. Together, Bossier Parish's nearly 180 years of records offer a rich foundation for northwest Louisiana family history research.

Cities in Bossier Parish

Bossier City is the largest city in Bossier Parish and the most populous city on the east bank of the Red River in northwest Louisiana. Benton, the parish seat, is smaller. Other communities include Haughton, Elm Grove, and Plain Dealing. Records for all of these communities are held at the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court in Benton.

Nearby Parishes

Bossier Parish borders Caddo Parish to the west and several other north Louisiana parishes. Families in the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area often have records in both Bossier and Caddo parishes.